ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

HOW EDUCATION FARED ON ELECTION DAY 

The Education Commission of the States (www.ecs.org) reported on the results of education initiatives around the country in Tuesday's election in the USA...

In Massachusetts, voters overwhelmingly rejected bilingual education and replaced it with all-English classes, defying educators and politicians who had warned the contentious measure would spell disaster for thousands of students struggling to learn English. Returns showed Question 2 winning with 70% of the vote.

Until Colorado, every place he tried to eliminate bilingual education by ballot initiative, Ron Unz won by a landslide. But Amendment 31, the Colorado version of the "English for the Children" initiatives Unz has been placing on state ballots since 1998, went down to defeat Tuesday night. Voters rejected the measure, which would have banned native-language support for immigrant pupils and mandated one year of English immersion.

In Florida, Amendment 8, which will make pre-kindergarten available to all 4-year-olds throughout Florida -- easily won passage.

In California, a measure designed by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to funnel more state money into after-school programs was approved by California voters. Proposition 49, the After School Education and Safety Program Act of 2002, earmarks up to $550 million of the state's annual budget for tutoring, homework assistance, and other enrichment activities.