20,000 students sue Calif. educators for not teaching English

20,000 students sue the state of California and its eductators for failing to give adequate language instruction to non-native English speakers. According the the ACLU, the state education system's lack of English instruction could be holding the 20,000 students back in school. 

About 20,000 students in California who need to learn English aren't getting adequate language instruction, according to a lawsuit against the state and education workers filed Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Under state and federal law, schools are required to teach non-English speakers the language, but by its own records, the state isn't offering English instruction to nearly 20,000 students. The suit alleges that lack of instruction has meant some children had to be held back a grade or live with low proficiency scores because of a language barrier...

CAIRCO Notes

We can only assume that the "non-native English speakers" are illegal aliens. Of course, federal law prohibits federally-funded schools from asking about immigration status. However, involvement of the ACLU virtually confirms that assumption.