HAMILTON TOWNSHIP—Despite vigorous opposition from educators throughout New Jersey, the state Board of Education yesterday approved a plan to regulate when bilingual students must be moved to English-only classes.

Opponents have charged that the new rule is discriminatory and will mainstream bilingual students before they have an adequate grasp of the English language, dooming them to academic failure.

Opponents also have charged that the proposal violates a state law that guarantees adequate bilingual-education programs. Opponents argue that the rule change is motivated by financial and political concerns and would reverse a decade of progress in bilingual education.

In the face of the opposition, the state Department of Education put the plan on hold for several months. However, state officials continued to defend the proposal to create a uniform standard throughout the state that probably will take the form of a standardized test.



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