Last Updated: 5 February 2009


Van de Putte files bilingual education bill in response to judge's ruling

By Julian Aguilar

State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio. (Photo: RGG/Julian Aguilar)


AUSTIN, February 5 – State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte is preparing legislation she believes will ensure the Texas Education Agency offers quality curriculum and support for the state’s bilingual and special-language student population.


The San Antonio Democrat said her bill is partly due to a federal judge’s decision to reverse his previous ruling and charge that TEA was not offering all students access to equal education opportunities.


U.S. District Judge William Justice’s concluded that the TEA was violating a directive order established in a 1971 court case. The order required the agency to “ensure equal education opportunity in all schools, with particular attention to minority students and minority-language students,â€