Decision Delayed on Bilingual Classes Waiver

SACRAMENTO — The State Board of Education postponed a decision Thursday on Orange Unified School District’s effort to slash its bilingual education program in favor of immersing students in classrooms dominated by English.

After hearing from backers and foes of the plan, the board delayed until today a vote on the district’s pitch for a waiver from state rules.

The delay will give state school trustees a chance to hear from their staff, which is staunchly opposed to the district’s proposal. But a few members of the state board, which has granted waivers to three other Orange County districts, said they were poised to give their approval.

Orange Unified, with 29,000 students enrolled for the coming school year, wants to become the largest district in California to win a waiver from traditional bilingual education.

The district’s program would require children to be taught in English, with some classroom help from bilingual aides and after-school tutoring. The district also plans a program for pre-kindergarten children as well as summer school English courses.

“We’re not providing less, we’re not taking away,” said Supt. Robert L. French. “We’re providing more.”

In a written report to the board released Thursday, education department staff members say the district failed to spell out details such as how the program will be evaluated and who will decide if students need extra help in their native languages.

There is also no mention of training that would be required for bilingual aides or what kinds of native-language instructional materials would be available.

The staff report noted that more than 800 parents in the district had signed a petition expressing concern about the changes. The report cited several complaints about the district’s failure to tap the sentiment of parents with children in the program.

Several disgruntled parents told the board Thursday that they don’t believe a change is needed.

“We have seen our children be successful in this program,” said Carmen Martinez, a member of the district’s bilingual advisory committee. She said Orange’s decision to scrap bilingual education “did not take into account the feelings of parents” who have seen the existing program work.

Orange Unified school officials, however, said the change has gotten wide support.

“I believe there is overwhelming community support for this change,” said Robert Viviano, an Orange trustee. He also sought to reassure the state board that the district has the best interests of pupils at heart.

“Please be assured, we will not let the children fail.”