Governor Lamont Proposes Establishing the English Learners’ Invoice of Rights To Safeguard the Provision of Bilingual Schooling

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02/27/2023

Governor Lamont Proposes Establishing the English Learners’ Invoice of Rights To Safeguard the Provision of Bilingual Schooling

(BRIDGEPORT, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont at this time held a information convention in Bridgeport to announce that he has submitted a legislative proposal to the Connecticut Common Meeting establishing the English Learners’ Invoice of Rights in Connecticut state statutes to make it clear to college students, dad and mom and guardians, educators, and college directors the rights of English learners to obtain a high quality schooling in Connecticut public colleges.

English learners are college students who’ve been recognized as having a dominant language aside from English.

“I consider there may be nothing extra vital to a baby’s schooling than an engaged and supportive father or mother or guardian, and the English Learners’ Invoice of Rights will assure that they’ve the data essential to take action,” Governor Lamont stated. “A number of weeks in the past, a gaggle of fogeys, college students, legislators, and advocates held an occasion outdoors my workplace to suggest the creation of this regulation and clarify its significance. After listening to their tales and the significance of this invoice to their households, I understood. Their voices have been heard in my workplace, and I hope we are able to all hear them.”

“In Connecticut, greater than 50% of our pupil inhabitants now identifies as non-white. Moreover, greater than 45,000 or 8.8% of our college students are recognized as English learners. For this reason an English Learners’ Invoice of Rights is so vital at the moment,” Schooling Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker stated. “The Connecticut State Division of Schooling thanks the governor for introducing this laws because it additional solidifies our historic dedication to making sure academic entry and fairness. It’s crucial that we empower all of our English learners and households throughout the state to be lively and engaged members of our faculty group.”

The laws directs the State Board of Schooling to draft a written English Learners’ Invoice of Rights that clearly and succinctly compiles current federal and state legal guidelines and necessities that safeguard and shield the supply of bilingual schooling. This invoice of rights should embrace, however not be restricted to:

• The suitable of an English learner pupil to attend public faculty no matter immigration standing;
• The suitable of an English learner pupil to have a translator current at important interactions with lecturers and directors, corresponding to parent-teacher conferences and conferences with directors;
• The suitable of an English learner pupil to take part in a program of bilingual schooling when there are 20 or extra eligible college students categorized as dominant in a language aside from English;
• The suitable of a father or mother or guardian of an English learner pupil to obtain written discover, in each English and their dominant language, that such pupil is eligible to take part in a program of bilingual schooling;
• The suitable of an English learner pupil and their father or mother or guardian to obtain a high-quality orientation session of their dominant language;
• The suitable of the father or mother or guardian of an English learner pupil to obtain details about the progress of such pupil’s English language improvement and acquisition and meet with faculty personnel to debate these issues;
• The suitable of an English learner pupil to be positioned in a program of bilingual schooling or English as a brand new language, if provided by the college district;
• The suitable of an English learner pupil to have equal entry to all grade-level faculty programming and all core grade-level subject material;
• The suitable of an English learner pupil to obtain annual language proficiency testing;
• The suitable of an English learner pupil to obtain assist companies aligned with any intervention plan that the college or faculty district supplies to all college students;
• The suitable of an English learner pupil to be repeatedly and yearly enrolled in a program of bilingual schooling or English as a brand new language whereas such pupil stays an eligible pupil; and
• The suitable of a father or mother or guardian of an English learner pupil to contact the State Division of Schooling with any questions or considerations about such pupil’s proper to obtain English learner companies or lodging.

Moreover, the laws requires that every native and regional board of schooling offering a program of bilingual schooling or English as a brand new language present the dad and mom and guardians of eligible college students with a duplicate of the English Learners’ Invoice of Rights within the dominant language of such dad and mom and guardians, and make these paperwork accessible on-line.

The laws is Home Invoice 6663, An Act Establishing the English Learners’ Invoice of Rights. It presently being thought of by the Schooling Committee.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Fb: Workplace of Governor Ned Lamont