Compiled by the El Reporero’s staff
The Board of Education voted unanimously to include a Seal of Biliteracy or Seal of World Language Profi ciency on diplomas of students who prove proficiency in two or more languages upon graduation.
“This distinction will honor the linguistic and cultural treasures of our students,” says Superintendent Carlos Garcia. “Achieving high levels of academic competency in both English and at least one other World Language, including students’ home languages, is an integral part of making our vision of 21st century learning a reality.”
The seal will be awarded to students who have mastered standard academic English and any other language, including American Sign Language.
This adoption furthers the 2006 board commitment to prepare all of its students for a multilingual/multicultural world by taking full advantage of the rich linguistic and cultural diversity and assets of San Francisco, and provide every student the opportunity to graduate proficient in English and at least one other language.
Supreme Court decision upholds integrity of criminal justice system for immigrants
The Immigrant Legal Resource Center and the University of California at Davis, Immigration Law Clinic applauds the Supreme Court’s decision issued today in a landmark decision in Padilla v. Kentucky, holding that defense lawyers must affi rmatively advise their clients about the immigration consequences of pleading guilty.
The Supreme Court’s decision is of particular importance to California, which by some statistics represents 26.3 percent of the total foreign-born population and 22.6 percent of the total undocumented population in the United States.
Bill to protect taxpayer-backed district hospital assets response to Sutter health’s conduct
A bill to assist communities struggling to protect district hospital services in the face of the erosion of care by corporate hospital chains like Sutter Health advanced in the California Senate today.
SB 1240, introduced by Senator Ellen Corbett and sponsored by the California Nurses Association, passed the Senate Local Government Committee on a 3-2 vote. It now heads to the Senate Health Committee.
Corbett introduced SB 1240 in direct response to Sutter’s conduct with Marin General Hospital and Eden and San Leandro Hospitals in Alameda County.
SB 1240 will protect taxpayer investment in critically-needed safety net healthcare resources by prohibiting private corporations that lease district hospitals from transferring assets out of the district or crediting operating losses of the district hospital against any purchase price.
SB 1240 would also require annual, independent, publicly-available financial audits of any district hospital leased to a private company.
