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grinninfooleI got this email a couple of days ago. I think it's worth doing, but feel free to ignore me if you want.
Contact Your Legislator NOW!
Contact your legislators, both senator and representative, and Senator Antonioni and Representative Larkin, chairs of the Education Committee ask that
they file or sponsor legislation to repeal or amend question #2. See below for some ideas on points to make with your legislator. Pass this along to others.
Get everyone you know to call now. The deadline for filing new legislation is December 4th. I have attached this as a word document so that you can also
pass this along to others.
Contact information
Senator Robert A. Antonioni (617) 722-1230 RAntonio@senate.state.ma.us
Rep. Peter J. Larkin (617) 722-2817 Rep.PeterLarkin@hou.state.ma.us
For your local representative and senator, see the following website:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/electedofficials.php
Ideas for the Phone Call to the Legislature
Please sponsor or file legislation to repeal or amend because of the following:
It has huge cost implications at a time when school districts will already be cutting programs.
The one-year provision for students to learn English is unrealistic and violates students' civil rights. Federal law requires public educational agencies to
take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that impede student participation in the instructional program. In Lau v. Nichols, the Supreme Court
ruled that placing LEP students in a regular program taught in English, when they were unable to participate meaningfully in that program because of their
limited English proficiency, constituted discrimination on the basis of national origin in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The waiver provisions of the initiative does not allow for parent choice for children under the age of 10.
Ninety-two percent of Latinos in the UMass exit poll voted no on question #2. This is the population most knowledgeable and most affected by bilingual
programs. This population obviously wants more flexibility and parent choice than question #2 allows.
There is no accountability for school districts, which do not have to show that they are meeting the needs of the students. Please file legislation to
amend question #2 to include:
Parent choice for bilingual education under the age of 10 including allowing popular and innovative programs to continue to exist.
Require school districts to provide some option of bilingual education to all grades K-12 students.
Require school districts to consult and involve parents and local community organizations serving immigrants in the development of programs for English
language learners.
Require school district's to be accountable for the programs they establish. Programs chosen by school districts must show that students are progressing
both in English and academically and showing improvement as shown by classroom performance and other measures such as MCAS. Three-year plans
must be developed and submitted to the Department of Education to include details of program development, remediation plans, parental involvement, and
professional development.
Require the Department of Education to monitor the implementation of programs for English language learners.
Delete the one year only of programming for English language learners and require school districts to provide services to the students until they have
learned sufficient English to succeed in school as measured by both English proficiency and subject matter performance.
Delete the provision allowing for suits against teachers and other educational personnel.
Clarify, as in the Larkin-Antonioni bill, that teachers in immersion programs should be certified as bilingual and ESL teachers.
Consistent with numerous statements made in public debate by question #2's proponents, clarify that teachers in immersion programs may use the native
language, when necessary, for up to half the school day in order to help their students understand concepts.#
Contact Your Legislator NOW!
Contact your legislators, both senator and representative, and Senator Antonioni and Representative Larkin, chairs of the Education Committee ask that
they file or sponsor legislation to repeal or amend question #2. See below for some ideas on points to make with your legislator. Pass this along to others.
Get everyone you know to call now. The deadline for filing new legislation is December 4th. I have attached this as a word document so that you can also
pass this along to others.
Contact information
Senator Robert A. Antonioni (617) 722-1230 RAntonio@senate.state.ma.us
Rep. Peter J. Larkin (617) 722-2817 Rep.PeterLarkin@hou.state.ma.us
For your local representative and senator, see the following website:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/electedofficials.php
Ideas for the Phone Call to the Legislature
Please sponsor or file legislation to repeal or amend because of the following:
It has huge cost implications at a time when school districts will already be cutting programs.
The one-year provision for students to learn English is unrealistic and violates students' civil rights. Federal law requires public educational agencies to
take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that impede student participation in the instructional program. In Lau v. Nichols, the Supreme Court
ruled that placing LEP students in a regular program taught in English, when they were unable to participate meaningfully in that program because of their
limited English proficiency, constituted discrimination on the basis of national origin in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The waiver provisions of the initiative does not allow for parent choice for children under the age of 10.
Ninety-two percent of Latinos in the UMass exit poll voted no on question #2. This is the population most knowledgeable and most affected by bilingual
programs. This population obviously wants more flexibility and parent choice than question #2 allows.
There is no accountability for school districts, which do not have to show that they are meeting the needs of the students. Please file legislation to
amend question #2 to include:
Parent choice for bilingual education under the age of 10 including allowing popular and innovative programs to continue to exist.
Require school districts to provide some option of bilingual education to all grades K-12 students.
Require school districts to consult and involve parents and local community organizations serving immigrants in the development of programs for English
language learners.
Require school district's to be accountable for the programs they establish. Programs chosen by school districts must show that students are progressing
both in English and academically and showing improvement as shown by classroom performance and other measures such as MCAS. Three-year plans
must be developed and submitted to the Department of Education to include details of program development, remediation plans, parental involvement, and
professional development.
Require the Department of Education to monitor the implementation of programs for English language learners.
Delete the one year only of programming for English language learners and require school districts to provide services to the students until they have
learned sufficient English to succeed in school as measured by both English proficiency and subject matter performance.
Delete the provision allowing for suits against teachers and other educational personnel.
Clarify, as in the Larkin-Antonioni bill, that teachers in immersion programs should be certified as bilingual and ESL teachers.
Consistent with numerous statements made in public debate by question #2's proponents, clarify that teachers in immersion programs may use the native
language, when necessary, for up to half the school day in order to help their students understand concepts.#
