Horne Changes School English-Screening Process

State schools Superintendent Tom Horne has ordered Arizona schools to simplifiy the method used to screen students for enrollment in a four hour daily English immersion course. He says too many children are being identified as English learners because they are behind academically, not because they have problems with the language.

Some teachers, lawmakers and attorneys say the changes are a way to save money at the expense of students. Horne says these are false accusations made by “idiots.”

The Arizona Republic reports that the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is being asked to investigate.