Bilingual education bid dropped

EDUCATION: Anaheim resolution sought local control over the language programs.

ANAHEIM, CA—Anaheim Union High School District trustees withdrew a resolution Thursday night that would have urged state legislators to take away state control of bilingual-education programs and give it to local school districts.

Although trustees Harold Martin and Robert Stewart supported the resolution, trustee Molly McGee asked that the resolution be withdrawn and discussed during a special workshop.

“We don’t have a unified philosophy about this by the board yet,” said McGee. “It’s an issue we need to look at in a broader sense

and really examine it. “

Trustees L.E. Terrell and Joanne Stanton also said they wouldn’t vote for the resolution as it stood Thursday night.

According to the resolution, proposed by Martin, the state Department of Education’s bilingual-education program has failed in its prime objective, to move non-English-speaking students into the English-speaking mainstream as quickly as possible.

The resolution also contends the state’s bilingual education mandate is not supported by a majority of Californians.

“The California Department of Education has arrogantly exceeded its authority and has unrightfully usurped control of local school district policy,” the resolution states.

While Martin said the resolution is not aimed at the Anaheim district’s bilingual-education program, which he says surpasses state guidelines, he hopes the resolution will send a message to Sacramento that communities best know how to educate their children.

The Anaheim district’s Limited English Proficiency program takes foreign-language-oriented students out of the regular classroom and into special classes where they’re taught English. The process to make students proficient in English takes no longer than one year, according to trustees.



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