[SmithL]

Your tax dollars at work.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Check out this ...........

http://www.seph.ws/sinking.html

[sageb1]

"The reason: State policies encourage districts to keep students in English-learner programs rather than reclassify them, according to recent studies by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, the Legislative Analyst's Office and the Bureau of State Audits.

Schools receive more money for students who speak a primary language other than English"

This is the problem. It is the same with other programs such as special ed. In order to justify the program and the money for the program, kids must be kept IN the program.

[TMD]

When my (now 13 yr old) son was in kindergarten, a boy from Japan, who spoke zero English, was put in his class in January. By June, he spoke perfect English and he was also teaching his mother how to speak English.

A friend of mine spoke only German on her first day of school when her mother put her on the bus to go off to kindergarten. By Christmas, she spoke like a native English speaker. (Of couse, this was back in the 'olden' days when common sense still ruled....)
Another friend is from Pakistan and speaks his native language at home so his kids will learn it. He wants them to learn English at school by being in English classes but, the school keeps insisting that his kids be in 'English Learner' classes.

It seems to me that they are only slowing kids down if they keep them in English learner classes for years and years. Sheesh!