Details of the ruling
Arizona Republic
Dec. 17, 2005

Details of the ruling

Here are details of U.S. District Judge Raner Collins' ruling:

Until the state complies with the court's 2000 order to improve English-language instruction for immigrant schoolchildren, English-language learners do not have to pass the AIMS test to graduate from high school.

The Legislature has five calendar days after the beginning of the 2006 legislative session (Jan. 9 ) to comply with the court's order. After that, Collins will fine the state $500,000 a day for the next 30 days until he receives a plan.

If the state still has not complied, Collins will impose a $1 million-a-day fine for the next 30 days.

If the state has still not complied, the fine grows to $1.5 million a day until the end of the legislative session. Legislative sessions typically last about 100 days.

If the Legislature adjourns the session with no plan for English learners, the fine grows to $2 million a day and lasts indefinitely