Bill Text: CA AB970 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Pupils: limited English proficiency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-02-03 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB970 Detail]

Download: California-2013-AB970-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 970	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 21, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to  amend Section 52177 of   add
Section 314 to  the Education Code, relating to 
bilingual education   English language education  .


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 970, as amended, Alejo.  Bilingual education. 
 Pupils: limited English proficiency.  
   Existing law requires each school district, county office of
education, and charter school, as provided, that has one or more
pupils who are English learners to assess the English language
development of each pupil in order to determine the level of
proficiency.  
   This bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction
to perform certain tasks relating to pupils of limited English
proficiency, including ensuring that all schools and school districts
provide each pupil of limited English proficiency with an
educational opportunity that is equal to the opportunities available
to English-speaking pupils.  
   The Chacon-Moscone Bilingual-Bicultural Education Act of 1976
requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure certain
aspects of bilingual education, including that sufficient bilingual
personnel are available within the State Department of Education, as
provided, using funds appropriated for these purposes. Under existing
law, these provisions became inoperative on June 30, 1987. 

   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to this law. 

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 314 is added to the  
Education Code   ,  immediately following Section 313.5
 , to read:  
   314.  With respect to pupils of limited English proficiency, the
Superintendent shall perform certain tasks, including, but not
limited to, all of the following:
   (a) Ensuring that all schools and school districts provide each
pupil of limited English proficiency with an educational opportunity
that is equal to educational opportunities available to
English-speaking pupils.
   (b) Administering, reviewing, monitoring, and evaluating the use
of state or federal funds allocated to school districts that have
been wholly or partially allocated on the basis of the educational
needs of the pupils who are limited English proficient to ensure that
use of the funds are consistent with state and federal mandates and
sound educational policy.
   (c) Monitoring pupil performance and intervening when school
districts do not meet state, district, or school plans as required
by, or submitted in compliance with, state or federal law.
   (d) Ensuring that all school districts where pupils of limited
English proficiency are enrolled are reviewed through an onsite
technical assistance, monitoring, and enforcement process at least
once every three years.  
  SECTION 1.    Section 52177 of the Education Code
is amended to read:
   52177.  Out of funds appropriated for these purposes, the
superintendent shall administer this article. The responsibilities of
the superintendent in administering this article shall include, but
are not limited to, ensuring all of the following:
   (a) Sufficient bilingual personnel are available within the
department with familiarity, competency, and proficiency in
bilingual-crosscultural instruction to meet the needs of this article
and to administer, review, monitor, and evaluate the use of state or
federal categorical aid funds allocated to local districts that have
been wholly or partially allocated on the basis of the educational
needs of pupils of limited-English proficiency.
   (b) Department personnel responsible for the administration,
review, monitoring, or evaluation of programs operating pursuant to
this article have been sufficiently trained to carry out the intent
of this article to meet the needs of the pupil of limited-English
proficiency.
   (c) There is within the department an administrative unit
responsible for bilingual-bicultural educational programs and
policies through which the superintendent shall carry out his or her
functions pursuant to this article.
   (d) Districts are providing each pupil of limited-English
proficiency with an educational opportunity equal to that available
to English-speaking pupils, making appropriate use of local and state
general funds to provide bilingual-crosscultural teachers and other
required services, and an annual report is made to the Legislature
regarding the extent to which this article has been implemented by
school districts throughout the state. All districts in which pupils
of limited-English proficiency are enrolled shall be reviewed through
an onsite technical assistance, monitoring, and enforcement process
at least once every three years.