**Sent to The Oregonian, September 15, 2009**

** "English only test leaves some Oregon children behind" (Sept. 13) accurately notes that studies show that children learn to read more quickly in their first language, and that the ability to read transfers to English. **

**It also needs to be mentioned is that children in bilingual programs typically outperform similar students in all-English programs on tests of English reading. **

**Oregon third graders in bilingual programs may do worse on a reading test given in English than they would do if tested in Spanish, but they would still do better than children who did not have bilingual education. And in a short time they will do very well on any reading test.**

**Stephen Krashen PhD**

**Professor Emeritus**

**University of Southern California**

** **

** **

** **

**English-only test leaves some Oregon children behind**

**by Wendy Owen, The Oregonian **

**Sunday September 13, 2009, 5:44 PM**

Forest Grove teacher Lourdes Medina watched two of her third-grade students break into tears of frustration as they tried to complete the state assessment test in reading last spring.

They were excellent readers, but they couldn't comprehend the test, which for the first time in three years was offered only in English.

wendyowen@news.oregonian.com