LOS ANGELES (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of California is demanding that state education officials order 251 school districts to provide English language instruction to more than 20,000 non-English speaking school children.

The ACLU sent a letter Wednesday to Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and state school board members stating that it will file a lawsuit if English classes are not provided to the students within 30 days.

Under state law, non-English speaking students are entitled to language instruction.

The ACLU and the Asian Pacific Legal Center also plan to launch a public education campaign aimed at urging parents to advocate for their children's rights. They have also set up a phone hotline in six languages to answer parents' questions.

Education spokeswoman Tina Jung had no immediate comment.

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