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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2011
SENATE BILL NO. 104
BY SENATOR LAFLEUR
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
BESE. Requires BESE to establish a program to recognize excellence in foreign language
immersion education. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:273.2, relative to the teaching of foreign languages in elementary and2
secondary schools; to provide with respect to a program to recognize excellence in3
foreign language immersion education; to provide for minimum criteria; to provide4
for rules; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 17:273.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 7
ยง273.2. Foreign language immersion programs; recognition program; seal of8
excellence; criteria9
A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall10
develop and implement a program to recognize excellence in foreign language11
immersion education as a means to provide statewide standards for foreign12
language immersion programs and assist and support schools and school13
districts in establishing and maintaining high quality, highly effective foreign14
language immersion programs.15
B.(1) Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year and annually thereafter,16
the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall award a "Seal17 SB NO. 104
SLS 11RS-66 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
of Excellence in Foreign Language Immersion Education" to any foreign1
language immersion program that consistently meets the following minimum2
criteria:3
(a) Adherence to state guidelines governing the minimum time of daily4
instruction in the immersion language.5
(b) High quality immersion language teaching time.6
(c) Protection of the written and oral forms of the immersion language7
as the exclusive language of communication within immersion teaching time.8
(d) Evidence of immersion language teaching throughout content area9
teaching time.10
(e) Immersion language teachers who possess native-like fluency in the11
immersion language.12
(f) Articulated professional development on best practices for immersion13
teachers, English-speaking team teachers, and school administrators.14
(g) Provision of student remediation, as needed, in the immersion15
language.16
(h) Articulation, or planned articulation, throughout the elementary,17
secondary, and postsecondary levels of education.18
(i) Visibility and recognition of the foreign language immersion program19
throughout the school.20
(j) Written policies regarding entry into and exit from the foreign21
language immersion program.22
(2) Notice of receipt of the "Seal of Excellence in Foreign Language23
Immersion Education" shall be included on the school's annual report card24
compiled by the Department of Education and on the academic transcript of25
each student enrolled in a foreign language immersion program that has been26
so recognized.27
C. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall28
promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this Section in accordance with29 SB NO. 104
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
the Administrative Procedure Act.1
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not2
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature3
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If4
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become5
effective on the day following such approval.6
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
Proposed law directs BESE to develop and implement a program to recognize excellence in
foreign language immersion programs. Provides that beginning with the 2011-2012 school
year, BESE shall annually award of a "Seal of Excellence in Foreign Language Immersion
Education" to any foreign language immersion program that meets the following minimum
criteria:
(1)Adherence to state guidelines governing the minimum time of daily instruction in the
immersion language.
(2) High quality immersion language teaching time.
(3)Protection of the written and oral forms of the immersion language as the exclusive
language of communication within immersion teaching time.
(4)Evidence of immersion language teaching throughout content area teaching time.
(5)Immersion language teachers who possess native-like fluency in the immersion
language.
(6)Articulated professional development on best practices for immersion teachers,
English-speaking team teachers, and school administrators.
(8)Articulation, or planned articulation, throughout the elementary, secondary, and
postsecondary levels of education.
(9)Visibility and recognition of the foreign language immersion program throughout the
school.
(10)Written policies regarding entry into and exit from the foreign language immersion
program.
Present law provides that notice of receipt of the "Seal of Excellence in Foreign Immersion
Education" shall be included on the school's annual report compiled by the Dept. of
Education and on the academic transcript of each student enrolled in a foreign language
immersion program that has been so recognized.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:273.2)