HB 1517

Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1517

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Enhancing public school world language instruction.

Sponsors: Representatives Schual-Berke, Priest, McDermott, Anderson, Quall, Kenney, Roberts, Lantz, Kagi, Moeller, Santos, Hunt and Hudgins.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to assign a full-time staff to serve as world language supervisor and describe the supervisor's duties.

Subject to funding, directs the OSPI to allocate grants for pilot projects to enhance world language instruction in elementary and middle schools.

Hearing Date: 2/2/07

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Background:

Instruction in world languages is not a state high school graduation requirement in Washington, although students seeking admission to one of the state's public four year institutions of higher education must take two years of the same foreign language, Native American language, or American Sign language. Washington's Essential Academic Learning Requirements do not cover world languages. However, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has endorsed, for voluntary use, standards for world language instruction adopted by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The OSPI does not currently have a staff position dedicated to world languages.

There are different instructional models for teaching young students a second language. The dual language enrichment model provides instruction for all students two languages. Usually this model is used with native speakers of English and native speakers of another language. In Washington, at least 21 schools operate a dual language program. Nearly all are in Spanish and English. The John Stanford International Elementary School in Seattle offers dual language programs in both Spanish and Japanese.

Summary of Bill:

The OSPI must assign at least one full-time staff as the world language supervisor. The supervisor's duties are to:

develop and conduct professional development for teachers;
provide technical assistance to schools and advise in the development of online courses;
create a clearinghouse of information and materials for world language instruction;
secure and implement grants and implement memoranda of understanding with foreign ministries of education;
foster an articulated curriculum through elementary, secondary, and postsecondary grades;
establish and maintain a database on course offerings in public schools; and
serve as an education liaison and advisor.

Subject to funding, the OSPI allocates grants for pilot projects to enhance world language instruction in elementary and middle schools. At least one of the pilot projects is for a dual language enrichment program using a major Asian language and English as the dual languages, and at least one of the pilots is for a technology-enhanced instructional model using a major Asian language. The OSPI evaluates the outcomes, successes, and limitations of the pilot projects and reports findings after the end of the grant period.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.