SB0620sam001 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Michael Noland

Filed: 3/15/2010

09600SB0620sam001 LRB096 06694 NHT 38765 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 620

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 620 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Article 14D as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/Art. 14D heading new)

ARTICLE 14D. DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAMS

(105 ILCS 5/14D-5 new)

Sec. 14D-5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds the following:

(1) All young children are capable of learning 2 languages. Becoming bilingual has long-term cognitive, academic, social, cultural, and economic benefits. Bilingualism is an asset.

(2) School-aged children raised in households where the primary language spoken is not English often grow up speaking both languages fluently, but are not instructed in reading, writing, or learning content-specific vocabulary in the other language. The dual language approach embraces both languages and teaches bilingualism and biliteracy.

(3) Loss of the home language has potential negative long-term consequences for the English language-learning child's academic, social, and emotional development, as well as for family dynamics.

(4) The need for bilingual employees in the workforce has increased substantially in recent years with the growth of technology and the globalized economy.

(5) Typical bilingual education programs aim to transition students away from their native languages and into English during the school day, while dual language programs seek to support the students' linguistic abilities in their native language and in a second language. A limited number of communities in this State have implemented successful dual language programs within this State, aided by bilingual education funds.

(6) Dual language immersion academies are an effective way to provide young students with the exposure they need to learn to speak, understand, read, and write in a second language, while being educated in the Illinois Learning Standards.

(105 ILCS 5/14D-10 new)

Sec. 14D-10. Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to provide encouragement, assistance, and guidance to school districts in the development and improvement of dual language immersion programs. School districts shall continue to have the authority and flexibility to design education programs for bilingual students in response to community needs and may continue to use funds provided under Article 14C of this Code for the purposes of educating bilingual students in the manner chosen by the school district, including for dual language immersion programs.

(105 ILCS 5/14D-15 new)

Sec. 14D-15. Dual language immersion programs. The State Board of Education shall provide funding to dual language immersion programs beginning with pre-kindergarten or kindergarten in schools where there are at least 20 English language learners who speak the same home language. Funding shall come through appropriations under Article 14C of this Code and shall allow school districts to receive annual State grants for providing programs teaching the Illinois Learning Standards to students in both English and one other language. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules setting forth all of the following:

(1) The minimum requirements for a dual language immersion program implemented by a school district, which shall require that the program serve students in kindergarten through grade 5 at a minimum.

(2) The procedure by which school districts wishing to receive a State grant may apply to the State Board of Education.

(3) Standards by which any such program receiving a State grant is to be evaluated.

(4) Reporting requirements for school districts receiving State grants under this Article.

The State Board of Education shall submit a report to the General Assembly 3 years after this Section is implemented describing, at a minimum, the school districts that applied for State grants each year, the school districts that received one or more grant awards, the number of pupils enrolled in dual language immersion programs, and the level of success that the programs have had in educating pupils in 2 languages.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.".