The Bakersfield City School District is celebrating 1,900 students who have advanced out of the English Language Learners program.

Erick Casallas directs the program and says Saturday’s graduation at Steirn Middle School had 500 more kids than last year. Casallas says it’s important to get students reclassified as English Proficient before they reach high school so they succeed at the next level.

Sean Michael Lisle