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Show Notes

• Frances recounts the recent day-long session on bilingual education that she and IDRA led for 115 parents as part of the annual Texas Association for Bilingual Education annual conference.

• Frances talks about the important role that parents play in bilingual education.

• Frances explains that bilingual education is a civil rights issue nationally, and that state laws in Texas position bilingual education as the most efficient process for helping children to learn English.

• Frances discusses key issues around bilingual education that parents should understand: the types of available language instruction at their children’s school, staff qualifications, curriculum used, and the requirement to give permission for their children to participate. Frances considers whether bilingual education is appropriate for all Latino children.

• Frances dispels two fallacies of bilingual education: (1) that it will “erase” or take away from the child’s first language or culture and (2) that it will prevent the student from actually learning English.

• Aurelio points listeners to two IDRA publications on bilingual education and English language learners: “Education of English Languages in U.S. and Texas Schools and “Good Schools and Classrooms for Children Learning English: A Guide.”

• Frances laments that bilingual education remains underfunded and argues that recent budget cuts shortchange everyone.