Numerous simultaneous educational reforms and limited data prevent drawing conclusions about the independent effects of California's Proposition 227, a 2-year-old English Only initiative. Achievement scores show little benefit for English learners. Observational data indicate that implementation of high stakes testing has encouraged teaching that…

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…

Reactions of 30 bilingual teachers and 20 administrators to implementation of Proposition 227 match those of educators throughout California. Teachers worry about the erosion of primary language programs, the imposition of English-only standardized testing, and the lack of clear leadership on policy implementation. Administrator concerns include…