Program produces high bilingual graduation rate
HONOLULU — Hawaii public school students who study and master English as a second language before high school were more likely to graduate on time than native speakers.
A study found 90% of students who completed the state’s English Learner program before entering high school graduate on time. Data presented to the state Board of Education Nov. 7 shows students who did not require English-language support had an on-time graduation rate of 83%.
The study prepared by the Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education found a 69% on-time graduation rate for students enrolled in the English Learner program during high school.
The lag is expected since those students have not yet mastered the school language of instruction, officials said.
Upon entering public school, students whose home language is not English take proficiency tests and receive English Learner services if needed, officials said.
The analysis showed students who completed the English Learner program before high school enroll in college immediately after graduation at a rate of 64% compared to 55% for students who were never in the program, officials said.
Woman saved after being swept into sea by flood
WAINIHA, Kauai — First responders rescued a woman who was swept out to sea by a flash flood.
The 49-year-old, who was not identified, and two other people were attempting to evacuate a home along the Wainiha River on Kauai when their boat flipped in the rushing water early Sunday, authorities said.
A man and child reached safety, but the woman became distressed and was swept away, authorities said.
Neighbors downstream heard the woman’s cries for help and called first responders about 12:40 a.m. After a short search, rescue personnel followed the woman’s cries downstream and found her on a shoreline below a cliff.
Firefighters climbed down the cliff and rescued the woman, bringing her to waiting medics who treated her for non-life-threatening head injuries, officials said.