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Ending E.O. 13166,
the "Multilingual Mandate"
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The
status of bilingual education in America
Over three million students in America have limited English proficiency
(LEP). Although state and local governments pay for most education funding,
the federal government contributes over $650 million for students with LEP.
The 107th Congress (2001-2002) voted to quadruple that amount over the next
several years. Although the law has been changed to allow funds to go to
other programs, the bulk of that funding goes exclusively to bilingual education
programs.
15 states account for 94% of students who speak languages other than English
in their home. Bilingual education has recently been ended in states which
account for more than one-half of these students: California (1998), Arizona
(2000), and Massachusetts (2002).
voters approve measure ending bilingual ed., 68%-32%
In November 2002, more than 2/3rds of Massachusetts' voters voted for Question
#2, a ballot initiative which replaces bilingual education with proven English-immersion
teaching techniques. ProEnglish supported the initiative's passing. Immigrants
Rosalie Porter, a former director of bilingual programs, and Lincoln Tamayo,
a Chelsea high school principle, led the statewide campaign. The initiative
was one of the few issues separating gubernatorial candidates in the 2002
election. Republican Mitt Romney campaigned in support of the issue, and
won a surprising victory.
Nearly 30,000 Massachusetts school children were taught in bilingual education
classrooms each year. Under the new law, these children will receive a year
of intensive English instruction, and then be placed in more traditional,
English-language classes.
, home to 7% of America's PHLOTE
students (200,000) banned bilingual education in this past election season
(year 2000). A 2000 study by the Superintendent of Public Schools
showed bilingual education was a failure, resulting in few students
being mainstreamed each year. Seeing the success of California,
63% of Arizona voters chose to replace bilingual education and ESL with
English immersion by passing Proposition 203.
is home to 41% (1 1/4 million)
of all students with a Primary Home Language Other Than English (PHLOTE).
Before 1998, California had mandated bilingual education for all of its
students. Disgusted at the failure of bilingual education, software
millionaire Ron Unz and 62% of California's voters supported Proposition
227, titled, "English for the Children." This mandated English immersion
programs, although parents do have several grounds for receiving waivers,
allowing their students to be enrolled in bilingual education programs.
Since passing Proposition 227, reading, writing and math scores for California's
students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have soared. Colorado
retains Bilingual Education, 46%-54%.
In November 2002, became the first
state to vote down an initiative to end bilingual education. Most of the
state's prominent politicians and newspapers argued that they were opposed
to bilingual education, but campaigned against "Amendment 31,"
as the reform initiative was called. The initiative was defeated in large
part by a campaign of scare tactics and distortions, funded by an extraodinary
$3 million campaign contribution from a local heiress.
The campaign alleged that the reform would result in schoolteachers being
sued, the state having to raise taxes, and, darkly, that mainstream classes
would be flooded with immigrant children. This was said in spite of the
fact that no teacher has been sued in California or Arizona, where the reform
has already been passed, and English immersion is likely to be less expensive
than bilingual education.
Colorado has 22,000 students who have a primary home language other than
English.
Other states with significant numbers of students in
bilingual education
is home to 15% (450,000) of America's
PHLOTE students. Texan law mandates bilingual education for all
LEP students. As in Arizona and California, most elected politicians
favor bilingual education. Unlike Arizona and California, however,
there is no law allowing ballot initiatives.
, also home to 7% of America's
PHLOTE students, (210,000) allows bilingual education or ESL, but in New
York City students have been placed in bilingual education by default.
The New York City Board of Education conducted a longitudinal
study to track the success of the state's English-Language learners.
The study showed that bilingual education students took far longer to
be mainstreamed into English-language classrooms, often were not ever
successfully mainstreamed, and performed poorly on achievement tests.
Further, students who were not mainstreamed were showed to be far more
likely to drop out.
This study has prompted calls for reform. For now, a compromise
has been passed allowing for improved parental choice.
New York state does not allow ballot initiatives, and consent decrees
may complicate reform efforts by elected officials. Neighbor
Connecticut's legislature banned bilingual education in 2000 for its 20,000
PHLOTE students. New Jersey (with 50,000 PHLOTE students) now mandates
bilingual education for all its LEP students. There is no referendum
process in New Jersey, or Connecticut.
, home to 5% (150,000) of America's
PHLOTE students, allows bilingual education and ESL, but state regulations
and funding heavily favor bilingual education. (The state spent $373 million
in 1997.) A bilingual teacher must be present in all classes. The
state allows ballot initiatives.
, with 110,000 PHLOTE students
(3.5% of the U.S. total) and Washington, with 50,000 PHLOTE students,
mandate bilingual education, and also have a ballot initiative process.
mandates bilingual education
for its 80,000 PHLOTE students. There is a ballot initiative law,
but its courts have been known for judicial activism, and could conceivably
rule that bilingual education is protected by the state constitution,
which states that New Mexico is officially bilingual
's mandate for bilingual education
was removed when it was ruled to be an unfunded mandate; the state would
either have to fund the bilingual education program 100%, or drop the
mandate. Nevertheless, loopholes have allowed the state to keep
bilingual education the predominant program of LEP education for its 45,000
PHLOTE students. Michigan does have a ballot initiative program.
's voters were frustrated as
they were seeking a ballot initiative to make English the state's official
language. Gov. Keating, an outspoken opponent of the initiative,
failed to submit the proposal by the state's mandated deadline for referenda.
Oklahoma has more than 30,000 PHLOTE students. Bilingual education
is mandated, but could be overturned by a ballot initiative.
has nearly 25,000 PHLOTE students.
Bilingual education is not mandated, but is common. The state does
allow ballot initiatives. Alaska mandates bilingual and bicultural
education. The state has 30,000 PHLOTE students, but most of these
are Aleuts and American Indians. A ballot initiative established
English as Alaska's official language, and, outside of classrooms, the
initiative is being strongly enforced.
To learn more about what you can do to help.
To view our legislative action page.
To return to our bilingual education issues page.
To read about the current status of bilingual
education in America.
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