In California, parents who still want bilingual programs can petition and obtain them for their kids. A similar measure is written into the Arizona version, but it is more demanding. And penalties for noncompliance are more restrictive. Parents would have to fill out a long application that includes a space for a 250-word essay describing how their children would benefit from bilingual education. And teachers or administrators found guilty of willfully violating the immersion law could be sued, held personally liable by parents and removed from office for five years.
Public sentiment seems to favor the proposed measure so far.
A poll released by the Arizona Republic shows nearly three-quarters of voters favor English immersion programs over bilingual education. Critics worry that Arizona voters are not sufficiently aware of how much local control they are in danger of losing if the new law is passed. Arizonans have always prided themselves on the amount of choice that parents have in their children's education. This bill will deprive them of that. They don't learn to speak or read English properly, and we have a high percentage of Latinos dropping out because they cannot continue with their education.