Thread: TX:State Sen. files bilingual education bill

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€

I am not so sure what the heck Julian Aguilar know about education int he State of Texas but the requirements for teaching ESL in Texas schools is certification in ESL + reading and English certification. For elementary all you need is ESL certification. Teachers who have ESL certification already get a extra stipend for certification and most districts reimburse the cost of courses needed to get certification. Already teachers have to take professional credits in their certification areas to keep teaching.

These kind of non-sense, feel good bills are completely wasting out time. We can't get teachers because adults are tired of the way they are treated by our public schools. We have been over run in the cities by illegal alien children who have parents that don't care if they go to school, much less if they behave. School districts won't discipline the kids because they are afraid that they will not show up for class and the school accountability rating will be damaged. Thus standing to lose millions in federal and state funding.

I am getting about fed up with Hispanics getting into office and their only agenda is helping their own kind to more free rides. Education should be in the interest of all kids not just special interest groups. That is exactly why our educational system is failing. The only interest we seem to have is economically disadvantaged, special ed and ESL. The rest of the kids in our public school seem to be of no importance, other than showing up so school districts can get their average daily attendance up.

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.

Uh-huh. And how about a quality curriculum for American students?

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

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.

Uh-huh. And how about a quality curriculum for American students?

As a Texas educator, I can assure you that that statement is true. All our schools care about is special education and bilingual students. Why? Because there is SO much federal money going to school for every kid they have in these programs. These kids are more important because they are literally worth more money.