Students would have to demonstrate mastery of English to graduate from high school under a bill approved by the Senate Tuesday.

Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, said Senate Bill 73 will spark a dialogue on how to prepare non- English-speaking students for the workplace while respecting other languages.

"The public yearns for a thoughtful discussion about assimilation, not just immigration," said Romer, the sponsor of SB 73. "You have to send a signal about assimilation. It doesn't mean we can't be bilingual."

Romer's bill passed easily on a voice vote. It comes up for a tallied vote this morning, then moves on to the House.

School districts would have five years to adopt a procedure to test for English proficiency. The statewide achievement tests can't be used. They are given only through 10th grade.

Opposition came from Sen. Sue Windels, D-Arvada, the chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee.

Some foreign-born students arrive in their junior or senior year of high school, giving districts little time to teach them English, Windels said. Districts would have to teach students for another year if they fail to graduate, driving up costs, she said.

Romer countered that such students now are being "warehoused" until they are handed a diploma. They can learn English through an intensive immersion program, he said.

Romer helped found the New America Schools, a charter that serves non-English-speaking students at three campuses, with a fourth location in the works.

Romer drew heavy Republican support for his bill.

Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R- Broomfield, said giving a diploma to students who can't speak English is "educational fraud."

"The resources are there for the government to do its job. It's time for excuses is past," Mitchell said.

Sen. Nancy Spence, R-Centennial, said immigrants won't be able to participate in mainstream America until they can speak English.

morsonb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303 954-5209