Puerto Rico Language Policies

1898-1900

Oct 24, 1898

It was established by Dr. John Eston that teachers in Puerto Rico should learn English and those who were ready they would have preference to be hired.

1900-1902

Oct 21, 1900

The Department of Public Instruction was created with an assigned Comissioner. Educational policy was to retain the Spanish language and acquire the English language.

1902-1904

Oct 21, 1902

There was an increase in the use of the English language with the idea of making it the official language of the schools in Puerto Rico.

1902

Oct 21, 1902

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

1902

Oct 21, 1903

The Official language Act was revoked when the Commissioner of Education theodore Roosevelt re-established English as the medium in all grades.

1905-1913

Oct 21, 1905

Spanish Language is suppressed and English is used as the medium of instructions of the School System.

1913

Oct 21, 1913

Spanish was inducted for some subject in first grade and reading was recommended that would be in Spanish.

1915

Oct 21, 1915

A project was presented to make mandatory the Spanish language as a medium of instruction.

1915-1924

Oct 21, 1915

It was established that Spanish was the teaching vehicle from 1st to 4th grade and English was used in half of the subjects in the 5th grade and the other half in Spanish and likewise for grades from 6th to 8th grade.

1917

Oct 21, 1917

Linguistic controversy continued. World War I breaks, Puerto Ricans are granted citizenship.

1930

Oct 21, 1930

This was a very difficult time for Puerto Rico from the point of view of economic, social and educational. The Commissioner Dr. Jose Padin was the first to expose that English is a foreign language from the educational point of view and he gave emphasis to English as a second language with many enrichment programs.

1934

Oct 21, 1934

The language policy again shifted toward asimilation when Blanton S. Winthrop named governer by President Franklin Roosevelt, made English the language of instruction in all grades.

1936

Oct 21, 1936

At that time the Commissioner Jose M. Gallardo was named Commissioner of Education. The President of the United States complained that Puerto Ricans had not learned English and wished that all instruction was in English so that the next generation would speak English. The Commissioner of Education tried to implement a bilingual program, but many public protests were made and it was not permitted.

1941

Oct 21, 1941

Winthrop's policy was modified in which English was established as the language of instruction in secondary schools.

1941

Oct 21, 1941

Another shift toward nationalism occured by the Popular Party candidate and first elected Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Muñoz Marín, who established Spanish as the language of instruction in all grades. English was to be taught for one period a day as a second language.

1942

Oct 21, 1942

Spanish prevailed until 6th grade and the English continued as a subject.

1948

Oct 21, 1948

Up to 9th grade the vernacular language was used as a teaching vehicle.

1948

Oct 21, 1948

The Commissioner of Education, Dr. Marian Villaronga ended the lengthy discussion of bilingualism.

1950

Oct 21, 1950

Decree the vernacular teaching at all levels of the public school starting in the school year 1949-1950.

1968

Oct 21, 1968

The President Lyndon B. Johnson, signed in the United States the Bilingual Education Act or Title VII .

1970

Oct 21, 1970

Funds have been received from the United Staes in order to meet the needs of the students.

1972-1976

Oct 21, 1972

In the schools "Padre Rufo y Papa Juan XXIII" bilingual projects were implanted by the Popular Party government.

1978

Oct 21, 1978

Since 1978 the U.S. Congress authorize that bilingual education projects in Puerto Rico could have the focus toward learning Spanish for the functioning of the students that returned to the education system in Puerto Rico.

1984

Oct 21, 1984

In the power of the "Partido Nuevo Progresista" under the leadership of the Honorable Carlos Romero Barcelo, the Bilingual Education program is transferred to projects as part of the English Department.

1991

Oct 21, 1991

"Spanish Only" was a legislation approved as, Law Number 4, April 5, 1991 by the Popular Party.

1993

Jan 28, 1993

The "Spanish Only" law was revoked and substituded for Law Number 1, a Pro Statehood Party Language policy which established both English and Spanish as official languages on the island.

1993

Oct 21, 1993

Bilingual Education projects are autonomous.

2012

Aug 1, 2012

Bilingual Programs began in Puerto Rico as School for the 21st Century, BEC 21 project for Elementary Schools and ES21 for Middle and High Schools.