Levy Opens Office For Bilingual Ed
Schools Chancellor Harold Levy announced the creation of a new office yesterday to implement the $75 million bilingual education overhaul plan approved by the Board of Education on Tuesday. Levy also announced the appointment of Bronx School District 7 Superintendent Edna Vega as head of the new Office of English Language Learners, effective March 27. The office will replace the Office of Bilingual Education. A centerpiece of Levy's overhaul plan is to give parents more of a say in how kids with limited English skills are taught English. Vega has been superintendent of District 7 for five years. Before that, she was a state Education Department assistant commissioner. "I have directed Dr. Vega to start working immediately with all superintendents on developing implementation plans for the new [bilingual] policy," Levy said. Levy already has told superintendents to submit plans for creating Saturday English classes by tomorrow. Mayor Giuliani has earmarked $9 million for that program. |