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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 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 104
BY SENATOR LAFLEUR
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
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
below as a "Certified Foreign Language Immersion Program".18
(a) Adherence to state guidelines governing the minimum time of daily19
instruction in the immersion language.20
(b) High quality immersion language teaching time.21
(c) Protection of the written and oral forms of the immersion language22
as the exclusive language of communication within immersion teaching time.23
(d) Evidence of immersion language teaching throughout content area24
teaching time.25
(e) Immersion language teachers who possess native-like fluency in the26
immersion language.27
ACT No. 212 SB NO. 104 ENROLLED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
(f) Articulated professional development on best practices for immersion1
teachers, English-speaking team teachers, and school administrators.2
(g) Provision of student remediation, as needed, in the immersion3
language.4
(h) Articulation, or planned articulation, throughout the elementary,5
secondary, and postsecondary levels of education.6
(i) Visibility and recognition of the foreign language immersion program7
throughout the school.8
(j) Written policies regarding entry into and exit from the foreign9
language immersion program.10
(2) Notice of receipt of State Board of Elementary and Secondary11
Education designation as a "Certified Foreign Language Immersion Program"12
shall be included on the school's annual report card compiled by the13
Department of Education and in the academic records of each student enrolled14
in the program.15
C. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall16
promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this Section in accordance with17
the Administrative Procedure Act.18
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not19
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature20
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If21
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become22
effective on the day following such approval.23
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: