The California Board of Education on Thursday approved a waiver that would allow Westminster School District to pair teachers with bilingual aides to teach all students primarily in English.
The waiver, which is expected to receive final approval today, exempts Westminster from state guidelines requiring the district to hire 90 teachers who are either certified in bilingual education or are training for certification.
The district, which employs five certified bilingual teachers and has an uneven record in teaching limited-English students, argued that it was impossible to find the required number of qualified teachers.
The board’s decision was being watched by other school districts facing similar teacher shortages. The waiver is the first of its kind since the board adjusted its guidelines last year.
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