Parents, officials hail waivers

REACTION: The schools may be cheering, but a co-author of Prop. 227 calls the decision an attempt to circumvent state law.

Parents and administrators at Gates and Las Palmas elementary schools were elated Thursday after learning that waivers to keep the two schools’ dual immersion programs were approved by state schools Superintendent Delaine Eastin.

 

Capistrano and Saddleback Unified school districts had fought to save their programs since Proposition 227 passed with 61 percent of the vote in June, mandating that instruction be overwhelmingly in English.

 

Gloria Matta Tuchman, a Santa Ana teacher who co-authored Prop.

 

227 and is running against Eastin for state superintendent, said the waivers undermine the voter-backed initiative.

 

“This may be starting a trend to circumvent the law,” Tuchman said. “Our state superintendent was never supportive of 227, and I’m sure she’ll find many ways to circumvent the law. ”

 

But Eastin’s action was well-received by parents, many of whom lobbied the past several months to save the programs by writing letters and calling state education officials.

 

“Our program achieves the goals of Prop. 227 and beyond,” said Bob Stone, whose two daughters will be in first and second grade at Las Palmas.

 

“This program helped develop math, science, music and logic skills because of new brain development that is learned through language acquisition. This gives my kids a competitive edge. ”

 

The two schools played the waiting game this summer, not knowing what would happen to their programs. Gates faculty, for example, was ready to teach one-month intensive English courses to students.

 

“We’re jumping for joy. Now we can actually continue with the program we want,” said Gates Principal Mary Jackes.

 

The waivers will last through the 1999-2000 school year. The districts may request a renewal at the end of that time. Until then, they must submit a report each year on students’ progress.

 

The districts must reapply if there are significant changes in test scores and other criteria.

 

Both schools applied for a general waiver, an alternative school waiver and charter school status to save the programs.

 

Doreen Lohnes, a Capistrano Unified assistant superintendent, made seven trips to Sacramento during the summer to petition for Las Palmas’ waiver.

 

“We had the opportunity to pursue something that was initially a long shot,” Lohnes said.

 

Said Gates fifth-grader Nicolette Iribarne, 10: “I’m really happy. Now I can learn more Spanish. I was scared of losing my friends and losing the language. ”

 



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