(NAME-MCE) outrageous!!! --- OCA URGES JUSTICE FOR IOWA STUDENT IN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY CASE

[Bill Howe]

OCA URGES JUSTICE FOR IOWA STUDENT IN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY CASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

6 April 2009

Sarah Smith | Communications Manager
202.223.5500 | ssmith at ocanational.org<mailto:ssmith at ocanational.org<ssmith at ocanational.org%3Cmailto:ssmith at ocanational.org>
>

Washington, DC - OCA calls on the Storm Lake School District in Iowa to
expunge the disciplinary actions placed on Lori Phanachone, an honors
student born and raised in the United States, for refusing to take an
English proficiency test mandated because she speaks Lao in her home.

Phanachone, a second-generation Laotian American, was labeled an ELL after
she declared that she spoke Lao primarily at home.  Due to this designation,
the school district annually tested her English proficiency even though
Phanachone is a member of the National Honor Society and ranks seventh in
her senior class.  When she boycotted the test during her senior year,
calling it demeaning and racist, she was suspended for 3 days and threatened
with the loss of National Honor Society membership and exclusion from school
activities. Phanachone said that her college scholarships-up to $86,000 at
one university-have been threatened by her suspension.

"What the Storm Lake School District is doing to Ms. Phanachone is wrong,"
said OCA Executive Director George Wu. "The fact that she has a 3.9 GPA and
has excelled in her classes, including English, should speak for itself."

OCA urges the Storm Lake School District to expunge any disciplinary actions
in regards to Phanachone.  We also ask for the school district to review
their policies and reclassify students such as Lori, especially from
immigrant families, if appropriate, as English proficient.

 Founded in 1973 as the Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA is a national
organization with over 81 chapters and affiliates dedicated to advancing the
social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans. For
more information, visit
www.ocanational.org<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=14413344&msgid=5322390&act=YZD8&c=42114&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocanational.org%2F<http://www.ocanational.org%3chttp//click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=14413344&msgid=5322390&act=YZD8&c=42114&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocanational.org%2F>
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Bill Howe
Asian Pacific American Coalition of CT http://apaact.com/
Personal Website http://www.billhowe.org
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Multicultural Education Blog http://billhowe.org/MCE/