Orange District Sees Victory in English Immersion Ruling

A Sacramento Superior Court judge has ruled that the Orange Unified School District can continue an English immersion effort it began after scrapping its bilingual education program last August.

The complex decision, issued Tuesday by Judge Ronald B. Robie, has statewide implications because the judge found that school districts are not required to offer native-language instruction unless such programs are necessary to give all students equal access to education.

The judge ruled that a state law requiring mandatory bilingual education in schools is no longer valid because the legislation expired in 1986. But he said that districts must provide equal education to all students and that bilingual education might sometimes be required to reach that goal.

Administrators at Orange Unified, one of the largest in the state to cease bilingual education, said they were thrilled by the decision.

“It was our contention all along that we should have local control,” said Neil McKinnon, assistant superintendent for education. “This is great. We can focus our time and energy on the kids.”

But attorneys representing parents who have been fighting the district’s action also found some measure of victory because the judge said bilingual education may sometimes be necessary to properly educate children.

“It does not mean the district is off the hook. They must provide primary-language instruction when necessary,” said Cynthia L. Rice, an attorney with California Rural Legal Assistance, which represented the parents opposed to English immersion.

The judge is expected to issue a final ruling in the next few weeks.