Child at center of legal challenge begins bilingual class

TUCSON, Ariz.—A 6-year-old girl whose family sued to get her out of an English-only classroom was placed in a bilingual class Wednesday.

The family of Jasmine Morales filed for a “special needs” waiver allowed by the law after the first-grader spent the minimum 30-day period in an English-only classroom. The waiver was granted Tuesday, said attorney Tom Berning of the William E. Morris Institute for Justice.

“In the short run, we got what we wanted,” Berning said.

The challenge to the constitutionality of Proposition 203, the voter-approved law that replaced most of the state’s bilingual classes with one-year English-only classes, will continue, Berning said.

The law replaces most of the state’s traditional bilingual education with one-year English immersion classes.

Though her teacher and principal recommended that Jasmine be moved to a bilingual class, the request was rejected by Stan Paz, superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District.

But Paz said he and other administrators received additional information about Jasmine’s situation this week that made her qualify for a waiver. Privacy laws prevented him from discussing details.

He said she will remain in a bilingual class at least this school year.



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