2021 -- H 5239

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LC000942

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE WORLD LANGUAGE AND DUAL LANGUAGE

IMMERSION ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Perez, Alzate, Felix, Biah, Ajello, Shallcross
Smith, Tobon, and Batista

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2021

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 16 of the General Laws entitled "EDUCATION" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 54.1

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THE WORLD LANGUAGE AND DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION ACT

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     16-54.1-1. Findings.

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     The general assembly finds and declares as follows:

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     (1) There is a growing body of research that suggests that world language (WL) and dual

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language immersion (DLI) education:

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     (i) Confers unrivaled cognitive and educational advantages onto students;

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     (ii) Reduces and closes achievement gaps in traditionally underrepresented and

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underserved student populations, particularly English learner (EL) students in the case of dual

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language education;

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     (iii) Strengthens the local economy by developing a future bilingual workforce to attract

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international businesses to operate in Rhode Island; and

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     (iv) Serves as an indicator of high-quality programming across the local education agency

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(LEA), i.e. emphasis on WL/DLI programming is attractive to parents and communities, driving

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business and investment to the district.

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     (2) The Rhode Island public has clearly called for an expansion of proficiency-based

 

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language learning opportunities, evident in the priority for Globally Competent Graduates in the

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2015-2020 Strategic Plan for Education.

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     (3) There is a growing need for coordination of world language and DLI programs at the

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state level as programs grow both horizontally and vertically in a variety of languages. Since the

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launch of the Rhode Island Roadmap to Language Excellence in 2012, five (5) new DLI programs

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have been created, adding to the four (4) already existing, with more programs planned.

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     (4) A 2017 report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that measured the prospects

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for children of different groups found that Rhode Island's Latino children ranked last in the nation.

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     (5) There is overwhelming evidence that the state of Rhode Island could expect a very high

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return to the public by investing in high quality world language and dual language immersion

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programming for all of our students.

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     (6) Dual language immersion investments targeted towards program development for

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disadvantaged children will help to promote both efficiency and educational equality for the

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children of our state.

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     (7) The expansion of funding for DLI programs that advance outcomes for English learners

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is critical to achieving the state's goal for grade-level reading by the third grade.

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     16-54.1-2. Definitions.

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     For purposes of this chapter:

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     (1) "Dual language immersion" or "DLI" means a method of instruction that promotes a

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student's full proficiency in all aspects of English and another language. DLI programs educate

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students using both English and a partner language for academic instruction and may divide the

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day by language of instruction. Dual immersion programs may further include two-way immersion

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programs that teach English learners (ELs) alongside English-speakers who are learning the partner

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language, and one-way immersion programs that serve a student population with limited to no

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proficiency in the target language. Teachers pursuant to these programs must meet appropriate state

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certification requirements and be highly qualified as defined by RIDE in their content area.

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     (2) "World language" or "WL" means any language other than English, including all

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modern languages, classical languages, American Sign Language, and Native American languages.

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     16-54.1-3. Dual language program fund authorized.

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     (a) The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education shall establish a

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dual language program fund and a position of world language and dual language immersion

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specialist within the department of elementary and secondary education (RIDE). For purposes of

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funding this chapter, the general assembly shall appropriate the sum of two hundred thousand

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dollars ($200,000) per year:

 

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     (1) Of which, not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) would be allocated to carry out

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the program to invest in high quality, evidence informed, voluntary, dual language models that

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expand upon the current landscape of dual language programs and to allow successful existing

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programs to serve more English learners. Recipients of funding may include local education

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authorities.

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     (2) Of which, remaining funds shall be used for the establishment of a world language and

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dual language education specialist position at RIDE. The purpose of programs supported by this

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fund shall be to provide pathways to bilingualism and biliteracy for Rhode Island students and to

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close the achievement gap that currently exists for English learners in Rhode Island schools.

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     (b) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall designate a world

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language and dual language immersion specialist to:

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     (1) Provide technical assistance and collaborate with LEAs in the establishment, expansion,

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and improvement of world language and dual language courses and programs;

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     (2) Oversee implementation of dual language immersion pilot;

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     (3) Ensure the inclusion of world language and dual language immersion program data,

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including seal of biliteracy assessment data, in ongoing surveys of Rhode Island LEAs in order to:

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     (i) Determine the types of existing world language and dual language immersion courses

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and programs that successfully integrate technology into classroom instruction;

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     (ii) Identify exemplary model world language and dual language immersion programs; and

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     (iii) Identify and address staff development needs of current world language and dual

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language immersion teachers, preservice teachers, paraprofessionals, and teacher preparation

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programs.

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     (4) Perform other duties as determined by RIDE.

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     (c) The specialist shall create a competitive request for proposals process to allocate

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funding for the pilot program for the fiscal year no later than October 1 of each year. The request

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for proposals should fund only programs with evidence of model effectiveness, clear procedures

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for ensuring program quality and an ongoing commitment to, and plans for, advanced evaluation

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of results. Priority should be given to those LEAs with a high incidence of English learner students.

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     (d) The Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education shall appropriate

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the necessary position and funding for said position prior to June 30, 2022.

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     16-54.1-4. Reporting.

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     On or before October 31, 2022, and annually thereafter by October 31, the Rhode Island

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department of elementary and secondary education shall report back to the general assembly and

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the governor on the status, progress, and feasibility of the continuation of the pilot program

 

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authorized by this chapter.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE WORLD LANGUAGE AND DUAL LANGUAGE

IMMERSION ACT

***

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     This act would establish and require funding for a world language and dual language

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immersion program.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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