House debates changes to the state's bilingual education law

BOSTON—The Massachusetts House gave preliminary approval on Monday to a bill designed to revamp the state’s bilingual education program by giving teachers more options for instructing students.

The bill slowly making its way through the House would allow school districts to pick and choose from a range of teaching methods for children not fluent in English.

The goal of the bill is to give schools more flexibility than the current three-year bilingual education program. The bill is also in part a response to a question on the November ballot that would replace the current system with a one-year immersion program in English.

The bill would require schools to measure students’ performance, boost parents’ involvement, require bilingual education teachers to be certified and make schools develop “English language success plans” for students who stay in bilingual programs more than two years.

The bill also allows the state Department of Education to declare an entire school district “underperforming” based on the performance of its bilingual students.

One author of the bill, state Rep. Peter Larkin, D-Pittsfield, said the bill gives schools flexibility and keeps an eye on them to see if they are succeeding.

“What we are saying is, develop a plan and from that plan hold school districts accountable,” Larkin said.

Critics of the bill acknowledge that the state’s bilingual program can be improved, but worry that the bill puts too much power in the hands of local school districts.

“Those who say that bilingual education in Massachusetts has not been a success are not correct. It’s nothing more than political rhetoric,” said state Rep. Antonio Cabral, D-New Bedford.

Lawmakers are hoping the bill, if approved, will persuade voters to reject the question on the November ballot.

That initiative would require children who are not fluent in English to take intensive language classes to teach them English within a year.

The plan is backed by California software entrepreneur Ron Unz, who bankrolled similar, successful initiatives in California and Arizona.

Debate on the House bill is scheduled to continue next week.



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