Citizenship
Submitted By: David Camberos
West End Corridor / Chaffey Regional AE Consortium
Website: https://adultschool.fusd.net/
Type of Practice: Learner Transition
Program Area(s): ESL / EL Civics / Citizenship
Region: Inland Empire
Consortia Involved: West End Corridor/Chaffey Regional AE Consortium
The Program of Practice
Adult immigrant learners encounter many barriers on their path to naturalization: Limited language proficiency, unfamiliarity with the civics content of the exam, or even just a lack of confidence.
The Response
Lynnette Browning, our resident Citizenship prep teacher, meets these challenges head on by creating an inclusive, supportive, and academically rigorous classroom that deconstructs the naturalization process into its core parts. She builds trust with students from diverse backgrounds, tailors instruction to their needs, and equips them with the language skills, historical knowledge, and self-efficacy necessary to pass the exam and participate fully in civic life. Through her work, she not only improves individual outcomes, but also strengthens families and communities by empowering new citizens to engage actively in democracy.
The Unique Features of the Program
The curriculum is aligned with the USCIS interview and test, blending language development with U.S. history and government. Students participate in mock interviews on a regular basis, helping them build confidence. Lynnette's program acknowledges the diverse backgrounds of its students. Beyond academics, the class fosters a sense of community and mutual encouragement. Students have developed a tradition of providing dinner for the rest of the class once they pass the test and become citizens. They share their experiences of the process, creating a supportive environment that motivates persistence. Lynnette regularly has guest speakers who have recognized the results of our program, from USCIS agents to Congresswoman Norma Torres. Students are encouraged to engage in civic life well before they become citizens, from leading us in the pledge of allegiance at our graduation ceremonies to participating in student council meetings.
The Outcome
Lynnette keeps a progress tracker on the board that lists each year's citizens. She has naturalized over 50 students each year for the last two years.