The Justice Department has reached a settlement agreement with the Aiken County Public School District in South Carolina. This agreement addresses concerns that English learner students were not receiving adequate instruction and services.

The department's investigation revealed that many English learner students, including those with disabilities, were not getting the necessary language instruction to become fluent in English. These students also faced challenges in participating fully in core subjects such as science, math, and social studies. The settlement requires the district to ensure these students receive sufficient English language instruction from qualified teachers and that core subject teachers are trained to support English learners.

"Students who are learning English deserve the same access to educational opportunities as their classmates," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department is committed to ensuring school districts comply with federal civil rights laws designed to provide equal access to education so that all students can pursue their dreams and aspirations. This agreement will help support English learner students in the Aiken County Public Schools so they can participate fully in their schools’ academic programs."

U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina added, "All South Carolina students deserve a chance to learn and engage in coursework. For English learners that means help in overcoming language barriers. We are pleased that the Aiken County School District is working to serve the needs of its English learners so they can fully participate in their coursework and become successful members of our community."

The district has cooperated throughout the investigation and has already started improving its program for English learners by hiring a full-time director and training instructional coaches on better strategies for serving these students. The agreement mandates that teachers have proper qualifications, training, and support needed for helping students learn English and engage fully in core classes. Additionally, it requires providing language translation and interpretation services for parents who do not speak English fluently and establishing an advisory board comprising parents, educators, and community members.

The Civil Rights Division conducted this investigation under the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974.

For more information about the Civil Rights Division or to report possible civil rights violations, visit www.justice.gov/crt or civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

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