California faces challenges to recover bilingual education

California removed official barriers to bilingual education in 2016 and the state now champions bilingualism, but eight years after the repeal, California schools have yet to recover as they also had a decades-long drop in enrollment in bilingual teacher preparation programs and an entire generation lost access to bilingual learning.

It is important to note that the benefits of bilingualism are proven; young people who are fluent in two languages finish college better and have better job opportunities upon graduation.

Tara Garcia Mathewson, national education reporter for CalMatters, discusses the impact of the nearly 20-year ban.

Tara Garcia Mathewson, says that this problem affects them in several ways, first they are told that they should not speak English at home, and that causes damage to their family and their future.

She recognizes that prejudices against Spanish persist and damage the quality of the relationship between families.

He comments that there is damage even as a consequence of the prohibition of bilingual education.

Reveals that many schools are looking outside the United States for bilingual teachers.

What Texas is doing and what California can do to improve, let’s hear from Tara Garcia.

Tara Garcia Mathewson, national education reporter for CalMatters and The Markup, points out what barriers need to be removed to boost bilingual education and close the gaps.

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