Bilingual Education

No Child Left Behind Transforms

Last Updated Aug 20, 2008 04:13 AM

“No Child Left Behind Transforms Bilingual Education Programs, Empowers Hispanic Parents to Ensure LEP Children Learn English
Dear Republican Colleague:

As the attached article from the Associated Press suggests, many Hispanic American parents across the United States are dissatisfied with bilingual education programs that slow their children’s progress in learning English. As parent Lupe Martinez puts it: “I’m not opposed to my children being bilingual but they should know English first."

Many Hispanic American parents are understandably outraged when their children are denied the chance to receive the same education as other students in America. They’re rightfully indignant when they learn their children are in language instruction classes taught by a teacher who is not fluent in English. And for the first time, federal bilingual education programs are being transformed to address the concerns of parents like Lupe Martinez.

As a result of the No Child Left Behind Act (H.R. 1), the bipartisan education reform legislation signed in January by President Bush, bilingual education programs across the country are being transformed to give new tools to parents and to focus on helping limited English proficient (LEP) children learn English. The article also notes that No Child Left Behind is already helping to improve accountability in bilingual education in states like Colorado.

With regard to bilingual education, the No Child Left Behind law:

Ensures that LEP children have the same chance to learn English as other students by completely changing the focus of bilingual education programs. The former Bilingual Education and Immigrant Education programs are consolidated into a single flexible program with a totally new focus on helping LEP students learn English.

Helps parents monitor their children’s progress by requiring that LEP students be tested for reading and language arts in English after they have attended school in the United States for three consecutive years. Parents must also be notified when a LEP child is in need of English language instruction.
Lets parents ensure that their children’s teachers are fluent in English, including written and oral communication skills, and any other language used by the program.
Through No Child Left Behind, we have committed unprecedented new education resources to schools across America. Together, we can make sure that no child in our nation is left behind.

See also Bilingual Education 513 1 - 6