Laboy: Sorry for jumping gun on state's bilingual OK

LAWRENCE — Schools Superintendent Wilfedo T. Laboy said his “passion” for moving the district forward caused him to misstate the Department of Education’s stamp of approval of his English-immersion plan.

Mr. Laboy said last week that he still has not heard from the state regarding his plans to overhaul bilingual education in Lawrence, even though he said at a forum on bilingual education last month that his plan had passed the state’s “litmus test.”

“I might have misrepresented that. I want to apologize for that,” he said. “It’s in the legal department at the (Department of Education).”

Mr. Laboy’s plan to overhaul the bilingual program includes English immersion classes for students in kindergarten through second grade, with assistance in the child’s native language. In those classes, between 80 and 90 percent of instruction will be in English. Older students will attend transitional bilingual classes with the primary goal of teaching them English as soon as possible.

Spanish will be offered as a foreign language, beginning in third grade.

At last month’s forum, Mr. Laboy was asked by City Councilor Nilka I. Alvarez-Rodriguez how the city could be safe from possible lawsuit if children are not allowed to take Spanish classes.

Mr. Laboy said that he had been in contact with Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll about his plans and had sent a copy of the instructional design to the Department of Education’s legal division.

“We gave it to the legal office, and they rendered that it falls within (state law) 71A, and it stood within TBE (transitional bilingual education.)” he said. “… It has passed the litmus test of 71A.”

Mr. Laboy said last week, however, that he can tell his plans for bilingual education fall under state law, but he is still waiting to hear from the Department of Education’s legal office.

“I haven’t heard from them,” he said.

Still, it appears Dr. Driscoll will allow Mr. Laboy to make his own decisions about the bilingual program in Lawrence.

Janice O’Keefe, executive director of the office of the commissioner, released a statement yesterday.

“The superintendent has the right to implement local programs that reflect the needs of students as he sees fit, and the commissioner will review the program as time progresses.”



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