English tutoring program proves power of parent involvement, DUSD says

DOWNEY – Highlighted at the Downey Unified Board of Education meeting held Oct. 20, the Community Based English Tutoring (CBET) program was recognized as being the most effective parent education program within Downey Unified. 

A program that directly influences student success in education, its goal is to provide non-English speaking parents with the opportunity to learn the English language, as well as update them on the latest technologies in order to provide them with the tools to aid in their child’s education.

“Parents who communicate better within their child’s school and get more involved, directly influence their children,” stated Dr. Annamarie Montañez, a teacher on special assignment who runs CBET. “Those students, in turn, are also more involved within their school and are more successful inside the classroom.”

Last year, CBET parents assisted their children in 8,412 hours of academic support at home, resulting in major academic gains; approximately 93 percent of those elementary students whose parents were enrolled in CBET made significant progress in their reading scores. With four sites providing this program in the 2014-15 school year (Alameda, Unsworth, Ward and Williams elementary schools), an additional two were added this September (Imperial and Price elementary schools), with the possibility of two more sites becoming available in November (Rio Hondo Elementary and Sussman Middle school).

After a hiatus, this parent education program has again been implemented in high force within Downey Unified as a result of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) adopted by Downey Unified’s Board of Education. 

Gradually finding its footing again within Downey Unified in September 2014, the CBET program offers a variety of educational tools to enrolled parents, along with providing an academic child care for those with children ages two to five.

Currently with 156 Downey Unified parents enrolled in CBET, the program’s goals are aligned with the District’s Vision to provide a 21st Century education that ensures students are college and career ready, globally competitive and citizens of strong character. CBET’s primary goals are to improve basic language and communication skills, provide resources for parents to support students to be college and career ready, provide access to technology to support 21st Century education for their child and to promote positive school culture to initiate higher levels of parent involvement. 

If you are interested in enrolling in the CBET program and are a Downey Unified parent, visit one of the CBET school sites listed above or the Downey Adult School main office for more information. 

If one of the CBET sites is currently where your child is enrolled, DUSD urges you to visit that location first. 

This is not a “one size fits all” program, each CBET site is tailored to fit the needs of the parents and students at each particular site.