H-0691.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1299
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Romero, Kenney, Veloria, Regala, Tokuda, Cole, Mason and Costa
Read first time 01/21/97. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to providing instruction in the language and cultures of other nations; adding new sections to chapter 28A.180 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the significant increase of trade and commerce and interaction between the United States and other countries makes it imperative that action be taken to ensure that Washington state increases the number of individuals who are fluent in languages other than English and who understand the culture and customs of other countries. These actions will help to ensure that Washington state maintains its leading role in international trade.
The legislature further finds one way to increase the development of foreign languages and knowledge of foreign cultures is to ensure that students who speak a language other than English at home do not lose their ability to communicate in the language of their parents and forbearers.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.180 RCW to read as follows:
In addition to the other requirements of this chapter, school districts may provide world language instruction to students who come from homes where the primary language is other than English. In addition, school districts may provide instruction regarding the culture of the country from which the students' families emigrated. The purpose of the instruction is not to help the students understand English better, but to improve the students' ability to speak their native language and to understand the culture and customs of the country in which their families lived.
School districts offering the instruction shall develop assessments to determine if participating students are improving language competency and cultural understanding.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.180 RCW to read as follows:
(1) School districts may use noncertificated staff to provide the language and culture instruction in section 2 of this act. However, noncertificated staff providing instruction must: (a) Be able to speak and write the language fluently; (b) speak English; and (c) be knowledgeable of the culture or cultures in which instruction is provided.
(2) School districts, or their designees, may provide in-depth orientation training for newly hired noncertificated staff.
(3) School districts are encouraged to develop collaborative programs with other school districts, especially in cases when school districts have small numbers of students who speak the same language.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28A.180 RCW to read as follows:
School districts shall encourage the active participation of members from appropriate ethnic communities in establishing and implementing the instructional program in section 2 of this act. Members of the ethnic communities shall be allowed to participate in the hiring of staff, and school districts are encouraged to appoint advisory councils to participate in curriculum development and other decisions pertaining to the instructional program. Members of the ethnic communities also should be encouraged to participate financially in the program.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act takes effect September 1, 1997.
--- END ---