California governor candidate Steve Hilton said he would require English-only teaching in state schools if elected in November. He claimed fewer than half of public-school students meet basic English standards and said English learners should get help outside class.
Hilton argued that English proficiency was necessary for legal immigrants to have a chance at what he called the California dream. He cited Reed Hastings, whom he described as a Democratic backer and former head of the California State Board of Education, as a past supporter of English-only teaching. Hilton also said California voters had once made English-only instruction law through a ballot initiative, but it was later overturned.
