They need to know if they're supposed to teach only the English language, or, more sensibly, use the English language to teach the full curriculum. The state board's guidelines let districts decide how to teach in English. We hope the state education department will reassure educators that 227 does not require English-only instruction. Proposition 227's author, Palo Alto entrepreneur Ron Unz, says it allows teaching in a different language for up to an hour a day, or 20 to 30 percent of class time. That allows considerable flexibility, and should be the standard.
Some districts still hope to delay compliance.
San Jose Unified believes it can continue bilingual classes in Spanish because they're included in the court order settling a federal desegregation suit. Eight months ago, the first polls came out showing overwhelming support for Proposition 227. Now there's less than two months till the start of the new school year. It's past time to focus on educating students in English. What's at risk is the quality of education for nearly one of four students in California.