Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California has vetoed a bill that called for special textbooks for the state’s 1.6 million students with limited English proficiency.
The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Martha Escutia, a Democrat, was meant to counter an April 17 decision by the California state board of education to approve a new curriculum framework for language arts for 2008 that didn’t include separate textbooks for English-language learners.
“I cannot endorse any effort which may lead to the creation “of separate curricula and textbooks that will isolate these students within our public schools,” wrote Gov. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, in vetoing the bill on Sept. 29.