The California Assn. for Bilingual Education is challenging the confirmation of Nancy Ichinaga, a highly lauded retired principal in Inglewood, to the State Board of Education.

In a letter to state Sen. John Burton (D-San Francisco), chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, association President Anaida Colon-Muniz said Ichinaga has a history of opposing bilingual education. Ichinaga therefore could not objectively serve the interests of the nearly 188,000 California students remaining in such programs, Colon-Muniz wrote.

In response, Ichinaga, principal of Bennett-Kew Elementary School for many years, said the Latino and African American children at the school, most of whom come from low-income families, have performed as well as or better than children from many white, middle-class communities.

Gov. Gray Davis appointed Ichinaga to a four-year term last February; the Senate has until March 3 to confirm her appointment.



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