H-1368.6  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2330

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Sommers, Dorn, Brough, B. Thomas, Ogden, Cothern, Karahalios, Eide, Carlson, Peery, Roland, Valle, J. Kohl, Brumsickle, Springer and Linville

Read first time 01/14/94.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Changing provisions relating to English language instruction.

    AN ACT Relating to expanding the definition of transitional bilingual instruction; and amending RCW 28A.180.010 and 28A.180.030.

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)) ensure 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 encourage the full participation and integration of these children into the public schools as quickly as possible and to provide school districts flexibility in the selection of instructional programs.

    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.  Concepts and information are introduced in the primary language and reinforced in the second language:  PROVIDED, That the program shall include 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 include English as a second language and is designed to enable the pupil to achieve competency in English.

    (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 are sufficiently deficient or absent to impair learning.

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