Schools Say They Can Handle Amnesty Classes

Despite fears of a classroom shortage, federal and state officials said Wednesday that there should be sufficient space and teachers to provide amnesty recipients in San Diego and elsewhere in California with required instruction in U.S. civics and the English language.

“I think we’re prepared,” said Carlos Gonzales, a consultant with the California Department of Education.

Richard A. Epstein, a special assistant to the secretary of the state Health and Welfare Agency, said: “This does not appear to be an obvious, enormous problem.”

The officials’ comments, at an immigration forum in San Diego, come at a time when many observers have expressed concern that schools and other learning centers in California may be overwhelmed starting this November, when hundreds of thousands of former illegal aliens begin signing up for instruction that is a prerequisite to permanent U. S. legal residence.

Requirement of Law

The law requires that most applicants demonstrate a basic knowledge of U. S. government and history, as well as “minimal” understanding of English. Exempt are those who were younger than 16 or older than 65 when they applied, as well as applicants who have already had one year of formal schooling in the United States.

Applicants lacking the required civics knowledge and language ability will be obliged to demonstrate that they are “satisfactorily pursuing” a government-approved course providing such instruction. The federal government is furnishing states with funds to fully offset the classroom costs.

Schools, private agencies and employers throughout the nation are gearing up to provide such courses, officials said, but there still is some question as to whether the demand will be met. There is also considerable concern that “fly-by-night” schools will pop up and seek to profit from any void, a specter that INS officials say they will seek to avert by closely monitoring the certification process for schools and other learning centers.

“We’re very much concerned with the rip-off artist out there; we don’t want them operating,” said William S. King Jr., the service’s Western regional director for immigration reform, who, like the state officials, also expressed optimism that ample classroom space would be available.

Applicants in State

The need for instruction is expected to be particularly acute in California, which accounted for about 900,000 amnesty applications--more than half of the 1.7 million total nationwide, according to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. About 99% of applicants in the West received temporary legal residence documents.

Beginning Nov. 7, these temporary residents will be able to apply for permanent residence--the so-called “Phase II” of the amnesty process. Applicants have only a 12-month period in which to apply, or they face a return to their illegal status.

The San Diego area, with only about 40,000 amnesty applicants, faces a much easier task than the Los Angeles area, where several hundred thousand applicants are expected to seek permanent legal residency. Many have questioned the system’s ability to provide adequate instruction in Los Angeles.

“My impression is that San Diego is a lot better off than some other areas, certainly than Los Angeles,” said James Turnage, the INS district director in San Diego, in a comment echoed by others knowledgeable about the local situation.

Carol Rogoff Hallstrom, coordinator of the San Diego Law Coalition, representing community groups, said she is nonetheless concerned that a classroom shortfall could develop in San Diego and elsewhere unless the immigration service liberalizes its education requirements. Specifically, she noted that the INS, in proposed guidelines, is mandating that applicants be enrolled in classes totaling 100 hours, compared with an earlier proposal that they enroll in 60-hour classes.

“This does have the potential for creating a scarcity,” Hallstrom said.

INS officials said they are reviewing all guidelines.

There is also some concern that the classes will only be accessible to applicants who own vehicles.

“I would like to see more programs in neighborhood areas, so people could walk to them,” said Betty Womack-Halvin, coordinator of adult and vocational education for the San Diego County Office of Education.