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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 develop a process to certify foreign language immersion
programs. (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 process to certify foreign language3
immersion education programs; to provide for minimum criteria; to provide for rules;4
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; certification process; criteria8
A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall9
develop and implement a process to certify foreign language immersion10
education programs as a means to provide statewide standards for foreign11
language immersion programs and assist and support schools and school12
districts in establishing and maintaining high quality, highly effective foreign13
language immersion programs.14
B.(1) Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year and annually thereafter,15
the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall designate any16
foreign language immersion program that consistently meets the criteria listed17 SB NO. 104
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
below as a "Certified Foreign Language Immersion Program".1
(a) Adherence to state guidelines governing the minimum time of daily2
instruction in the immersion language.3
(b) High quality immersion language teaching time.4
(c) Protection of the written and oral forms of the immersion language5
as the exclusive language of communication within immersion teaching time.6
(d) Evidence of immersion language teaching throughout content area7
teaching time.8
(e) Immersion language teachers who possess native-like fluency in the9
immersion language.10
(f) Articulated professional development on best practices for immersion11
teachers, English-speaking team teachers, and school administrators.12
(g) Provision of student remediation, as needed, in the immersion13
language.14
(h) Articulation, or planned articulation, throughout the elementary,15
secondary, and postsecondary levels of education.16
(i) Visibility and recognition of the foreign language immersion program17
throughout the school.18
(j) Written policies regarding entry into and exit from the foreign19
language immersion program.20
(2) Notice of receipt of State Board of Elementary and Secondary21
Education designation as a "Certified Foreign Language Immersion Program"22
shall be included on the school's annual report card compiled by the23
Department of Education and in the academic records of each student enrolled24
in the program.25
C. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall26
promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this Section in accordance with27
the Administrative Procedure Act.28
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not29 SB NO. 104
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signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature1
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If2
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become3
effective on the day following such approval.4
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
LaFleur (SB 104)
Proposed law requires BESE to develop and implement a process to certify foreign language
immersion education programs. Provides that beginning with the 2011-2012 school year,
BESE shall designate any foreign language immersion program that meets the criteria listed
below as a "Certified Foreign Language Immersion Program."
(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.
Proposed law provides that notice of receipt of BESE designation as a "Certified Foreign
Language Immersion Program" shall be included on the school's annual report compiled by
the Dept. of Education and in the academic records of each student enrolled in the program.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:273.2) SB NO. 104
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Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill.
1. Changes focus of program from issuance of a seal of excellence to a process
to certify foreign language immersion programs.
2. Specifies that notice of enrollment in a certified foreign language immersion
program shall be included in a student's academic records.