Actually in most public schools being able to speak English is not a prerequisite to attendance. Kids who don't speak English are put into special programs in their native language (mainly Spanish). Without these programs the kids would learn English in a few months, because kids are fast learners and their language isn't heavily ingrained. Necessity is the mother of many things, and learning is one of them.

So then we have these kids who don't speak English, who have grown up in sheltered neighborhoods, try to go out and get jobs. Then they realize that knowing English is necessary if you want to do anything other than the lowest-end labor. And then of course we end up with crime, drugs, and all sorts of other wonderful things.