Decision expected today on deadline extension in English case
Associated Press
March 11, 2008
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 03.11.2008
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/229118.php
TUCSON — A federal judge will rule Tuesday on a request to extend a deadline for the Legislature to increase funding for instruction of students who are learning the English language.
U.S. District Judge Raner Collins made the announcement after hearing Monday from lawyers for Republican legislative leaders who said there won't be any harm to school districts if the deadline is extended to April 18. The original deadline was March 4.
But the attorney representing plaintiffs in the long-running funding case said another delay would mean another year lost in implementing new English Language Learning programs for some 130,000 Arizona public school students.
The arguments were the latest chapter in a political and legal fight that has been going on si