Judge rejects state request on language program

A federal judge has rejected the state’s request to postpone his order to develop a new language program for the 140,000 students with limited English proficiency in Texas middle schools and high schools.

In a ruling released Friday, U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice said the program must be fixed by fall. The state had requested the delay while it appealed the order.

“The time has come to put a halt to the failed secondary English as a Second Language program and monitoring system” in Texas, Justice wrote.

In his original order in July, he said the improvements had to be in place by the start of the 2009-10 school year. A preliminary plan is due Jan. 31.

State officials could still request a stay of Justice’s order from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

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Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Texas/Southwest.