Hispanic parents threaten to boycott exam

CHICAGO, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A Chicago parents group says forcing students who are still learning English to take the same state achievement test as native English-speakers is unfair.

Hispanic parents, at a news conference Tuesday, said that they would keep their children at home on the day the examination is given next month if necessary, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday.

"This is a way of attacking children who don't understand the language,'' said state Sen. Iris Martinez, a Chicago Democrat who accused federal officials of trying to undermine bilingual education.

Under previous rules, children with less than three years of bilingual education were given a simplified test in English. But this year, the Chicago school district was warned that did not meet the requirement of the No Child Left Behind law.

Parents say that their children are being set up to fail. Erika Soto, speaking through an interpreter, said her daughter is "very smart."

"But because of this test, she is going to be labeled a failure," Soto said. "So how is she going to feel?''

The schools can make accommodations for children who are not completely fluent, including providing scripted instructions in their native languages.