Flores vs. Arizona Timeline
Arizona Republic
Dec. 17, 2005

1992: A Nogales family files a lawsuit, Flores vs. Arizona, alleging the state is shortchanging K-12 education of English-language learners.

1996: Tim Hogan of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest joins the case as a co-counsel. He takes over the case in 2000.

2000: A federal judge finds that existing funding fails to ensure students will overcome language barriers.

December 2001: After constant legal prodding from Hogan, the Legislature passes a bill that more than doubles the funding for every English-learner student. The amount will reach about $355 by 2005.

January 2005: A federal judge rules that lawmakers still are shortchanging students and orders the Legislature to fix the problem in its 2005 session.

May 2005: Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoes a Republican-backed bill that would set aside $42 million a year - $14 million in new money - to help students deficient in English skills.

Oct. 31: Hogan (right) asks a federal judge to sanction the state by withholding federal highway funds. He also asks him to exempt English-learning students from having to pass the AIMS test to graduate from high school.

Dec. 16: A federal judge sanctions the state by imposing daily fines that could grow to $2 million a day until leaders approve a plan to improve funding for English learners. The judge also exempts ELL students from having to pass AIMS until the state complies with his order.