Dive Brief:

• The California Senate Education Committee approved (8-0) a bill that would annul a 1998 measure requiring all public school instruction to be taught in English.  
• The bill attempts to bring back bilingual education with, according to Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), the intention of matching the needs of our global economy.  
• Lara has suggested the bill be placed on the 2016 ballot.  

Dive Insight:

The bill's vote was abstained by one member of the committee.  A former school board member, Sen. Mark Wyland, argued that prior to the 1998 bill banning bilingual education, students in Spanish-speaking schools "couldn’t speak or read or write English" when tested.  He voiced concern that such students wouldn't have the English-language skills necessary to get better jobs, but Sen. Ben Hueso countered that not everyone in the international business community is an English speaker. 

As the bill progresses, it will be interesting to see how Californians respond, as it will provide a good idea of the diversity and mindset of our times.