Policy Brief: Accountability, Multicultural Education in Secondary and Postsecondary Institutions to Replace Remedial ESL in Basic Skills Education

Abstract

This policy brief seeks to highlight the positive impact of accountability and multicultural education in the formal education of the culturally and linguistically diverse students in secondary and postsecondary institutions in California. Due to the state budget crisis, the basic skills education program is in uncertain status. Lawmakers authorized local school districts to shift funds from categorical programs, like the adult Education Program, to other education programs in recognition of the deep cuts made to education funding overall (California Budget Project, 2010, p. 3). Relative to this issue, this policy brief explicates the need to restructure the basic skills education program in favor of shifting the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) remedial courses to regular ESL courses to be offered in regular associate degree programs in community colleges and state universities in California; updates and emphasizes the importance of addressing multiculturalism as a reality and not a myth; and clarifies the necessity to adopt multicultural education in regular secondary and postsecondary classroom settings inclusive of English Language Learners (ELLs). This restructuring option will prepare all students to the demands of a competitive global job market in this postmodern times.