Arizona Lawmaker Proposes More Federal Support for English Fluency Services
The post Arizona Lawmaker Proposes More Federal Support for English Fluency Services appeared first on ProPublica .
Arizona Representative Adelita Grijalva introduced three bills on September 16 to address literacy, dual language programs, and teacher training for English learners in the state, following reports from Arizona Luminaria and ProPublica that the state lowered the threshold for passing its English proficiency test. Grijalva's Reaching English Learners Act proposes competitive grants for teacher training and emphasizes the need for federal support to improve English learning, arguing that the previous "English-only" model has failed students.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, a Republican who supports the "English-only" approach, criticized Grijalva's characterization of his policies and insisted that bilingual education is ineffective. The state's pass rate for English proficiency tests increased to 26% after the change, with over 30,000 students removed from English-language services.
Two other bills introduced by Grijalva aim to provide family literacy programs and dual-language immersion programs for low-income children.
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