[azhenfud]

...80 percent of his district's 16,000 students are enrolled in beginner-English programs.

"We are not educational failures," he said. "Our students perform very well once they get the opportunity to learn the English language."

So this 80% is within a year of just entering the U.S.? That would place MOST as illegal aliens. I say that because my legal immigrant adopted daughter came here speaking/reading no English and in six months is now reading at a third grade level. Why these aren't is because they don't want to.

[moog]

I say that because my legal immigrant adopted daughter came here speaking/reading no English and in six months is now reading at a third grade level. Why these aren't is because they don't want to.

VERY good point. I would also add that probably their parents don't even have some skills in their OWN language.