California Schools Working to Restore Bilingual Education Following 18-Year Ban

California stands out as one of the most diverse and lively states in the United States. It holds the title of the country’s most populous state, with no single racial or ethnic group in a majority position.

The state’s robust economy, fueled by public investments in the University of California system and a welcoming immigration policy, is the largest among all U.S. states. California’s diverse public education system caters to a significant number of English learners, surpassing other states. In 2021, California enrolled more K-12 ELs than Indiana did with its total student population.

Despite its cosmopolitan image, California’s schools enforced an English-only mandate for ELs from 1998 to 2016, a move prompted by concerns over immigration in the late 1990s. This policy change did not alter the state’s demographic trajectory significantly and had minimal impact on student learning outcomes.

In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 58, a referendum that paved the way for the reintroduction of bilingual education for ELs in the state. Advocates saw this as an opportunity to establish a multilingual educational system that aligns with California’s diverse society and prepares students for success in a globalized economy.

The initiation of California’s bilingual education journey following the passage of Proposition 58 is the focus of a series by The 74. The progress towards achieving the vision outlined in Prop. 58 has been uneven eight years post-approval, as the state faced challenges resulting from nearly two decades of limited language offerings in schools.

A significant shift occurred in California in 1998 when Proposition 227 declared it an English-only state. This led to a steep decline of around 70% in the number of ELs in bilingual education classrooms by 2003. While the new policy allowed bilingual education if parents opted out of English-only instruction, only a few schools managed to meet the requirements, causing non-English languages to vanish from classrooms.

Despite the statewide English-only policy, the demand for bilingual education persisted among Latino parents, leading to the establishment and continuation of bilingual programs like the one at Los Angeles’ Camino Nuevo Charter Academy. The school’s bilingual approach beginning in 2000 catered to students seeking to develop proficiency in English and Spanish.

Camino Nuevo’s bilingual curriculum, structured to gradually introduce English instruction alongside Spanish, has nurtured multilingual skills among its students. Parents like Maribel Martinez recognize the importance of bilingualism in maintaining children’s heritage languages and facilitating communication with non-English-speaking family members.

The academic and societal value of bilingual education extends beyond language proficiency. Research indicates that dual language immersion programs effectively support non-native English speakers in academic settings. Parents at Camino Nuevo appreciate the school’s bilingualism for enhancing parent-teacher communication and fostering a diverse educational experience.

With the resurgence of bilingual and dual language programs in California, efforts are underway to expand such initiatives to meet the state’s goal of establishing at least 1,600 DLI programs by 2030. Funding and support for new DLI schools highlight the shift towards embracing bilingual education after an 18-year ban that limited language diversity in the state’s educational landscape.

The shortage of bilingual teachers resulting from the state ban on bilingual programs presents a challenge for expanding bilingual classrooms across California. The lack of bilingual graduates from K-12 schools further compounds the issue, creating a disparity between the linguistic diversity of the student body and the teaching force in the state.

The demand for bilingual educators has led to the migration of skilled staff like those from Camino Nuevo to various public education settings in California. Former staff members have ventured into launching their dual language schools or contributing to education advocacy organizations, underscoring the growing importance of bilingualism in California’s education system.

Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School, located near the U.S.-Mexico border, serves as another hub for bilingual education in the region. Founded in 1998 by the Chula Vista Unified School District, the school aimed to maintain bilingual options post the English-only mandate, with a focus on early literacy skills in both languages simultaneously.

The evolution of bilingual education in California reflects changing public sentiments, with a majority of Latino voters supporting the restoration of bilingual programs. Surveys indicate increasing Latino families’ inclination towards enrolling children in bilingual programs, emphasizing the growing importance of bilingual education in the region.