Bill > H7389

This bill establishes "The Support and Access to Bilingual Education Act" and appropriates $950,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2027 to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (the "department") to create a bilingual education support fund. This fund will provide grants to traditional public school districts, community-based organizations working with school districts, and institutions of higher education partnering with school districts to establish and expand bilingual language instruction programs, which involve teaching students in both English and another language to improve proficiency and academic achievement. A portion of the funds will also support strategies and resources to increase the number of certified bilingual dual language and world language teachers, addressing a shortage of educators needed to serve the growing population of multilingual learners (students who are learning English) in schools with a high incidence of such students. The act defines key terms like "bilingual dual language teacher" and "multilingual learner" and specifies that the funds can be used for program planning, professional development, and acquiring curriculum materials, with a focus on high-quality program standards. This initiative aims to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for multilingual learners and contribute to a more globally competitive workforce.

Budget and Finance

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