BILL REQ. #: H-1289.1
State of Washington | 63rd Legislature | 2013 Regular Session |
Read first time 02/11/13. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to assuring that education-related information is appropriately provided by public schools to parents with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds; adding a new section to chapter 28A.300 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:
(1) The number of foreign language speakers has substantially
increased in Washington's public schools over the last decade. The
office of the superintendent of public instruction reports that more
than eight percent of the state's total student population was enrolled
in the transitional bilingual instruction program as of May 2012, and
more than two hundred different languages are spoken in students'
homes.
(2) Access to education-related information and communication in a
language they can understand helps limited English proficient parents
and guardians make informed decisions regarding their children's
academic future. Greater participation and involvement by parents and
families prevents students from dropping out of school, increases the
likelihood of student success in school, and contributes to closing the
educational opportunity gap.
(3) The office of the education ombudsman reports an increased
number of complaints from English language learner students and limited
English proficient parents regarding lack of provision of accurate and
reliable interpretation and translation services for parents, as well
as having children act as interpreters during parent meetings.
(4) There are no certification programs in the state specifically
for K-12 education language interpreters, that is, bilingual adults who
are proficient in educational terminology, interpretation, and
translation. The lack of qualified individuals causes public schools
to use untrained bilingual adults or students themselves as
interpreters for school meetings with limited English proficient
parents. This practice creates an unfair disadvantage for English
language learner students as their parents might not receive accurate,
reliable information. Use of students in place of qualified adult
interpreters also places undue burdens on young children who may not
yet be fully proficient in either their native language or in English,
and undermines parental authority.
(5) Federal laws pertaining to the elementary and secondary
education act, civil rights, antidiscrimination, and migrant and
bilingual education, as well as state education laws and rules, affirm
the rights of parents of public school students to have access, as
practicable, to education-related information in a language they can
understand.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 28A.300
RCW to read as follows:
(1) By April 15, 2014, the Washington state school directors'
association, together with the office of the education ombudsman, the
office of the superintendent of public instruction, and representatives
of the educational opportunity gap oversight and accountability
committee, parents with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds,
and interested education associations, must develop a model language
access policy and procedure for adoption by school districts.
(2) At a minimum, the policy and procedure must:
(a) Be aligned with federal and state laws pertaining to the rights
of parents and legal guardians of public school students to language
access;
(b) Require use of adult language interpreters, not students, for
school meetings with limited English proficient parents and legal
guardians about high-stakes educational situations; and
(c) Include a manual of guidelines, local and national best
practices, community resources, interpretation and translation
contractual services available in the state, and electronic and
telephonic services available for the provision of both oral
interpretation and translation of written communications for limited
English proficient individuals.
(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this
section.
(a) "High-stakes educational situations" include but are not
limited to discussions or decisions about special education, highly
capable programs, disciplinary matters, truancy, harassment,
intimidation, bullying, academic progress, grades and assessment
scores, high school graduation, and written communication that is
provided for parental approval.
(b) "Language interpreter" means a bilingual or multilingual
individual who provides oral language interpretation for others.
(4) By August 1, 2015, each school district board of directors
must, at a minimum, adopt the model language access policy and
procedure developed under this section.