Backers cite current system's failure, which labels many students with second-class status.
Foes say funding cuts will aggravate teacher shortages. Although the Riggs bill is far from assured of becoming law, Thursday's action is a harbinger of the intensifying struggle in Washington concerning the issue of bilingual education. The administration is expected to propose further changes among its proposals for renewing the education act. And, because the bill cuts back federal dollars for teacher training, opponents say it would exacerbate the current shortage of qualified bilingual education instructors. Nationwide, 3.2 million students are classified as being of limited English proficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Education, including almost 1.4 million in California.