In a place the rest of the world stereotypically perceives as homogeneous and English-speaking, Salt Lake City schools are growing increasingly diverse.
Salt Lake City School District officials predict that within five years the number of students whose primary language is something other than English will increase dramatically. This infusion of ESL (English as a second language) students presents considerable challenges for Salt Lake schools, the least of which is ensuring that all educators undergo some ESL training within the next few years.
It also will require a reassessment of resources, both in local school districts, which must have sufficient funding to offer ESL classes to a larger number of students, and in Utah's colleges and universities, whose schools of education must be equipped to provide widespread ESL training.
Nearly one-fourth of the state's school districts began implementing ESL training and encouraging teachers to obtain ESL endorsements after an earlier Office of Civil Rights audit showed that six school districts — among them the state's largest — did not comply with federal law in this area.
Three universities — the University of Utah, Weber State University and Brigham Young University — now offer an English as a Second Language teaching endorsement. The schools of education responded to needs of the Utah State Office of Education, which had been directed by federal officials to hire more ESL-endorsed teachers or train those already on the job.
But while the public school system must do its part, it can't do all that is needed on its own. The community at large must lend a hand to ensure that the parents of ESL students also have opportunities to learn and master English.
Utah is unique in the vast number of people who are bilingual, largely because of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' worldwide missionary programs. Offering informal ESL training to adults would be a worthwhile community service, which would assist new immigrants assimilate into Utah life and help them improve their employment prospects.
As for students, schools must help within existing resources, which arguably will require some school districts to reassess their funding priorities. Still, state legislators need to keep abreast of Utah's changing demographics and be prepared to respond — not only for the good of the students, who must attend school as required by state law, but for employers who needed people prepared in every way to enter the work force.