This article deals with the importance of building partnerships between legislators and educators in order to impact educational legislation. To this end, the faculty in the college of education at a large, urban university made institutional changes to establish a proactive relationship amongst stakeholders. As a result of this exchange, we were…

Analyzes three public controversies related to California's Proposition 227: English as endangered language versus students' right to appropriate education, bilingual education versus structured English immersion, and local control and professional volition versus state-mandated English-only education. Outlines an advocacy framework applicable to…

This book discusses the debate over the English-only movement, examining how it affects teachers and students and highlighting one California district's experience with changes brought about by Proposition 227. Chapter 1, "Introduction," reviews the issue. Chapter 2, "Teachers' Place in the Local Enactment of Language Policy,"…

Describes the experiences of 20 Hispanic bilingual teachers in California following passage of Proposition 227. Teachers reported that Proposition 227 had created chaos, confusion, and academic setbacks for students and had intensified animosity between bilingual and nonbilingual advocates. Teachers exhibited resistance to the new measures. They…

Describes the teacher's role as basic to the struggle for educational equity and achievement, noting the importance of preservice preparation. Examines how anti-immigrant legislation affects teacher preparation by forcing teachers to passively emphasize standardized approaches to addressing English learners' complex needs. Shares attempts to…

Interviews with 32 teachers in 8 California school districts examined how teachers responded to Proposition 227. Three teacher reactions were identified: outward defiance, clarification of pedagogical purpose, and anxiety in the face of change. Key factors in these reactions were teacher ideology and experiences and the course of implementation…

In this article, the authors describe the results of research that explored how Proposition 227--a measure that mandates English immersion instruction for all English language learners--has affected bilingual teachers at varying points in their professional development. The perspectives of preservice, novice and veteran bilingual teachers offer…

Interviews with 77 California teachers who either continued teaching bilingual education, switched to English immersion, or continued teaching English immersion sought their perspectives on impacts of Proposition 227 to the teaching profession, instructional practices, students, school culture, and teacher relationships. Implementation of…