Policies of the Department of Education regarding the teaching of English in the past 114 years in Puerto Rico

By Lilly777

  • Dr. John Eaton

    1898-1900 Dr. John Eaton, former Commissioner of Education in the United States and his assistant Victor Clark stated that Puerto Rican teachers needed to learn English and those better prepared would have be preferred to be hired.

  • The Public Instruction Department of Puerto Rico is created

  • Spanish and English

    The Official Language Act granted official status to both Spanish and English.

  • President Theodore Roosevelt

    President Theodore Roosevelt’s Commissioner of Education re-established English as the medium of instruction in all grades.

  • Higly Qualified Teachers

    Schools increased English lessons with the idea that it will become the official language. 540 teachers were sent to the United States to both Harvard and Cornwell University. A yearly English exam was given in order to choose highly qualified teachers.

  • Impriving the quality of English instruction

    1920-1930 American Teachers are employed on the Island in an effort to improve the quality of English instruction.

  • Teachers are required to teach their students in English.

  • Luis Munoz Marin

    Luis Munoz Marin re-establishes Spanish as the main language of instruction. English is to be taught once of day as a second language.

  • Dr. Mariano Villaronga

    Dr. Mariano Villaronga announced English was to be taught in all schools and at all levels.

  • "Education Bilingue"

    The Department of Education applied funds for students who return from the United States. This is known as “Educacion Bilingue”.

  • "Partido Popular Democratico"

    1972-1976 English projects are implanted by the PPD. English Projects are converted to English Bilingual Programs were 59,810 students applied for English Education services.

  • United States Congress

    United States Congress authorizes that Bilingual Projects are remain focused to teach those students who return to Puerto Rico from the United States.

  • Universidades Turabo, Sagrado Corazón y Metropolitana

    Universities such as Universidad del Turabo, Sagrado Corazon, and Universidad Metropolitana are all assigned English Programs

  • "Spanish Only"

    The “Spanish Only” legislation is approved.

  • "Bilingual Citizen Project"

    English immersion program made their way into Puerto Rican schools, under the “Project to Create a Bilingual Citizen.”

  • No Child Left Behind Act

  • Luis Fortuño

    Under the administration of Governor Luis Fortuño bilingual schools were created, using English by immersion.