Bilingual Ed. Advocates Decry Changes to Title VII

By Mary Ann Zehr

Washington

Bilingual education advocates aren't happy with the bill passed by the House last month to reauthorize funding for the instruction of children with limited English skills.

The main purpose of HR 2, approved Oct. 21 by a vote of 358-67, was to reauthorize Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. But lawmakers also folded in Title VII, which covers bilingual education.

Delia Pompa, the executive director of the Washington-based National Association for Bilingual Education, said the Title VII provisions would discourage schools from using languages other than English, almost to the point of...