Would repeal Prop.227. 1998.
Sen. Lara to
enable Multilingual Education
SENATOR LARA ANNOUNCES BILL
SUPPORTING MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION
Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Long Beach/Huntington Park) announced legislation
today that would enable California’s public schools to provide multilingual
instruction, granting more students access to valuable 21st Century language
skills and giving parents more choice over their children’s education.
If
passed, SB 1174, the Multilingual Education for a 21st Century Economy Act,
would place an initiative before voters on the November 2016 ballot to repeal
prohibitions to multilingual instruction passed through Proposition 227.
“In an
increasingly interconnected global economy, we have to prepare our students for
a future in which their success depends not only on an ability to understand
diverse perspectives and cultures, but also on an ability to communicate in
different languages,” said Senator Ricardo Lara.
“Employers seek multilingual employees and all students – English and
non-English learners alike – deserve access to this invaluable skill.”
In 1998
voters passed an initiative that required all instruction in public schools to
be conducted in English. After its passage, the number of elementary age
students enrolled in some form of multilingual program sharply declined from 39
percent in 1997 to 13 percent in 2001.
“It is
critical for California to enable public schools to educate their students
mulitlingually. Becoming biliterate will not only give students a valuable 21st
Century skill, but also celebrate diversity and multiculturalism and recognize
that languages are an asset to our nation and society,” said Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, executive director of Californians Together, a coalition of
parents, teachers, education advocates and civil rights groups.
Multiple
studies have shown that supporting children’s home language in early years is
critical to later academic achievement, and results in better outcomes than
English-only approaches. Additionally, researchers have also found that it is
not just English learners who benefit from instruction in two languages –
children from English-only homes enrolled in such programs had a distinct
reading advantage over their peers in English-only programs.
“Extensive
research has shown that students who build strong biliteracy skills (in English
and one or more other languages) have higher academic success, a foundation for
increased salary earnings, and stronger cognitive skills as they grow older,”
said Jan Gustafson-Corea CEO of the California Association for Bilingual
Education. “CABE supports Senator Lara’s bill as one that will promote
educational equity and excellence in our schools and create a pathway for
success for all students in the 21st century.”
“English
will always remain the official language of California, but we cannot ignore
the growing need to have a multilingual workforce,” said Lara.
Currently,
public schools are not able to teach in any language besides English, unless
parents have gone through a waiver process that most are not aware of. In
California, most students will not receive any instruction in a foreign
language until they are in high school. Research has shown that language
acquisition is much more successful when it begins at an early age and is accompanied
by many cognitive benefits.
Senator
Ricardo Lara was elected in 2012 to represent the 33rd Senate District, which
includes the cities and communities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington
Park, Lakewood, Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, South
Gate, South Los Angeles, Vernon, and Walnut Park. For more information please
visit this link: http://www.senate.ca.gov/lara.
- See more at: http://sd33.senate.ca.gov/news/2014-02-20-senator-lara-announces-bill-supporting-multilingual-education#sthash.CHxq0RZW.dpuf
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