WORCESTER, Mass. - The U.S. Department of Justice will no longer monitor how Worcester Public Schools provides English as a Second Language services. 

The district said it's because it has “substantially complied with its obligations” outlined in a 2016 legal agreement, which was an update to a previous agreement the school signed in 2008. 

Superintendent Dr. Rachael Monárrez said systems have been enhanced over the past three years to not only provide required instructional services, but to monitor them in a systematic and timely manner. 

The district said testing data, which measures language skills for English learners, shows the school system saw an increase across elementary, middle and high school grade spans of students meeting the benchmark to exit English learner status.

“I don't know if I will ever be satisfied because I'm one that is always striving for excellence, but am I pleased that we have been exited out of the Department of Justice settlement? 100%” said Monárrez. “That was one of my main, what I called big rocks that I wanted to get accomplished in my first three years. So, I was thrilled when we achieve that. I am pleased with our growth, with dual immersion and opening up more seats for children for the next school year.”

The district said the largest increase of students reaching “former English learner” status was in the middle school grade span.

Overall, the district increased from 9.4% in 2021-22, to 10.9% in 2024-25.