A Chicago parents group says forcing students who are still learning English to take the same state achievement test as native English-speakers is unfair.

"Hispanic parents, at a news conference Tuesday, said that they would keep their children at home on the day the examination is given next month if necessary, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday.

"This is a way of attacking children who don't understand the language,'' said state Sen. Iris Martinez, a Chicago Democrat who accused federal officials of trying to undermine bilingual education.

Under previous rules, children with less than three years of bilingual education were given a simplified test in English. But this year, the Chicago school district was warned that did not meet the requirement of the No Child Left Behind law"