I do not believe that by dictating that English be our State or national language we insure English proficiency. If we follow that simple formula. then no one takes responsibility for expanding English classes. improving language instruction and training. and increasing program funding. A genuine first step to insure English proficiency is to provide access to English classes. This legislation has real meaning for my home State. because to lower its current 14 percent illiteracy rate. New Mexico must address the special needs of its limited English population. Unlike a State such as California. which has a large immigrant population. New Mexico has a large population of nativeborn limited English speakers. According to the 1980 U.S.
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