Bilingual Education Targeted for Ballot: California Voters May Get Referendum

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LOS ANGELES - After having their say on affirmative action and benefits for undocumented immigrants, Californians will become the first in the nation to vote on another contentious issue, bilingual education, if a new initiative qualifies for the ballot.

The English Language Education for Immigrant Children Initiative mandates that all children in California public schools shall be taught in English and placed in English-language classrooms.

Parents who wish to place their children in bilingual classes would have to make a special request, a reversal of the current system.

The initiative's supporters hope to qualify it for the June 1998 primary-election …