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 |
|
 KS | Signed into law 05/2007 | P-12
Community College | Designates English as the official language of the state. Provides any official public document or record and any official public meeting must be in English. Authorizes an agency or subdivision to publish a document in a language other than English as long as the document is also printed in English. Allows an individual who does not speak English to speak at a public meeting through an interpreter.
Bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2140.pdf
Supplemental note: http://www.kslegislature.org/supplemental/2008/SN2140.pdf
Title: H.B. 2140
Source: www.kslegislature.org
| |
| 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
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| HI | Vetoed 06/2002 | P-12 | Establishes a commission on language access. Requires the commission to develop and implement systems by which limited English speaking persons can access services, activities, and programs within each department. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb2568_.htm
Title: S.B. 2568
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet
| |
| IA | Signed into law 03/2002 | P-12 | Enacts the Iowa English Language Reaffirmation Act of 2001; declares that English is the official language of the state ; requires all state and local official government business to be conducted in English with certain exceptions.
Title: S.B. 165
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet
| |
| UT | Unofficially approved by voters 11/2000 | P-12 | INITIATIVE A Declares English as Utah's official and sole language for state and local government documents and action; exempts those documents and actions required by the United States and Utah constitutions, federal law and regulations, law enforcement, public safety, and health requirements, public and higher education, certain judicial proceedings, economic development and tourism, and libraries.
Title: V. 1 English Only
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet
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