BILINGUAL EDUCATION NOW JUST LOCAL ISSUE.Byline: Paul Hefner Daily News Sacramento Bureau Continuing to strip away mandates governing gov·ern v. gov·erned, gov·ern·ing, gov·erns v.tr. 1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; exercise sovereign authority in. 2. bilingual education bilingual education, the sanctioned use of more than one language in U.S. education. The Bilingual Education Act (1968), combined with a Supreme Court decision (1974) mandating help for students with limited English proficiency, requires instruction in the native , the state Board of Education voted Wednesday to give local school districts more control over how to teach students who don't speak English. On a unanimous voice vote, the board adopted a new policy that lets local officials decide when - if ever - students should be taught in a language other than English. And in a sharp departure from earlier regulations, the new policy allows schools to teach students English first English First is a non-profit lobbying organization founded in 1986 in the United States in an effort to:
Board officials said the move was prompted by mounting evidence that bilingual education - teaching students who don't speak English in their native languages - is a failure. ``We know what's happening,'' said Bill Lucia, the board's executive director. ``Today, we're turning out students who are functionally illiterate Adj. 1. functionally illiterate - having reading and writing skills insufficient for ordinary practical needs illiterate - not able to read or write in English and functionally illiterate in their primary language.'' More than 1.3 million of the state's 5.6 million public school students are classified as speaking only limited English. State and federal court decisions require that such students receive special attention, but don't specifically require districts to offer bilingual bi·lin·gual adj. 1. a. Using or able to use two languages, especially with equal or nearly equal fluency. b. instruction. Wednesday's vote came a month after the board rescinded its previous bilingual policies. A judge previously ruled that the state's law on the subject had expired ex·pire v. ex·pired, ex·pir·ing, ex·pires v.intr. 1. To come to an end; terminate: My membership in the club has expired. 2. and could not be enforced. The new policy offers local districts guidance on the issue, but won't require any changes in programs. |
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