Monday, March 19, 2007

Educators split on bilingual classes

English immersion or both languages at once?

This from the Dallas Morning News.

IRVING - In a school district with the region's highest percentage of children with limited English skills, a rift has emerged over the best way to educate them.

Last fall, Irving school board president Randy Stipes proposed a pilot program in English immersion. But his idea – pitched at a board meeting – was quickly shot down. Superintendent Jack Singley told him it was against the law. The state requires bilingual education.

That seemed to be the end of it. Then word of the exchange reached state Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving. She filed a bill this legislative session that would give school districts the option to offer English immersion or ESL programs for students learning the language.

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