The federal government wants to require ESL students after one year to take the same tests as other students. City school leaders say ESL students would have trouble doing well on these tests, causing the school system's scores to drop. Tonight Harrisonburg School Superintendent Dr. Don Ford presented a possible resolution to the school board that would comply with federal guidelines. But still offer ESL students a fair shot at taking the standardized test all students in Virginia have to take.

After a grueling three hour meeting, the school board approved a Limited English Proficient testing resolution with an added amendment. The resolution makes it clear that the board does not intend to have students who cannot read English take tests that are written in English. The school board felt it was appropriate to go on record saying it wanted more than what that the state superintendent requested...That the US Department of Education change to 24 months because 12 months is an insufficient amount of time for students to become proficient in English.

Tuesday the school board wanted to make a statement because Harrisonburg has the highest percentage of ESL students in the state. 38 percent of Harrisonburg students speak English as their second language. Harrisonburg School Superintendent Dr. Donald Ford says the board's decision won't pose any federal funding threats yet.

"There is absolutely no indication at this point that any federal funds will be lost as a result of the stance that the school board has taken," says Ford. "We will still test our students using the SELP test which we have been using and we will still report those results to the public, however, those results are not acceptable to the federal government to demonstrate whether students are making Adequate Yearly Progress."

The only federal funds Ford says that will be affected are if Harrisonburg does not make AYP for two consecutive years, then the school division is required to use a portion of its federal funds to enable students to have school choice. Now despite the actions the school board took Tuesday night, the State Board of Education submitted a request to the federal government asking for 24 months be given to ESL students before they have to take the Standards of Learning test.

The federal government hasn't responded to the state yet, but an answer is supposed to come by the end of this month, and from that point, the Harrisonburg School Board will make a decision from there on what step the school system will take next on this issue.

Here's a look at the percentage of Limited English Proficient students in the Valley. Thirty-eight percent of Harrisonburg school's population is LEP. There are 6.8 percent in Rockingham County schools. One percent in Staunton city schools, 16 percent in Waynesboro schools, and two percent of Augusta County school students are Limited English Proficient.