APRIL 25, 2014Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurface
(Calif.) A much-anticipated bill aimed at repealing the state’s controversial ban on most bilingual education in K-12 schools faces its first legislative test next week, as supporters seek to reshape the debate from one that generates ethnic divide to a question of global competitiveness.
SB 1174 by state Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, would put an initiative before voters in November, 2016 that would enable California’s public schools to teach foreign language immersion classes.
It would also, however, strike out key elements of Proposition 227 – that landmark 1998 voter initiative that requires all public school instruction to be conducted in English with some limited exceptions.
That measure, overwhelmingly approved, sparked one of the most politically-charged campaigns in California history that was characterized by a painful subtext of wedge issues from race to immigration and poverty.
Lara’s bill has so far received limited coverage in the mainstream press but that is likely to change as it is set to go before the Senate Education committee next Wednesday. Perhaps in anticipation of that hearing, the bill underwent some revision this week including a new name, the California Education for a Global Economy Initiative – a move that might better emphasize the state’s linguistic diversity as a gift rather than a barrier.
“This is about giving our students the educational and employment edge to be competitive in the global economy,” said Lara. “In an increasingly interconnected world, we have to prepare our Schools’ English-only mandate set to resurface :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet:
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