Michelle Linn, Fox 23
Tulsa’s Fox 23 has reported an interesting and timely study that notes nearly one third of all students in Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) are Hispanic, and speak Spanish at home.
District leaders, like Laura Grisso, the Title 3 Director for TPS, told Fox 23’s Michelle Linn a lot of the growth is happening at schools like Skelly Elementary, in east Tulsa.
“Our Hispanic population, as of last year, is the largest racial and ethnic population across the district. So a lot of those families need that support in Spanish and we haven’t been able to find as much staff as we need. We’ve got a lot, but we need more,” Grisso told the station.
FOX23 noted many parents did not speak English. TPS posts signs in Spanish, and offers interpreters and translators.
“It’s been critical, and we have even brought in, besides the staff we have, we’ve brought in local contractors to bring more support, because that’s where we’re seeing the largest number of enrollment is within our Spanish speaking and Hispanic populations,” said Grisso.