Arizona Fails To Repeal English Immersion Programs

The Arizona legislature failed to repeal the state’s English immersion teaching programs, also known as Structured English Immersion.

The attempted repeal, House Concurrent Resolution 2026 (“HCR 2026”), stalled in the Arizona Senate and never received a formal vote by the entire Senate before the annual legislative session ended.

HCR 2026 attempted to repeal Arizona’s Structured English Immersion programs. The programs were mainly established after the passage of Proposition 203 in 2000.

ProEnglish long has advocated for English language immersion programs as far superior to bilingual education programs for students for whom English is not the native language, in order not to relegate such students to a linguistic ghetto in which they are destined for a poorer-quality educational experience and a stronger likelihood of lower-paying job opportunities upon graduation.

Bilingual education programs fail to teach students the English language and literacy skills that they need for academic and professional success. Segregation by language and ethnicity does not lead to higher academic performance, and delaying the learning of English holds back student achievement. Graduating from school without fluency and literacy in English severely deprives students of a world of greater academic and professional opportunities in the United States and elsewhere.

English language immersion programs offer students the opportunity to study English intensively and to learn how to speak, read, and write the language on a fast-track basis. English language immersion programs offer students the best chances for higher-quality educational experiences and a greater likelihood of higher-paying jobs and professional opportunities upon graduation.