Signed by Governor Jerry Brown, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that submits a question to the voters to repeal the prohibition on bilingual education in public schools.

Highlights:

• Repeals certain provisions of Proposition 227, which established public school language instruction methods for limited English proficient students, including, but not limited to, the following provisions (Secs. 3 & 5):
• That all public school children be taught English by being taught in English;
• That all public school children be placed in English language classrooms;
• That all public school children who are English learners be educated through “sheltered English immersion”; and
• That the parent of an English learner be required to provide informed written consent before his or her child can receive bilingual education.

• Requires school districts and county offices of education to solicit input and provide pupils appropriate instructional methods, including, but not limited to, “language acquisition programs” (Sec. 3).

• Defines “language acquisition program” as an educational program designed to ensure English acquisition as rapidly and effectively as possible and that provide instruction to pupils on the state-adopted academic content standards (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes a certain types of language acquisition programs including, but not limited to, the following programs (Sec. 4):
• A dual-language program for both native English speakers and native speakers of another language that aims for proficiency in 2 languages;
• A transitional or developmental program for English learners that provides instruction utilizing the pupils native language; and
• A structured English immersion program for English learners in which nearly all classroom instruction is provide in English but the curriculum and presentation is designed for pupils who are learning English.

• Authorizes parents of children enrolled in public schools to choose the language acquisition program that best suits their child and requires schools in which 20 pupils or more of a given grade level or 30 pupils or more per school request a language acquisition program to offer such program to the extent possible (Sec. 5). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill that amend Proposition 227 become effective only when submitted to and approved by the voters at the November 2016 statewide general election (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that submits a question to the voters to repeal the prohibition on bilingual education in public schools.

Highlights:

• Repeals certain provisions of Proposition 227, which established public school language instruction methods for limited English proficient students, including, but not limited to, the following provisions (Secs. 3 & 5):
• That all public school children be taught English by being taught in English;
• That all public school children be placed in English language classrooms;
• That all public school children who are English learners be educated through “sheltered English immersion”; and
• That the parent of an English learner be required to provide informed written consent before his or her child can receive bilingual education.

• Requires school districts and county offices of education to solicit input and provide pupils appropriate instructional methods, including, but not limited to, “language acquisition programs” (Sec. 3).

• Defines “language acquisition program” as an educational program designed to ensure English acquisition as rapidly and effectively as possible and that provide instruction to pupils on the state-adopted academic content standards (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes a certain types of language acquisition programs including, but not limited to, the following programs (Sec. 4):
• A dual-language program for both native English speakers and native speakers of another language that aims for proficiency in 2 languages;
• A transitional or developmental program for English learners that provides instruction utilizing the pupils native language; and
• A structured English immersion program for English learners in which nearly all classroom instruction is provide in English but the curriculum and presentation is designed for pupils who are learning English.

• Authorizes parents of children enrolled in public schools to choose the language acquisition program that best suits their child and requires schools in which 20 pupils or more of a given grade level or 30 pupils or more per school request a language acquisition program to offer such program to the extent possible (Sec. 5). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill that amend Proposition 227 become effective only when submitted to and approved by the voters at the November 2016 statewide general election (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that submits a question to the voters to repeal the prohibition on bilingual education in public schools.

Highlights:

• Repeals certain provisions of Proposition 227, which established public school language instruction methods for limited English proficient students, including, but not limited to, the following provisions (Secs. 3 & 5):
• That all public school children be taught English by being taught in English;
• That all public school children be placed in English language classrooms;
• That all public school children who are English learners be educated through “sheltered English immersion”; and
• That the parent of an English learner be required to provide informed written consent before his or her child can receive bilingual education.

• Authorizes school districts and county offices of education to determine the “best” language instruction methods and language acquisition programs to implement in schools by consulting experts in the field, parents, and “engaging” local communities (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes parents of children enrolled in public schools to choose the education model that suits their child and requires schools in which 20 pupils or more of a given grade level request a specific language program to offer such a class (Sec. 5). 

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill that amend Proposition 227 become effective only when submitted to, and approved by, the voters at the November 2016 statewide general election (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text