S-1421.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5981
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Senators Kline, Fairley, Prentice, Thibaudeau and Kohl
Read first time 02/24/97. 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; and creating a new section.
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:
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. School districts are encouraged to appoint advisory councils to participate in curriculum development and other decisions including the selection of staff pertaining to the instructional program under section 2 of this act. Members of the ethnic communities also should be encouraged to participate financially in the program.
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