. Chicago Regional Wee it East Adams Street Suite '?03 Chicago. 11.. 60803 Tel: 312.427.02701 Fax: 312.42?.0691 hiatienal headquarters Les Angelas Regional ?fties 684 8. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90014 Tel: 213.629.2512 Fax: 213.629.0266 San Antonio 110 Broadway Suite 300 San Antonio. TX 78205 Tel: 210.224.5476 Fax: 210.224.5882 Washington, im?. Regional Wee 183.6 16th Street, NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202.293.2828 Fax: 202.293.2849 Nemesis dissident: Legal @etense and Sensational Fond August. 24, 2016 Via Email Principal can Suchy Emerson Elementary 6850 West 3131? Street. Berwyn, IL 60402 Email: Dear Principal Suchy: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is a privately funded, nonpro?t, public interest law firm that promotes and protects the civil rights of Latinos in the United States. One-of our goals is to ensure that English language learners (ELLS) receive access to a quality public education. Our office was contacted about an incident which occurred in Ms. Jennifer Kruger?s third grade classroom on Monday, August 22, 2016. As you no doubt are aware, several of the students in Ms. Krager?s class progressed through Emerson Elementary?s ELL program and are now in their ?rst all~English classroom. It has come to our attention that Ms. Kruger told her students that they were not allowed to speak Spanish in her classroom. Later, upon hearing students communicate in Spanish, Ms. Kruger punished those students by making them sit on the bare floor while their classmates were allowed to sit on carpet. After learning that students had complained to their parents, Ms. Kruger threatened to retaliate against them. We have been informed by parents that Ms. Kruger has acted in the same way in the past. This shows a pattern and practice of mien-eating ELL students and that is unacceptable. From the information we have received, Ms. Kruger?s conduct was unprofessional and harmful to her students? education. It is also illegal. The US. Supreme Court has long held that the Constitution protects the right of individuals to communicate in a foreign language. See Nebraska, 262 US. 390 (19-23). As well, Ms. Kruger?s conduct might have violated federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Illinois law barring discrimination. Should Ms. Kruger?s aforementioned conduct. be substantiated, MALDEF insists that you take action to remedy the violation of her students? rights and ensure that it does not happen again, including but not limited to removing Ms. Kruger from teaching third grade students. Wmaldeforg We hope that this issue can resolved without further action. Thank you for your prompt consideration. I can be reached via email at smonroy@malde?org or by phone at 312.427.0701. Sincerely, I Steven Mommy Staff Attorney MALDEF Regional Of?ce