Board approves revised initiative to limit bilingual education

DENVER—The Title Board approved new language for a proposed initiative to restrict bilingual education Wednesday that includes a blunt warning that if it is approved by voters, bilingual education could be eliminated in most schools.

The wording was approved after the state Supreme Court ruled in April the original initiative was misleading and had to be fixed before it could be on the ballot.

The initiative, proposed by English for the Children of Colorado, would require children who do not speak English to be placed in an intensive, one-year English program unless their parents request bilingual education. The three-member Title Board, with representatives from the secretary of state and attorney general’s offices and the Legislature, reviews initiative proposals to make sure they comply with the state’s one-subject rule, so voters know the primary intent of the measure.

The board also makes sure the language is clear.

Tom Lyons, attorney for the proponents, said he was happy with the changes. They include a warning that approval of the initiative “decreases the likelihood bilingual education will be used.”

Rita Montero, spokeswoman for the group, said traditional bilingual education, where students are exposed to two languages at the same, time is not working.

“People assume students come out of education fluent in two languages, and that doesn’t happen,” she said.

The group now has to gather signatures of at least 80,571 registered voters to gain a spot on the November ballot once the petition format is approved by the Secretary of State.

Ed Ramey, an attorney representing opponents of the measure, argued the proposed initiative was misleading in part because it did not fairly express an intent to eliminate bilingual education, but promised parents who don’t want the new program they could get waivers.

“That in our view creates a waiver process that will be ineffective, because it would be extremely unlikely there will be bilingual programs,” Ramey said.

The board also approved two titles for a tax cut plan by anti-tax crusader Douglas Bruce after Bruce won a ruling Tuesday from the state Supreme Court. The court said similar proposals by Bruce did not violate the state’s single subject rule.

Bruce’s initiatives would give taxpayers a $30 tax cut that increases $30 every year for utility and cable television customers, and includes vehicle sales, use and ownership taxes, occupation taxes and district property taxes.



Comments are closed.