BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to transitional bilingual education; and amending RCW 28A.180.010, 28A.180.030, and 28A.180.040.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 28A.180.010 and 1990 c 33 s 163 are each amended to read as follows:

RCW 28A.180.010 through 28A.180.080 shall be known and cited as "The Transitional Bilingual Instruction Act." The legislature finds that there are large numbers of children who come from homes where the primary language is other than English. The legislature finds that a transitional bilingual education program can meet the needs of these children. Pursuant to the policy of this state to insure equal educational opportunity to every child in this state, it is the purpose of RCW 28A.180.010 through 28A.180.080 to provide for the implementation of transitional bilingual education programs in the public schools, and to provide supplemental financial assistance to school districts to meet the extra costs of these programs. It is also the intent of the legislature to provide these children with full access to the curriculum offered in public schools by teaching both English and academic content using language and methods that are comprehensible to the students.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.180.030 and 1990 c 33 s 164 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in RCW 28A.180.010 through 28A.180.080, unless the context thereof indicates to the contrary:

(1) "Transitional bilingual instruction" means:

(a) A system of instruction which uses two languages, one of which is English, as a means of instruction to build upon and expand language skills to enable the pupil to achieve competency in English and learn academic content while learning English. Concepts and information are introduced in the primary language and reinforced in the second language: PROVIDED, That the program shall include English as a second language instruction and testing in the subject matter in English; or

(b) In those cases in which the use of two languages is not practicable as established by the superintendent of public instruction and unless otherwise prohibited by law, an alternative system of instruction which ((~~may~~)) shall include English as a second language and is designed to enable the pupil to achieve competency in English. The alternative system of instruction shall include primary language support, if practicable, as established by the superintendent of public instruction.

The instruction of eligible pupils shall not suppress their skills in languages other than English, or their cultural identity or heritage.

(2) "Primary language" means the language most often used by the student for communication in his/her home.

(3) "Eligible pupil" means any enrollee of the school district whose primary language is other than English and whose ((~~English language~~)) skills in speaking, reading, or writing English are sufficiently deficient or absent to impair learning.

(4) "Primary language support" means using the language most often used by an eligible pupil in his or her home to provide the pupil with access to the school's curriculum.

Sec. 3. RCW 28A.180.040 and 1984 c 124 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

Every school district board of directors shall:

(1) Make available to each eligible pupil transitional bilingual instruction to achieve competency in English, in accord with rules of the superintendent of public instruction.

(2) Wherever feasible, ensure that communications to parents emanating from the schools shall be appropriately bilingual for those parents of pupils in the bilingual instruction program.

(3) Determine, by administration of an English test approved by the superintendent of public instruction the number of eligible pupils enrolled in the school district at the beginning of a school year and thereafter during the year as necessary in individual cases. If, however, a preliminary interview indicates little or no English speaking ability, eligibility testing shall not be necessary.

(4) Before the conclusion of each school year, measure each eligible pupil's improvement in learning the English language by means of a test and any other alternative assessment approved by the superintendent of public instruction.

(5) ((~~Provide~~)) Require in-service training for teachers, counselors, and other staff((,)) who ((~~are involved in the district's transitional bilingual program~~)) provide instruction, counseling, or language assistance services to eligible pupils. Such training shall include instruction in second language acquisition, appropriate instructional strategies for children of culturally different backgrounds, use of curriculum materials, and program models.