May 1, 2003

ROMNEY VOWS TO PROTECT ENGLISH IMMERSION LAW

New regulations go into effect in time for start of school in September

 

 

Governor Mitt Romney and Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey today applauded the state Board of Education for approving new regulations for the implementation of the English immersion law when school starts in September.

 

 

Romney, standing with supporters of last fall’s English immersion ballot question, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters, also warned lawmakers against tampering with the law.

 

 

“The voters have spoken loud and clear on the issue of bilingual education. We need to respect the wishes of the people of Massachusetts and recognize that immersion creates a level playing field in our classrooms that allows non-English speakers to succeed,” Romney said.

 

 

The new law requires that all non-English learners, unless they receive a waiver, be enrolled in sheltered English immersion classrooms for at least one year. In these classes, virtually all instruction will be in English, and all books and instructional materials will be in English. Once the students are deemed fluent in English, they will receive instruction in traditional classrooms alongside their native English-speaking peers.

 

 

This represents a dramatic change from the existing transitional bilingual education system in which limited English proficient students are placed in bilingual education classrooms for up to three years. In these classes, they are taught English, but learn every other subject in their native language as they gradually gain English proficiency.

 

 

“Bilingual education has led to the establishment of two school systems in Massachusetts – one for children who speak English and another for non-English speakers,” said Healey.

 

 

Supporters of the law urged lawmakers to follow the voters’ wishes and not attempt to water down the law.

 

 

“Don’t insult the intelligence and abilities of our young immigrant children by forcing them to return to the same second-rate bilingual education program that has failed to help them,” said Lincoln Tamayo, former chairman of English for the Children, which spearheaded the passage of last year’s ballot initiative.

 

 

This week, the Board of Education adopted regulations to fully implement Question 2, which was passed overwhelmingly by the voters last November. Beginning in September, school districts across the Commonwealth will be required to offer immersion programs to non-native speakers.

 

 

Among the regulations:

 

 

Teachers of English language learners must obtain a license to ensure they have expertise in second language acquisition and knowledge of appropriate subject matter.

 

District superintendents need to provide annual written assurance to the Department of Education that all teachers of English language classrooms are literate and fluent in English.

 

Each district must develop procedures to identify students who are English learners and assess their level of English proficiency when they enter the district.

 

In addition, the Board issued a draft regulation to establish a dispute resolution process on the local and state level that parents must exhaust before filing a legal claim. Romney said this regulation will make it harder for parents to sue teachers, a provision of the law that he opposed.

 

 

For more information on Question 2 or to read the regulations, look online at www.doe.mass.edu/ell/.

 

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Supporters of English Immersion

 

Stephen Adams, President & CEO, Pioneer Institute

 

Maria Baquero, Parent that formally worked with Chelsea High School

 

 

Engs Co

 

Clerk

 

Framingham Post Office

 

 

David Driscoll, Commissioner of Education

 

 

Michael Glickman, Director Special Projects, SABIS Educational Systems

 

Margaret Kramer. Head of Lower School Community Day Charter School

 

 

Tom McDermott, Managing Director, TPM Associates

 

 

Maria McDermott, Active Volunteer

 

 

Kyle Meleski, Director of Public Affairs, Associated Builders & Contractors

 

 

Attorney Michael Moriarty, Law Office of Ducharme & Turcotte, Moriarty,

 

Pete Peters, Founding Chairman, Pioneer Institute

 

James Peyser, Chairman, Board of Education

 

 

Rosalie Porter

 

Chairman

 

English for the Children

 

 

David Rodriguez-Pinzon

 

President

 

Economic Development Finance Corp.

 

 

Rep. Mary Rogeness

 

(R) Longmeadow

 

 

Christine H. Rossell

 

Boston University

 

Professor of Political Science

 

 

Carol Sanchez

 

CPA

 

Resources Connection

 

 

Maria Santiago

 

CPA

 

Grant Thornton

 

 

Roberta Schaefer

 

Member of the Board of Education & Executive Dir. Worcester Regional Research Bureau

 

 

Dean Doug Sears

 

Boston University

 

School of Education

 

 

Ray Stata

 

CEO

 

Analog Devices (Norwood)

 

 

Lincoln Tamayo

 

Former Chairman

 

English for the Children

 

 

Abigail Thernstrom

 

Member of the Board of Education & Commission on Civil Right