Bilingual classes safe from initiative
Greeley Tribune
August 8, 2006

Sharon Dunn, (Bio) sdunn@greeleytribune.com
Bilingual education is here to stay after proponents of an initiative to limit bilingual programs in all Colorado public schools failed to submit any signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State's office.

Weld County Commissioner Bill Jerke led the initiative to create an amendment to the state constitution mandating instructors teach overwhelmingly in English.

The initiative would have required up to one year of language immersion classes for non-English speakers before they could join the mainstream classroom.

Jerke had until 3 p.m. Monday to physically bring the required 67,829 petition signatures to the office of Secretary of State Gigi Dennis.

Failing to deliver the signatures eliminated the possibility of placing the English amendment initiative on November's ballot, said Dana Williams, public information officer for the Secretary of State's Office.