After decades of relying on the bilingual education program in order that spanish-speaking children learn english, and after the increasing number of these students who are perpetual bilingual (in elementary school) then are placed in ESL (English as a Second Language) in middle school, it is time to try something new.
Three states who are moving forward in this direction are Arizona, California, and Massachusettes. California uses the SEI (Structured English Immersion) program. The focus is to teach english by speaking english (similar to an ESL program). http://www.onenation.org/1198/110198c.html
There is still much debate over which program is better: Bilingual Education or SEI (a form of ESL).
I believe that a program that gets results faster and is more effective for our children at least deserves a change in Texas. Many parents I spoke with (when I was a bilingual teacher (for 7 years)), want their children to learn English quickly and effectively. http://janetlwhite.efoliomn.com/structuredenglishimmersion
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