English Immersion Golden for California Students

Number of English proficient students up 72 percent in two years

For the second consecutive year, English language learners in California have made incredible gains on language proficiency tests, showing the nation that Golden State residents were forward thinking in their passage of English immersion. Prop. 227, which required all public school instruction to be done in English, was passed by California voters in 1998.

“The results in California prove that when there is a determined English learning policy in place, the results can be incredible,” said Mauro E. Mujica, Chairman of U.S. English, Inc. “Our children and our residents need a distinct language policy if we are to ensure that we can all communicate in our country’s common language. California’s success in the classroom should send a message to all Americans that we must put an emphasis on English in the classroom.”

According to the results, 72 percent more California English language learners (ELLs) in grades K-12 scored at the “advanced” or “early advanced” levels on the 2003-04 California English Language Development Test (CELDT) than in the inaugural 2001-02 version. The outstanding improvement, which was recorded at each grade, saw 43 percent of the students reaching the standard, an increase from 34 percent in 2002-03 and 25 percent in 2001-02. More than half of all 7-12 grade ELLs achieved “advanced” or “early advanced” levels, including 63 percent of high school seniors.

The increases demonstrate the opposite effect of what opponents of Prop. 227 claimed would occur. “When English immersion was first suggested as a replacement for failing bilingual education programs, we were told by a vocal minority that we were making a mistake,” Mujica explained. “Yet Prop. 227 passed with 61 percent of the vote and the support of the majority of voters in all but one county. These test scores demonstrate that Californians made the right choice when they asked that their children be educated in English.

“As we work toward the most effective method to educate limited English proficient students and adults, we must never shy away from trying new ideas. The move from bilingual education to English immersion has been an important step in our effort to turn out the next great generation of immigrants.”

U.S. English, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest non-partisan citizens' action group dedicated to preserving the unifying role of the English language in the United States. Founded in 1983 by the late Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California, U.S. English, Inc. (www.usenglish.org) now has more than 1.8 million members.