Immigrant Parents Demand Their Rights Under Proposition 227

Contacts: Martha Zaragoza Diaz California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) - 916-607-0710
Denis O'Leary, Education Advisor, Far West Region League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 805- 407-1987 Francisco Estrada, Senior Policy Analyst Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) 916-276-2147
Mary Hernandez, Staff Attorney Multicultural Education, Training and Advocacy, Inc. (META) - 760-271-4738 Gabriel Medel, Executive Director Parents for Unity - 213-864-7638

SACRAMENTO, March 5, 2002 - For 5 months now, scores of parents of California's immigrant children have forfeited a day’s wages and journeyed to Sacramento. They come from every major city to plead with the State Board of Education to keep California's promise under Proposition 227 - parental programmatic choice for their children.

Despite the explicit intent of the Prop. 227 to give program “choice to parents, not administrators,” students have been forced into English-only instructional programs in many California districts against parental wishes. "Hundreds of parents have been denied parent exception waivers because district or school site administrators refuse to offer an alternative program as guaranteed by Prop. 227.” says Gabriel Medel, President of Parents for Unity.

Many parents have never been informed of their right to request an alternative program for their children. Other parents claim that when they request a 227 waiver, school districts place insurmountable barriers, such as requiring parents to come in by appointment only during their work day. When this is not possible for parents working in the fields, in a nursing home or factory, their request is simply denied. Called “parental exception waivers,” they allow some instructional explanations to children in their primary language to augment their instruction in English. "Access to programs which provide instruction in their home language is critical for some of our children to comprehend high stakes, complex subject matter," said Maria Quezada, Executive Director of CABE.

"It is time for the State Board of Education to stop compromising the rights of parents and adopt regulations that allow parents to choose what they think is best for their own children." says Denis O'Leary of LULAC. “Any State Board member espousing a belief in accountability and parental choice must surely support the right of parents to choose programs that are shown to be effective for their children,” said Mary Hernandez of META.

On March 7, parents will gather at 8 a.m. at 721 Capitol Mall to once again urge the State Board to amend its proposed regulations to protect parental right to choose. The parents are supported by Californians Together and its many member organizations. For copies of the written comments submitted to the State Board regarding amendments sought, call 415-546-6382.