The Nation - News from Jan. 16, 1987

Education Secretary William J. Bennett resubmitted to Congress a proposal to lift restrictions on the $143-million bilingual education program and allow local school districts to decide how to use the money. Bennett announced the action in remarks prepared for delivery at the Texas Education Conference in San Antonio. Current law allows 4% of bilingual education funds to be used for alternative programs, with the bulk used for instruction in which students are taught in their native language while learning English. Bennett’s plan made no headway when it was submitted last year.