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Spain is defeated by the United States of America. Puerto Rico becomes a territory (possession) of the American Nation.
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A meeting was celebrated to discuss the status of PR after the occupation of the US.
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1898-1900 Period John Eaton, Commissioner of Education, and assistant Victor Clark established that educators had to learn English in order to have a better chance of being hired.
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Official Language Act English & Spanish became official languages.
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1900-1902 Period -The Department of Public Instruction is created. * Commissioner Brumbagh, assigned by President McKinley, established that at elementary level Spanish would be the method of instruction & English would be taught as a special subject.
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President Theodore Roosevelt pushed the Commissioner of Education to make English the method of instruction for all grades.
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1902-04 Period - Teachers are sent to study to the U.S.A. Legislation for the Insular School to become the UPR. Establishment of an annual English test for Puerto Rican teachers
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Nationalism versus Imperialism Education commissioner Grant Dexter, informs 35,000 students will benefit from English speakers teachers that had passed the exam.
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1905-13: English became the method of instruction in all grades. Creation of a law that forced Island's teachers to take an annual English exam. Who failed were suspended until passing it. After two years, teaching license was revoked. American professors taught English to teachers in Puerto Rico. Teacher must demonstrated knowledge in a special test.
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DPI Commissioner, Juan B. Huyke ordered: English only even outside class.
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President Franklin Roosevelt Governor Blanton Winthrop made English the method of instruction in all grades.
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1930-36 Jose Padín became the Education Commissioner and implemented Spanish instruction from first to eight grade. English is taught as a second language through special programs.
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First Elected Governor of Puerto Rico: Luis Munoz Marin His Commissioner, Mariano Villaronga, ordered Spanish instruction at all levels.
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American funds are designated to P.R. to help meet the needs of students that migrated back and showed no Spanish domain. Bilingual education: teaching Spanish and maintaining English * Legislation was created towards: "
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Lau vs. Nichols Case that emphasized the importance of bilingual education in the United States impacted Puerto Rico, being an American territory.
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1972-76 Bilingual projects are implemented in Padre Rufo & Papa Juan XXIII schools. A lot of projects were established. The Bilingual Education Programs become part of the Department of Public Instruction. Law of Bilingual Education Certification is signed.
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1970-80: Neoricans – return migrants The Department of Public Instruction trained Puerto Ricans who lived in New York to teach so they could teach English in the Island.
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The Bilingual Education Project is transferred to the English Deparment .
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legislation (Law #4, April 5, 1991) Popular Party approved the legislation and was revoked in 1993 by Pro Statehood Party which establishes English and Spanish as official languages.
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Bilingual Projects (BEC21 & ES21) are being implemented throughout 32 schools in order to meet everything contained in the federal law. A few hundreds of teachers are trying to obtain a bilingual Certification.
