From the ECS State Policy Database Curriculum--Foreign Language/Sign Language

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary LA Adopted 09/2012 P-12 Adds American Sign Language (ASL) III and IV to the list of foreign language courses that may be offered for graduation credit in public high schools (previously only ASL I and II were included in the foreign language course offerings). Clarifies documentation that teachers of American Sign Language must hold (in addition to a valid Louisiana teaching certificate). Page 67 of 153: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/1209/1209.pdf Title: LAC 28:CXV.2345 Source: www.doa.louisiana.gov CA Signed into law 08/2012 P-12 From bill summary: Requires each heritage school's electronic registration form filed with the superintendent of public instruction to include the address, including city and street, of the location at which the heritage school delivers services to pupils. Requires the electronic registration form to include an acknowledgment that the director of a heritage school and all employees are mandated reporters and subject to the requirements established by the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, and certification that (1) the employer is aware that it is encouraged to provide its employees with training in the duties imposed by the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, (2) employees have signed a statement provided by the employer that the employees have knowledge of the act and will comply with its provisions, and (3) employees have been notified by the employer of their reporting obligations and confidentiality rights pursuant to a specified provision. If 2 or more heritage schools are under the effective control of a single administrative unit, requires the administrative unit submit an electronic registration form on behalf of every heritage school under its effective control or supervision. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_1101-1150/sb_1137_bill_20120829_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 1137 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov NY Signed into law 07/2012 P-12 Establishes purposes of the state seal of biliteracy. Confers a state seal of biliteracy (district participation is voluntary) to high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages other than English. Directs the board of regents to promulgate rules to establish criteria that students must achieve to earn a state seal of biliteracy. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=%0D%0A&bn=A10292&term=&Summary=Y&Text=Y Title: A.B. 10292 Source: assembly.state.ny.us LA Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Creates an exploratory committee to develop a plan regarding the creation and establishment of an international language immersion school at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Directs the committee to study specified issues regarding the opening of such school. Directs the committee to submit a written report and implementation plan for the establishment of an international language immersion school to the senate and house education committees by March 31, 2013. http://legis.la.gov/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=812550 Title: S.B. 712 Source: legis.la.gov AK Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Establishes the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council to advise both the governor and legislature on programs, policies, and projects to provide for the cost-effective preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Alaska Native languages in the state. http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/27/Bills/SB0130Z.PDF Title: S.B.130 Source: legis.state.ak.us FL Signed into law 04/2012 Community College Postsec. Requires students seeking an associate of arts degree to demonstrate competency in a foreign language. Page 18 of 31: http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7135er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7135&Session=2012 Title: H.B. 7135 - Foreign Language in Associate Degree Programs Source: myfloridahouse.gov CO Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Indicates the circumstances under which the education department may issue a Native American Language and Cultural instruction authorization to an individual. A district may adopt a policy to grant general education or world language credit for successful completion of Native American language course work for languages of fedrally recognized tribes. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2012a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/DE919C4DC5DD2AF487257981007DB7B8?Open&file=057_enr.pdf Title: S.B. 57 Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us CA Signed into law 10/2011 P-12 From bill summary: Establishes the State Seal of Biliteracy to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. Provides the State Seal of Biliteracy is awarded by the superintendent of public instruction in accordance with specified criteria. Requires the superintendent of public instruction to prepare and deliver to participating school districts the seal insignia. Requires participating school districts to maintain records in order to identify pupils who have earned a State Seal of Biliteracy and to affix an appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript of pupils who earn a State Seal of Biliteracy. Makes an appropriation by authorizing the superintendent of public instruction to use money appropriated for purposes of the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma program to develop a Web site for electronic delivery of the seals for both the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma and State Seal of Biliteracy programs to school districts. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0801-0850/ab_815_bill_20111008_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 815 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Includes genocide education in the materials provided by the Department of Education to school districts for student curriculum and educator in-service training. Classifies American sign language as a foreign language for purposes of the prescribed education curriculum. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/ACT/Pa/pdf/2011PA-00136-R00HB-06499-PA.pdf Title: H.B. 6499 - Sec. 1 and 2 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov LA Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and implement a process to certify foreign language immersion education programs as a means to provide statewide standards for the programs and assist and support schools and districts in establishing and maintaining high quality, highly effective immersion programs. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=760362 Title: S.B. 104 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us VA Signed into law 02/2011 P-12 Provides that if a local school board offers an elective course in American Sign Language, it must grant academic credit for course completion on the same basis as the successful completion of a foreign language course and count course completion in American Sign Language toward the fulfillment of any foreign language requirement for graduation. Additionally, the bill requires public institutions of higher education to count academic credit received for successful completion of American Sign Language courses in a secondary school or higher education institution toward satisfaction of the foreign language entrance requirements. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+HB1435ER+pdf Title: H.B. 1435 Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/ CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 Applies specified background check procedures to heritage schools, which serve children between the ages of 5 and 18 who attend a public or private full-time school, and offer foreign language education or tutoring and cultural education relating to a foreign country. Requires heritage schools to maintain membership in a state or national cultural or language association, comply with relevant applicable local regulations, and not operate out of a residential home. Requires the director of a heritage school to undergo at least 15 hours of health and safety training, and requires employees and volunteers of the heritage school to be in good health, as verified by a health screening performed by a licensed physician and surgeon. Exempts a heritage school from licensure by the state department of social services as a child day care center. Requires a heritage school to provide a notice to the parent of a pupil enrolling in the school stating that the school is exempt from child care licensure and that attendance at a heritage school does not satisfy state compulsory education requirements. Establishes the Heritage Enrichment Resource Fund. Authorizes the superintendent to expend moneys deposited in the fund, upon appropriation by statute. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_1101-1150/sb_1116_bill_20100924_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 1116 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov TN Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Before graduating from high school, students who have completed coursework in a foreign language are required to take a foreign language proficiency test. Requires the state board to establish a test for each foreign language that is taught in Tennessee public schools. If a student has completed coursework in more than one foreign language, the student is required to take a foreign language proficiency test for each of the languages studied. Tests are to be approved by the commissioner of education and provide educators with diagnostic information to assist in developing curriculum for the purposes of increasing foreign language proficiency and improving preparation for postsecondary achievement. Each year, the results of the examinations are to be analyzed and reported to the select oversight committee on education. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/HB0209.pdf Title: H.B. 209 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov TN Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Requires the state board of education to develop guidelines and criteria for the inclusion of foreign language instruction in grades kindergarten through six. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 3 2009 http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=SB1075 Title: S.B. 1075 Source: http://wapp.capitol.tn.gov OR Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Authorizes Superintendent of Public Instruction to enter into contract for purpose of ensuring that Chinese language is available to public school students; declares emergency, effective on passage. Chapter 13 http://www.leg.state.or.us/10ss1/measpdf/hb3600.dir/hb3628.en.pdf Title: H.B. 3628A Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us DE Signed into law 02/2010 P-12 Recognizes American Sign Language as a World Language for purposes of school curriculum. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis145.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+244/$file/legis.html?open Title: H.B. 245 Source: http://legis.delaware.gov IL Signed into law 12/2009 P-12 Postsec. Encourages school boards to include American Sign Language courses in schools' foreign language curricula. Provides that the foreign language admission requirements for public universities may be fulfilled by completion of American Sign Language coursework. Allows postsecondary academic credit to be awarded for the successful completion of an American Sign Language course. Provides such credit may be applied toward completion of the university's foreign language requirement. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/96/PDF/096-0843.pdf Title: H.B. 725 Source: www.ilga.gov CA Signed into law 10/2009 P-12 Requires the Commission on Teacher Credentials to issue an American Indian Languages eminence credential to a candidate who has demonstrated fluency in that language. Authorizes the holder of an American Indian languages credential to teach the language in public schools and in adult education courses. Makes such credential holder eligible for a professional clear teaching credential. Encourages each federally recognized American Indian tribe to develop related written and oral assessments for credential applicants. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0501-0550/ab_544_bill_20091011_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 544 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov WI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Permits a school board or cooperative educational service agency, in conjunction with a tribal education authority, to apply to the state department of education for a grant to support innovative, effective instruction in one or more American Indian languages. Directs the department to promulgate rules to implement and administer this program. Page 468 of 692: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act28.pdf Title: A.B. 75 Source: www.legis.state.wi.us LA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Requires, by a specified time, that all children attending public schools shall have the opportunity to study the critical languages in addition to the traditional languages currently offered. Not later than the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, every student enrolled in a secondary school in the state shall be afforded the opportunity to study at least one of the critical languages as defined by the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Education. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=504273 Title: S.B. 549 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/ CT Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Concerns high school credit for private world language courses; provides that students may earn up to two credits toward high school graduation for completion of a world language courses offered by a nonprofit provider and the student passes a test prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/Pa/pdf/2008PA-00138-R00HB-05820-PA.pdf Title: H.B. 5820 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov/ TN Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Directs the State Board of Education to develop guidelines for Develop guidelines for the use of LEAs to foster foreign language fluency as part of holistic education for all students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12). Current law requires two years of instruction in a foreign language. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0628.pdf Title: S.B. 2980 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us CA To governor 09/2007 P-12 Establishes the State Seal of Biliteracy to recognize high school graduates who have mastered languages in addition to English. Requires the seal be awarded by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Requires the State Department of Education to prepare and deliver to school districts the seal insignia. Requires participating school districts to maintain certain records and to affix an appropriate insignia to the diploma or transcript of pupils who earn the seal. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0251-0300/ab_280_bill_20070920_enrolled.pdf Title: A.B. 280 Source: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/ LA Adopted 08/2007 P-12 Allows the Foreign Language Specialist Certificate PK-8 to be valid for six years due to changes in the visa requirements. Page 10 of 79: http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osr/reg/0708/0708RUL.pdf Title: LAC 28:CXXXI.311 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NC Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Encourages the public schools, the community college system and the University of North Carolina to offer American Sign Language for credit as a modern foreign language. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H915v0.html Title: H.B. 915 Source: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/ WV Adopted 06/2007 P-12 Amends rules regarding foreign language content standards and objectives for West Virginia schools. Title: Title 126, Series 44G Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Provides that any student, not just a deaf student, may fulfill the foreign language requirements for a college preparatory curriculum seal of endorsement on a high school diploma by demonstrating proficiency in American Sign Language. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/sb170.pdf Title: S.B. 170 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Creates a pilot program to award five world languages grants to develop and implement sustainable, high-quality model world languages programs and to enhance existing world languages programs at various grade levels for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Program participants must simultaneously support both English language learners in maintaining their native language while mastering English and native English speakers in learning other languages. Specifies application and eligibility requirements. The commissioner must award three grants to k-8 sites, one grant to a qualified site interested in developing or enhancing a sustainable Mandarin Chinese program and one grant to an indigenous American Indian world languages program. (Sections 38, 42) http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85 Title: H.F. 2245 [World Languages] Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85 MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Directs the Department of Education to develop and recommend to the legislature by February 15, 2008, the standards and process for awarding bilingual and multilingual certificates to those kindergarten through grade students who demonstrate and maintain a requisite level of proficiency in multiple languages. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85 (Section 39) Title: H.F. 2245 [Multilingual/Bilingual] Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us ID Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Amends existing law to declare English to be the official state language. Provides that English is the sole language of government, subject to exceptions. Provides that specified actions must be in English, subject to exceptions. Requires all state funds appropriated or designated for the printing or translation of materials or the provision of services or information in a language other than English to be returned to the state general fund. Directs the state board of education to adopt rules governing the use of foreign languages in the public schools that promote the following principles: (a) Non-English speaking children and adults should become able to read, write and understand English as quickly as possible; (b) Foreign language instruction should be encouraged; (c) Formal and informal programs in English as a second language should be initiated, continued and expanded; and (d) Public schools should establish communication with non-English speaking parents within their systems, using a means designed to maximize understanding when necessary, while encouraging those parents who do not speak English to become more proficient in English. Session Law Chapter 254 http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/S1172.html Title: S.B. 1172 Source: www3.state.id.us UT Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Establishes the Critical Languages Program, which includes languages described in the federal National Security Language Initiative, including Chinese, Arabic, Russian, Farsi, Hindi, and Korean; requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Utah Education Network, to develop and implement courses of study in the critical languages. Appropriates $230,000 in ongoing Uniform School Fund revenues to the state board to implement the Critical Languages Pilot Program outlined in the bill. http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/sbillint/sb0080s02.htm Title: S.B. 80 Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us/ WY Signed into law 02/2007 Postsec. Community College Amends the teacher shortage loan repayment program to include students pursuing degrees to become foreign language teachers; transfers administrative authority for the program from the Wyoming Higher Education Assistance Authority to the Wyoming Community College Commission. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/Enroll/HB0182.pdf Title: H.B. 182 Source: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/bills.htm MD Adopted 11/2006 P-12 Amends rules to the Board of Education. Allows students to use American Sign Language as an alternative to foreign language in fulfilling graduation requirements. MARYLAND 10858 http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/13a/13a.03.02.04.htm Title: COMAR 13A.03.02.04 Source: Maryland Rules CA Vetoed 09/2006 P-12 Establishes the State Seal of Biliteracy to recognize high school graduates who have mastered speaking, reading, and writing skills in one or more languages, in addition to English. Requires each participating school district to determine the requirements necessary for a pupil to qualify for the seal. Requires the providing of information to districts so they can maintain records and identify pupils who qualify for the seal. Title: A.B. 2445 Source: California Legislature TX Adopted 07/2006 P-12 Allows for students who are at higher proficiency levels to meet the graduation requirements by taking higher level language courses. Clarifies that Tech prep is a program of study, not a course. TEXAS 99898 Title: 19 TAC 2.74.D.74.43, .44 Source: Texas Regulations IL Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Creates an arts and foreign language education grant program to fund arts education and foreign language education programs in the public schools. Provides that emphasis of grant program must be on ensuring that art and foreign language courses are available as part of a school's core curriculum. Directs the state board to enter into an agreement with the Illinois Arts Council to cooperate in administering and awarding grants under the program. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/94/PDF/094-0835.pdf Title: S.B. 176 Source: www.ilga.gov OH Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Postsec. Community College Appropriates funds for support of the Ohio Core Program. Funds will be used to: (1) Support the participation of teachers licensed in Ohio and mid-career professionals not currently employed by a school district or licensed to teach at the primary or secondary education levels in a twelve-month intensive training program that leads to teacher licensure in a laboratory-based science, advanced mathematics, or foreign language field at the secondary education level and employment with an Ohio school district; (2) Support alternative teacher licensure programs developed by educational service centers, in partnership with institutions of higher education. Participants shall be teachers licensed in Ohio and mid-career professionals not currently employed by a school district or licensed to teach at the primary or secondary education levels. Programs shall be consistent with the State Board of Education's alternative licensure requirements; (3) Obtain contracted instruction with institutions of higher education in mathematics, science, or foreign language for high school students that results in dual high school and college credit. Costs shall be based upon reasonable expenses that institutions of higher education could incur for faculty, supplies, and other associated costs. (4) Implement and support the Ohio Students Choosing On-line Resources for Educational Success Initiative that increases the educational options available for students in mathematics, advanced laboratory-based science, and foreign language. The eTech Ohio Commission shall work collaboratively with the Department of Education and the Board of Regents on this initiative. (5) Support up to 10 regional summer academies that focus on foreign language, science, mathematics, engineering, and technology and prepare 11th and 12th grades to pursue college-level foreign language, mathematics, science, technology and engineering, with a focus on secondary teaching in these disciplines. Successful completion of these academics shall result in dual high school and college credits. Costs shall be based upon reasonable expenses, as determined by the Board of Regents, that institutions of higher education could incur for faculty, supplies, and other associated costs. http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText126/126_HB_115_PS_N.html Title: H.B. 115 Source: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us SC Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Relates to high school courses in American sign language; provides that a school district may give credit as a foreign language to a pupil who satisfactorily completes a high school course in American sign language. http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/bills/1107.doc Title: S.B. 1107 Source: South Carolina Legislature MN Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Authorizes the commissioner of education to contract with the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota or other Minnesota public entity to undertake the development of an articulated K-12 Chinese curriculum for Minnesota schools that involves: (1) creating a network of Chinese teachers and educators able to develop new and modify or expand existing world languages K-12 curricula, materials, assessments, and best practices needed to provide Chinese language instruction to students; and (2) coordinating statewide efforts to develop and expand Chinese language instruction so that it is uniformly available to students throughout the state, and making innovative use of media and technology, including television, distance learning, and online courses to broaden students' access to the instruction. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H4162.3.html&session=ls84 Title: H.B. 4162 Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H4162.3.html&session=ls84 AL Signed into law 07/2005 P-12 Amends Section 16-6B-2 to specify that American Sign Language is a foreign language for purposes of satisfying certain curriculum requirements; and to apply such provision to hearing-impaired students for the 2005-2006 school year and to all students beginning with the 2006-2007 school year. http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2005fs/bills/sb94.htm Title: S.B. 94 Source: http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us MO DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR 05/2005 P-12 This bill treats American Sign Language (ASL) as a foreign language for the granting of academic credit at public schools and public higher education institutions. Students may receive academic credit for demonstrating proficiency or completing a course with a passing grade. The credit may be used to satisfy the foreign language or language arts requirements, including entrance requirements of public higher education institutions. Nothing in the bill prohibits a department of a higher education institution from establishing specific language requirements for its majors that cannot be met by ASL, nor does the bill prohibit the offering of noncredit courses in ASL. The Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Missouri American Sign Language Teachers Association, upon request, will assist in the development and teaching of the courses. Title: H.B. 530 Source: StateNet MS Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Italian language classes; establish a pilot program to offer to students in grades K-12. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2005/html/HB/1100-1199/HB1163SG.htm Title: H.B. 1163 Source: StateNet DE Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Amends regulations that apply to the requirements for Standard Certificates for Foreign Language and Bilingual Teachers. These amendments reflect the adoption of PRAXIS II qualifying scores for Delaware educators. Additionally, course requirements and requirements for acquisition of foreign languages by teachers have been revised. http://www.state.de.us/research/AdminCode/title14/1500/index.shtml Title: 14 DAC 1528, 1529, 1533, 1537, and 1558 Source: Delaware State Web site CO Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College Concerns the treatment of American Sign Language as a foreign language in education that counts toward graduation requirements. http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/sl2004a/sl_74.htm Title: H.B. 1037 Source: Colorado Legislative Web site WY Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Relates to public schools; establishes a pilot project for expansion of foreign language instruction through grade six; imposes requirements upon participant schools; establishes initial and on-going training and professional development for teachers and teacher assistants; provides for program implementation and administration through the state superintendent. Title: H.B. 170 Source: StateNet CA Signed into law 10/2003 P-12 Postsec. Requires the department of education, by June 1, 2009, to adopt content standards for teaching foreign languages in grades K-12 pursuant to recommendations developed by the superintendent of public instruction. Provides these standards are intended to guide schools that offer programs of instruction in languages other than English and to include a description of the skills to be attained at each grade level and alignment of the course content with the entrance requirements of the California State University and the University of California. Aligns teacher training standards with State content standards. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sb_5_bill_20031011_chaptered.html Title: S.B. 5 Source: California Legislative Web site HI Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Allows the Department of Education to adopt a program for grades 3- 12 which provides opportunities for competency in a second language. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus.asp?qu=SB1326&showstatus=on&showtext=on&press1=docs Title: S.B. 1326 Source: Hawaii Legislative Web site FL Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Postsec. Requires school boards to advise students taking American Sign Language as a foreign language that post-secondary schools outside of Florida may not accept these courses as satisfying foreign language requirements. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/house/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=0162&Chamber=Senate&Year=2003&Title=%2D%3EBill%2520Info%3AS%25200162%2D%3ESession%25202003 Title: S.B. 162 Source: Florida Legislative Web site KY Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Requires the department to create a program to promote the integration of the arts and foreign languages into the elementary school program. Schools are to submit applications, with the department granting funds to at least one school per region, giving preference to schools that do not already have a comprehensive arts and foreign language program. Requires programs to include a number of specified components, including integrating arts and foreign language across the curriculum and instruction in each of the four disciplines of dance, drama, music and the visual arts that includes the core content skills and knowledge taught in a sequential manner and includes all students in the elementary school. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/03RS/SB154/bill.doc Title: S.B. 154 Source: www.lrc.state.ky.us MA Signed into law 08/2002 P-12 "[W]ithin five years of the effective date of this act, any foreign language classes required by the department [...] or by a school district shall be required for students in elementary schools and optional for students in high schools." http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm Title: H.B. 5010 Source: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm FL Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Requires every local board to create a plan for a K-12 foreign language curriculum, to be submitted to the commissioner by June 30, 2004. See bill section 1061, page 1785, line 20 ff: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/data/session/2002E/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0020Eer.pdf Title: S.B. 20E Source: http://www.leg.state.fl.us OR Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Eliminates the 2-year second language requirement for students who have completed grade 12; requires all students who have met the requirements for Certificate of Initial Mastery to demonstrate proficiency in second language; requires school districts to make available the ability to demonstrate proficiency in arts, including music; requires adoption of criteria for waiver of second language and music requirements. Title: S.B. 65 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us/01reg/measures/sb0001.dir/sb0065.en.html VT Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Authorizes schools to offer American Sign Language (ASL) as a course of foreign language credit; directs the Board of Education to establish licensing credentials for ASL teachers; directs the Commissioner of Education to encourage postsecondary institutions to accept secondary school ASL credits as foreign language credits. Title: S.B. 25 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet UT Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Postsec. Modifies provisions related to the State System of Public Education by requiring the State Board of Education to develop and implement a concurrent enrollment course on Mandarin Chinese to be taught over EDNET, the state's two-way interactive system for video and audio, to high school juniors and seniors in the state's public education system. Title: S.B. 57 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 07/2000 P-12 Relates to existing law which requires a school district with pupils who are English learners to conduct annual assessments on the pupils English. Requires that the annual assessment be conducted upon initial enrollment during a period of time determined by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. Establishes, until 01/01/2004, the English Language and Intensive Literacy Program for pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Title: S.B. 1667 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet