Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is calling for public schools to return to an English-only approach, arguing that classrooms should focus on teaching students English and core academic subjects rather than providing language instruction in students' native languages.

Hilton made the proposal Sunday while discussing English learners during an appearance on Fox News. The former Fox News commentator said California needs to put greater emphasis on reading and English instruction as he criticized the state's public education system.

“The problem is it's not just people with a second language, it's hardly anyone can speak English properly because our schools are such a disaster,” Hilton said.

Hilton pointed to California's latest English language arts assessment, which found that 48.8% of students tested met or exceeded grade-level standards during the 2024-25 school year. That figure was up from 47% the previous year. The assessment measures English language arts performance, however, rather than whether students can speak English, as Hilton's comments appeared to suggest.

Hilton said his proposal is intended in part to expand economic opportunities for immigrants. He pointed to his own experience as a legal immigrant from Britain and argued that English proficiency is important to achieving what he called the California dream.

When asked how schools should help students who arrive with little or no English, Hilton said those services should be handled outside the classroom. He argued that schools should not divert classroom time and attention away from basic English and math instruction.

California currently requires school districts to offer Structured English Immersion to English learners. Under that program, nearly all classroom instruction is provided in English, but the curriculum and instruction are specifically designed for students learning the language.

State law also allows districts to offer other language-acquisition programs, including dual-language immersion and transitional or developmental bilingual programs. Those programs are designed to help students become proficient in English while, in some cases, also developing proficiency in another language.

Hilton's proposal would represent a change from the flexibility provided under California's current system. The state's approach dates in part to Proposition 227, approved by voters in 1998, which generally required English-language instruction for English learners.

Voters later approved Proposition 58 in 2016, giving school districts greater flexibility to establish bilingual and dual-language programs. The law took effect in 2017 and established the current framework allowing multiple language-acquisition models while maintaining English proficiency as a central goal.

California counted more than 1 million English learners during the 2024-25 school year, representing roughly 17% of the state's public school enrollment. The designation identifies students who are still developing English proficiency and does not indicate a student's immigration status.

Hilton is running against Democrat Xavier Becerra to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is barred from seeking another term because of term limits. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

A Public Policy Institute of California survey released in September found Becerra leading Hilton among likely voters. The poll measured the race at 60% for Becerra and 38% for Hilton among 1,103 likely voters surveyed Sept. 4-10, with a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.

Hilton's English-only proposal adds education and language instruction to the issues dividing the two candidates as the California governor's race enters its final weeks.