The State - News from July 7, 1987

The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved legislation that would extend for five years the state’s bilingual education program, which expired June 30. The bill by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco), similar to a measure vetoed last year by Gov. George Deukmejian, would require school districts to continue providing instruction in students’ native languages while they learn English. Without renewal of California’s bilingual education law, school districts will operate next year under a less restrictive federal law that gives administrators greater flexibility in teaching students who do not speak English. Deukmejian has said he wants reforms in the program but has not specified what changes he would like.