Justice Department officials attended a community meeting Saturday where activists complained of poor bilingual education in Denver and planned to fight for improvement.

The department is reviewing the bilingual education program of Denver Public Schools after the Department of Education found that DPS discriminates against students with limited English skills by failing to provide an equal education. “We’re here to attend. We’re here to listen,” said Kathy Woodruff, an attorney for the Justice Department.

She declined to comment further, as did several federal officials at the meeting.

The meeting of about 120 community activists took place at Escuela Tlatelolco in north Denver.

“We’re building a strong community organization to include all nationalities and sectors of the community who believe in the right and the importance of quality bilingual education,” said Pam Martinez, co-chairwoman of the group Padres Unidos.

She said the group formed when it heard stories of Latino students being singled out for the punishment of being forced to eat their lunch on the floor.

The activists conducted the meeting Saturday with little heed to the Justice Department investigators, but said their presence shows that the community’s concerns are valid.

Padres Unidos opposes a new bilingual education plan for DPS, which calls for reintegrating bilingual students into English-speaking classrooms after three years.

School board member Sharon MacDonald, elected in November, attempted to attend the meeting, but was asked to leave.

“I support the new program,” MacDonald said. “We’ll do a better job educating children.”

A reporter was asked to leave the meeting when specific actions against the district were discussed.



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