The state notified the district in late June that its programs for English learners are aligned with federal and state law, following final reviews at 23 schools by the state education department during the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school years.

Those reviews had been ongoing since 1994, when a monitoring agreement, known as the Comité de Padres Settlement Agreement, was ordered by the Superior Court following a parents group complaint to the state education department. The complaint alleged a district pattern of noncompliance in meeting federal and state laws regarding the quality of education provided English learners.

In its June notification, the state said that the district has met all criteria for closing the case:

—The district demonstrates that English learners are acquiring English and learning the district’s core curriculum.

—The district uses evaluations to improve elements of the program where needed.

—The district has no system-wide issues of noncompliance with state and federal laws.

—The district takes action to correct noncompliance issues when identified at individual schools.

—The district has an accountability plan that includes monitoring and evaluation of programs, and training of employees to carry out compliance.

—The district has a master plan that helps schools to understand the requirements for English learners and to implement them.

The state praised the district "for the notable progress made over the time of [the state’s] involvement under the Comité review process."