REFERENCE TITLE: dual language education; study committee

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature Second Regular Session 2016

HB 2609

Introduced by Representative Saldate

 

AN ACT

 

Establishing the dual language education program study committee.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Dual language education program study committee; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal; definition

A.  The dual language education program study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1.  The following persons who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives:

(a)  Two members of the house of representatives who are members of different political parties.  The speaker shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

(b)  One person who currently teaches English language learners in a school district or charter school in this state.

(c)  One education research professional who is employed at a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents and who has expertise in English language learning, dual language education or academic achievement.

(d)  A member of the community who has expertise in linguistics.

2.  The following persons who are appointed by the president of the senate:

(a)  Two members of the senate who are members of different political parties.  The president shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

(b)  One person who currently teaches in a dual language education program in a school district or charter school in this state.

(c)  One education research professional who is employed at a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents and who has expertise in English language learning, dual language education or academic achievement.

3.  The superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee.

B.  The purpose of the study committee is to study and analyze research-based data on the impacts of dual language education programs and their effectiveness in educating English language learners and fluent English students.

C.  The study committee shall research all of the following:

1.  The impacts and any benefits of dual language education programs for English language learners and fluent English students, including impacts on student achievement.

2.  The impacts and growth of dual language education programs in the United States over the past decade.

3.  The impacts of dual language education programs on English language learners' educational and professional achievements.

4.  The impacts of dual language education programs on biliteracy and cross‑cultural attitudes in English language learners and fluent English students.

5.  The costs of offering dual language education programs relative to other programs for English language learners.

6.  The capacity of school districts and charter schools in this state to teach content in languages other than English.

D.  In examining the impacts prescribed in subsection C of this section, the study committee shall use research-based data.

E.  The study committee may:

1.  Request information, data and reports from any county or state agency or political subdivision of this state.  Information shall be provided electronically if possible.

2.  Hold hearings and receive testimony from community members.

F.  On request of the study committee, an agency of this state, a political subdivision of this state and any school district or charter school in this state shall provide the study committee with its services, equipment, documents, personnel and facilities to the extent possible without cost to the committee.

G.  The study committee shall convene at any time and in any place deemed necessary or convenient by the cochairpersons, and all meetings shall be open to the public.

H. Members of the study committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

I.  On or before December 31, 2016, the study committee shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate and the superintendent of public instruction and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

J.  This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2017.

K.  For the purposes of this section, "dual language education program" means any program that provides kindergarten, primary or secondary education at a school district or charter school in this state and that teaches the content in English and a student's primary language.