AN
ACT Relating to students whose primary language is other than English; amending
RCW 28A.180.030 and 28A.180.040; adding a new section to chapter 28A.180 RCW;
and creating new sections.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)
The superintendent of public instruction shall review:
(a)
The criteria used to determine the point at which limited English proficient
students are required to take the Washington assessment of student learning.
The review shall be used to determine if the criteria are developmentally
appropriate and in the best interest of the students.
(b)
The criteria used to determine the point at which the results of the Washington
assessment of student learning for students receiving instructional services in
the state transitional bilingual instruction program should be included in a
school district's and school's assessment results.
(2)
In conducting the review, the superintendent shall consult with parents, teachers,
principals, classroom instructional staff, recognized experts in
second-language instruction, and statewide ethnic organizations that represent
second-language learners.
(3)
Preliminary results of the review shall be reported to the education and fiscal
committees of the legislature by December 1, 2001. Final results of the review
shall be reported to the education and fiscal committees of the legislature by
December 1, 2002.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A
new section is added to chapter 28A.180 RCW to read as follows:
The
superintendent of public instruction shall develop an evaluation system
designed to measure increases in the English and academic proficiency of
eligible pupils. When developing the system, the superintendent shall:
(1)
Require school districts to assess potentially eligible pupils within ten days
of registration using an English proficiency assessment or assessments as
specified by the superintendent of public instruction. Results of these
assessments shall be made available to both the superintendent of public
instruction and the school district;
(2)
Require school districts to annually assess all eligible pupils at the end of
the school year using an English proficiency assessment or assessments as specified
by the superintendent of public instruction. Results of these assessments
shall be made available to both the superintendent of public instruction and
the school district;
(3)
Develop a system to evaluate increases in the English and academic proficiency
of students who are, or were, eligible pupils. This evaluation shall include
students when they are in the program and after they exit the program until
they finish their K-12 career or transfer from the school district. The
purpose of the evaluation system is to inform schools, school districts,
parents, and the state of the effectiveness of the transitional bilingual
programs in school and school districts in teaching these students English and
other content areas, such as mathematics and writing; and
(4)
Report to the education and fiscal committees of the legislature by November 1,
2002, regarding the development of the systems described in this section and a
timeline for the full implementation of those systems. The legislature shall
approve and provide funding for the evaluation system in subsection (3) of this
section before any implementation of the system developed under subsection (3)
of this section may occur.
Sec.
3. 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)) throughout this
chapter, unless the context ((thereof)) clearly indicates ((to
the contrary)) otherwise:
(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.
Sec.
4. 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 approved by the
superintendent of public instruction.
(5)
Provide in-service training for teachers, counselors, and other staff, who are
involved in the district's transitional bilingual program. Such training shall
include appropriate instructional strategies for children of culturally
different backgrounds, use of curriculum materials, and program models.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 5. If
specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or
chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2001, in the omnibus appropriations
act, this act is null and void.
