Early results from a ballot in California indicate that the people have voted to end bilingual education in state schools.

With a quarter of the votes counted, two-thirds were in favour.

Supporters of change say the present system -- teaching non-English-speakers in their mother tongue while they learn English gradually -- has left thousands of youngsters unable to function properly in English.

Most of the children affected are from California's Hispanic community, which has solidly supported change.

The BBC correspondent in California says the impact of the vote will be felt in other states likes Florida and Texas with large Hispanic communities.