Amended in Assembly March 18, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2290

Introduced by Assembly Member Santiago

February 18, 2016

An act to begin delete amend end delete begin insert repeal and add end insert Section begin delete 51212 end delete begin insert 60605.3 end insert of the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2290, as amended, Santiago. Pupil instruction: begin delete foreign language. end delete begin insert world languages. end insert

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Existing law requires the State Board of Education, on or before June 1, 2009, to adopt content standards for teaching foreign languages in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, pursuant to recommendations developed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

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This bill would establish the World Language Content Standards Advisory Committee, as provided. The bill would require the advisory committee to recommend to the state board updated world language content standards and a world language framework for teaching foreign language in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, as provided. The bill would require, if the state board adopts the content standards and the framework, the state board to adopt the content standards on or before September 1, 2017, and the framework on or before January 1, 2018.

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Existing law sets forth the intent and purpose of the Legislature to encourage the establishment of programs of instruction in foreign language, with instruction beginning as early as feasible for each school district.

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This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to that provision.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert . State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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begin insert Section 60605.3 of the end insert begin insert Education Code end insert begin insert is
repealed. end insert

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60605.3.  

(a) On or before June 1, 2009, the State Board of
Education shall adopt content standards, pursuant to
recommendations developed by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction, for teaching foreign languages in kindergarten and
grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(b) The content standards shall support the goals of Section
51212 and subdivision (c) of Section 51220 by including all of the
following:

(1) A summary of the language goals which recognizes that
instruction may begin in elementary or secondary school.

(2) A description of individual language skills that should be
taught and attained at each level.

(3) Course content that is aligned with findings from research
on second language acquisition and education.

(4) Course content that is aligned with the admission
requirements for the California State University and the University
of California.

(c) The content standards may be used by school districts to
develop language programs and course assessments but are not
mandatory.

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begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

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begin insert Section 60605.3 is added to the end insert begin insert Education Code end insert begin insert , to
read: end insert

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begin insert 60605.3. end insert   

(a) (1) There is hereby established the World
Language Content Standards Advisory Committee.

(2) The advisory committee shall consist of 21 members,
appointed as follows:

(A) Ten members appointed by the Governor.

(B) Four members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(C) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(D) Three members appointed by the Superintendent.

(3) Members of the advisory committee shall serve at the
pleasure of the appointing authority.

(4) Not less than one-half of the members appointed by each of
the appointing authorities pursuant to paragraph (2) shall be
current public school elementary or secondary classroom teachers.

(5) The advisory committee shall do all of the following:

(A) Review the existing content standards established for
teaching foreign languages in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12,
inclusive.

(B) Considering the impact that the proposed updates will have
upon school districts and existing curricula and assessments,
prepare updates to the current content standards that reflect
research findings and best practices in the field and those that the
advisory committee deems necessary.

(C) Recommend to the state board the updated world language
content standards and a world language framework for teaching
foreign language in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(D) (i) Conduct at least two, and no more than six, in-person
meetings including opportunities for public input.

(ii) The advisory committee may convene additional meetings
by teleconference or the Internet.

(iii) Pursuant to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article
9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), all meetings and
hearings of the advisory committee, whether live or by
teleconference or Internet, shall be open and available to the
public.

(6) On or before ____, the advisory committee shall present its
recommended updated world language content standards to the
state board.

(7) Members of the advisory committee shall serve without
compensation, except for actual and necessary travel expenses
and costs of substitutes, if any, for the members of the advisory
committee who are school teachers.

(8) Upon completing this review and presenting the
recommendations to the state board, the terms of the members of
the advisory committee shall cease.

(b) The department shall post on its Internet Web site the
updates to the world language content standards proposed by the
advisory committee for a minimum of 60 days. The department
shall include a link by which members of the public may submit
comments on the proposed updates.

(c) No earlier than 60 days after the department posts the
proposed updated world language content standards on the
department’s Internet Web site pursuant to subdivision (b) and no
later than 120 days after receiving the recommended updated
world language content standards from the advisory committee,
the state board shall do either of the following:

(1) Adopt the content standards as proposed by the advisory
committee.

(2) Reject the content standards as proposed by the advisory
committee. If the state board rejects the content standards, it shall
provide a specific written explanation to the Superintendent, the
Governor, and the Legislature of the reasons why the proposed
content standards were rejected.

(d) If the state board adopts the world language content
standards pursuant to the recommendations developed by the
advisory committee, the state board shall do so on or before
September 1, 2017.

(e) If the state board adopts the world language framework
pursuant to recommendations developed by the advisory committee,
the state board shall do so on or before January 1, 2018.

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SECTION 1.  

Section 51212 of the Education Code is amended
to read:

51212.  

It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature to
encourage the establishment of programs in foreign language
instruction, with instruction beginning as early as feasible for each
school district.

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