English learners celebrate proficiency

Learning: More than 80 young Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District students were reclassified from English language learners to proficient in English at a ceremony held on May 21. The students joined more than 200 parents, staff and well-wishers as they received certificates marking the occasion. The festivities also included performances by student mariachis and student folklorico dancers. The reclassification indicates the young English language learners were considered fully integrated into English language curriculum, to learn along with their native English speaker classmates.