Colo. Extends Bilingual Ed., But Mass. Voters Reject It

By Mary Ann Zehr

Bilingual education will live on in Colorado, following a rare win at the ballot box for bilingual education supporters. But it faces near-extinction in Massachusetts in the wake of last week's elections.

Meanwhile, the man who was the major force behind those measures and similar initiatives previously passed in two other states hinted that he might target New York next. Ron K. Unz declined to specify how he would change bilingual education policy in that state given there is no citizen-initiative process there. He also would like the U.S. Congress to step in and take up his cause.

"It seems to be clear that this should be dealt with at the federal level," said Mr. Unz, the author of the Colorado and Massachusetts proposals. The California businessman was behind the anti-bilingual-education measures that passed in California in 1998 and...