Hispanic, Bilingual Groups Unite Against Calif. Measure

By Lynn Schnaiberg

Dallas

The California ballot initiative that could virtually dismantle bilingual education in the state's public schools came under the spotlight last week at the annual meeting of the National Association for Bilingual Education.

In a news conference held here late last week, a coalition of more than 20 of some of the nation's largest Hispanic groups denounced the initiative, now known as Proposition 227, saying it "represents a giant step backwards in the Hispanic community's continuing quest for educational equity and excellence."

The nationally watched "English for the Children" initiative would require that California children with limited English skills be taught, in most cases, for no more than a year in special English classes before moving into the mainstream. It would establish a detailed process that parents would have to go through to choose a...