Tempe Tackles Bilingual Changes

Policy revisions will allow language classes to continue

Tempe elementary schools say they will conform with the letter of the law while changing their bilingual education programs as little as possible.

The Tempe Elementary District’s Governing Board on Wednesday voted to repeal existing policies covering bilingual, English-as-a-second-language and dual-language classes in the district in response to Proposition 203 passed by voters last fall.

Those programs will continue but students will use different methods to enroll.

New policies have not been formally adopted, but proposed changes include having ESL students attend primarily English-speaking classes with standard curricula taught by ESL teachers. Currently, ESL students attend “pull out” classes — one class to learn English for one period a day.

Bilingual education classes where students learn basic subjects in both English and Spanish would still be available, but would require a parental waiver.

The district’s dual-language program, where students learn basic subjects in both English and Spanish with the goal of becoming fluent in both, will still be around but students who speak a language other than English will need a waiver to get into it.

Under current proposals, waivers would be available for three reasons:

* If a student already knows English and can pass tests to prove it.

* If the student is 10 or older and the school administration is convinced an “alternate course of study” would help the student learn English faster.

* If the student shows “special or individual physical or psychological needs” after being in an immersion class for at least 30 days.

The lack of guidance on how to interpret laws passed in the voter-passed proposition has meant lots of time spent with lawyers and big delays in figuring out what will happen with the programs next year, district Superintendent John Baracy said.

District officials also have to balance the new state laws with existing desegregation agreements with the federal government and a recent court case that said Arizona schools don’t spend enough on bilingual education.

“I feel a little sorry for the person who has to merge these,” said Debra Gomez, assistant superintendent.

She said even if the district passes the current proposals, district staff will likely have to go back and revise them when the state comes out with its guidelines. The board will look at the proposals again on April 4.



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