A Phoenix-area parent filed a lawsuit against Creighton Elementary School District on March 19, 2024, for using a dual language program, accusing the district of violating a law that requires students learning English to be taught in English-only classrooms throughout the school day. The lawsuit was part of a broader effort to uphold English as the primary language used in Arizona classrooms.
Parent Patricia Pellett, whose “son is a student currently studying at Scottsdale High School,” filed a lawsuit against Creighton Elementary School District for allegedly violating Proposition 203, which Arizona voters approved “by margin of over 60 [percent]” in 2000. The lawsuit states that the “purpose of Proposition 203 was that children should no longer be taught in bilingual or dual language classes, where they are taught part of the day in Spanish. Instead, the purpose of Proposition 203 was that children should be taught the entire school day in English, so that they would quickly become proficient in English.”
State Superintendent Tom Horne, who is not directly involved in the lawsuit, spoke of the consequences the district’s school board members could face. “Each member of the Creighton Elementary school board will be compelled to leave the board immediately and will not be able to hold a position of authority in Arizona public schools for five years if the court agrees that they are violating the voter-approved Proposition 203. The law includes this penalty to ensure that schools take the law seriously,” he said in a statement.
Horne added, “Despite these draconian consequences, the evidence is clear that the Creighton District is violating the will of the voters by using dual language programs. The clear mandate of the law is that English Language Learners be taught English by immersion throughout the day and all school districts must follow the law.”
The Arizona Education Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), criticized the lawsuit, noting that the firm bringing the suit on behalf of Patricia Pellett is the Chenal Law Firm, PLLC, the law firm of Horne’s wife, Carmen Chenal Horne.
In a Twitter (X) post, the Arizona Education Association said, “Supt Horne’s wife is now suing Creighton District over dual-language…on behalf of a Scottsdale parent whose kid isn’t even enrolled. Dual-language programs are effective [and] much-loved. Horne’s attacks are about an outdated political agenda – that’s it.”
However, Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity supported the lawsuit on Twitter (X). “Tom Horne, along with a Scottsdale parent (who volunteered to help), are fighting to uphold voters’ wishes and support teaching practices that produce superior results for English learners.”
Superintendent Horne had been working to ban dual language programs in Arizona schools. The Maricopa County Superior Court struck down his previous lawsuit. As explained in a March 11, 2024, press release, Horne commented, “The districts that opposed our position will regret this development. A near identical action will be filed by a parent, and this will have much worse consequences for the districts.”
– – –
Debra McClure is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Debra on X / Twitter.
Image “Creighton Elementary School District Classroom” by Creighton Elementary School District.
Â
