P6141.31

Instruction

Bilingual-Bicultural Education

The Superintendent of Schools, or his/her designee, shall ascertain annually the number of children of limited and non-English speaking ability within the school district and classify them according to their dominant language and report them to the Board of Education.

If it is determined that the school system has twenty or more limited or non-English speaking children in a given language, in a given school, who would be helped in developing mastery of the English language through a bilingual program, the Superintendent is directed to develop a program of bilingual education for such eligible children for the next school year. The plan shall be submitted to the Commissioner of Education for review.

The Superintendent of Schools will require each School Principal to conduct a preliminary assessment of dominant language of all students in the district as follows:

l.  From parents/guardians by personal contact in the student's presumed dominant language.

2.  From parents/guardians by use of questionnaires in the student's dominant language.

3.  From personal interviews in the presumed dominant language (grades 4-12 only).

4.  From school records (only when unable to use one of the methods described in la -1c.)

The Superintendent shall apply annually for a grant of funds to support such a program. The Superintendent shall also submit annual reports of progress as required by law.

A meeting shall be held with the parents/guardians of eligible students to explain the benefits of the language program options available in the district including an English immersion program and any native language accommodations that may be available for the mastery examinations. A student will be placed in a bilingual program if the parent(s)/guardian(s) elect this option.

An eligible student for the bilingual program shall be limited to no more than thirty (30) months, excluding summer school and time spent in two-way language programs, in a bilingual program. An eligible student may spend up to an additional thirty months in a program of bilingual education if the Superintendent or his/her designee requests an extension, not to exceed an additional thirty months in a bilingual program, of the State Department of Education (SDE).  The SDE may also make the determination that such an extension is necessary for a student. The program must continuously increase the use of English for instruction and provide that more than 50% of instruction be in English by the end of a student’s first year in the program.

The progress made by each student in the bilingual education program in meeting the English mastery standard developed by the State Department of Education shall be assessed annually. Students not meeting the English mastery standard at the end of the initial thirty months or at the end of an extension or those demonstrating limited progress shall be provided with additional language support services which may include, but are not limited to, English as a second language program, sheltered English programs, English Immersion programs, summer school, after-school assistance, and other research-based language development programs.

Transition services offered to students who have not mastered English after thirty months in a bilingual program may not include bilingual education. Students meeting the state standard shall leave the program. The date of initiation into the district’s bilingual program and the date and results of the required assessments shall be documented on the student’s permanent record card.

Eligible students enrolling in a secondary school with less than thirty (30) months remaining before graduation shall be assigned to an English as a Second Language program. He/she may also be provided with additional services designed to enable the student to speak, write, and comprehend English by the time the student graduates and to assist the student meet the course requirements for graduation.

A student will be exempted from the bilingual program upon receipt of a written request for exemption from his/her parent or guardian.

Certification requirements may be waived for bilingual teachers, as provided by law.

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-14q Exceptions (as amended by P.A. 02-7, 5/9/02 Special Session)

10-17 English language to be medium of instruction. Exception.

10-17a Establishment of bilingual and bicultural program.

10-17d Application for and receipt of federal funds.

10-17e Definitions.

10-17f Required bilingual education. (as amended by PA 98-168 & PA 01-205, PA 05-290 and June Special Session PA 15-5)

10-17g Application for grant. Annual evaluation report.

10-76e Definitions.

10-146f Waiver of certification requirements for bilingual teachers.

State Board of Education Regulations

10-17h-1 to 10-17h-15. Programs of bilingual education.

Policy adopted:  June 1, 1999

Policy revised:  March 15, 2016

Policy reviewed and approved:  January 22, 2019

PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Portland, Connecticut