English-Language Learners

Calif. School Board Member Recalled Over Prop. 227

By Mary Ann Zehr — February 12, 2003 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Nativo Lopez, a member of the Santa Ana, Calif., school board, was unseated last week in a special recall election supported by the anti-bilingual-education activist Ron K. Unz.

Mr. Unz, who contended that Mr. Lopez had impeded the implementation of California’s Proposition 227, contributed $100,000 for gathering the signatures required to support the election.

Mr. Lopez, who was in the middle of his second four-year term, lost the Feb. 4 recall election in the largely Hispanic voting district by a majority of 71 percent to 29 percent of the 12,600 votes cast.

Proposition 227, a ballot initiative written by Mr. Unz and approved by voters in 1998, curtails bilingual education in the state. Under the law, schools may provide bilingual education only to children whose parents have signed waivers to keep them out of the English-immersion instruction called for in the measure.

Bilingual education is an instructional method in which students are taught some subjects in their native languages while they are learning English.

Informing Parents

Voters chose Rob Richardson, a former school board member and Santa Ana city councilman as Mr. Lopez’s replacement, according to unofficial results that were expected to be certified this week.

Mr. Unz said Mr. Lopez’s loss of his post was another sign that bilingual education is not popular, even among Latinos.

Sal Tinajero, the president of the five-member Santa Ana school board, countered that bilingual education was only one of several issues at the center of Mr. Lopez’s ouster.

Mr. Lopez didn’t impede the implementation of Proposition 227 in the 62,000-student school system, but he persisted in informing parents about their children’s right to bilingual education through the waiver process, Mr. Tinajero added.

“If anything, Ron Unz dropped the ball because he didn’t write [the law] as airtight as he should have,” Mr. Tinajero said. “Parents have the right to choose.”

Mr. Lopez did not return phone calls last week seeking comment on his defeat.

Events

Student Well-Being Webinar After-School Learning Top Priority: Academics or Fun?
Join our expert panel to discuss how after-school programs and schools can work together to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss.
Budget & Finance Webinar Leverage New Funding Sources with Data-Informed Practices
Address the whole child using data-informed practices, gain valuable insights, and learn strategies that can benefit your district.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
ChatGPT & Education: 8 Ways AI Improves Student Outcomes
Revolutionize student success! Don't miss our expert-led webinar demonstrating practical ways AI tools will elevate learning experiences.
Content provided by Inzata

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

English-Language Learners The Equity Question of Dual Language Programs
While interest in dual language programs is growing, questions remain over how to ensure English learners get first pick at seats.
7 min read
A group of fourth grade students complete lessons in Spanish in the Global Immersion Academy program at Mountain View Elementary School, on Sept. 18, 2022, in Morganton, N.C. With the inaugural class of the Global Immersion Academy (GIA) at at the school entering fourth grade this year, Burke County Public Schools is seeing more signs of success for its dual language program.
A group of fourth grade students complete lessons in Spanish in the Global Immersion Academy program at Mountain View Elementary School, on Sept. 18, 2022, in Morganton, N.C. With the inaugural class of the Global Immersion Academy (GIA) at at the school entering fourth grade this year, Burke County Public Schools is seeing more signs of success for its dual language program.
Jason Koon/The News-Herald via AP
English-Language Learners Title 42 Has Expired. How School Districts Can Welcome Immigrant Students
While it's uncertain how many immigrant students will enroll, school districts offer advice on how to best serve them.
6 min read
Adult male educator holding door for elementary age children in private school with uniforms and wearing backpacks.
E+/Getty
English-Language Learners Opinion How to Help Long-Term English Learners Progress
Start by ditching the erroneous label and referring to the students as "experienced multilinguals" and then adjust their supports.
8 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
English-Language Learners Opinion Use Practical Strategies to Improve English-Learners' Speaking Skills
Give students many chances to use the language because the greater the opportunity, the more comfortable they'll become.
13 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty