Puerto Rico Language Policy

Teaching English

Oct 26, 1898

This was the first change in the PR language policy teaching all subjects in English in public schools.

English in Secondary Schools

Oct 26, 1900

Commissioner Brumbaugh, President Mckinley's Commissioners of Education decided that English was to be taught only in secondary schools.

Official Language Act

Feb 21, 1902

The Offical Language Act approved offically the status of both English and Spanish.

Revoked the Official Language Act

Jan 1, 1903

Theodore Roosevelt's Commissioner of Education revoked the Offical Language Act to re-established English to be taught in all grades.

Shifts in Language policy

Mar 2, 1917

There was a change Spanish was reinstated in teaching from first four grades

Introduction of a language policy

Jan 1, 1930

Jose Padin introduced a language policy which required all subjects except English was to be taught in Spanish in the first eight grades.

Language policy change again

Jan 1, 1934

When Blanton S. Winthrop named governor by President Franklin Roosevelt, made English the language of teaching in all grades.

Winthrop's policy modification

Jan 1, 1941

English was reinstead as the language of teaching in the secondary schools.

Another change toward nationalism

Jan 1, 1948

First elected Governor, Luis Munoz Marin, changed Spanish as a language to be taught in all grades and English was to be taught for one period a day as a second language.

Language policies direction

Jan 1, 1991

Language policies directed toward advancing political goals in a Spanish Only legislation approved.

Revoked law and subtituted by Law Number I

Jan 28, 1993

A Pro Statehood Party language policy reinsteaded both English and Spanish as an official language.