ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 210
BY REPRESENTATIVES ORTEGO, BARRAS, GEYMANN, GISCLAIR, GUILLORY,
HARRISON, HENSGENS, ROBERT JOHNSON, JONES, TERRY LANDRY,
LEBAS, MIGUEZ, MONTOUCET, PIERRE, ROBIDEAUX, ST. GERMAIN, AND
THIERRY AND SENATOR LAFLEUR
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to recognize
state-certified foreign language immersion sites as models of excellence in bilingual
and biliterate education and to award five additional points to the school performance
score of a school with a state-certified foreign language immersion program for each
year the school maintains such certification status.
WHEREAS, Louisiana's economy is enhanced by its citizens' ease in communicating
across languages and cultures in order to support students' future careers and economic
vitality; and
WHEREAS, the foreign language immersion education model motivates students to
complete rigorous coursework, achieve college benchmarks, and graduate career or college
ready, thereby producing citizens who are prepared to interact in an increasingly global
workforce; and
WHEREAS, current law, R.S. 17:273.2, requires the State Board of Elementary and
Secondary Education to develop and implement a process to certify foreign language
immersion education programs as a means to provide statewide standards for foreign
language immersion programs and assist and support schools and school districts in
establishing and maintaining high quality, highly effective foreign language immersion
programs; and
WHEREAS, foreign language immersion education programs are the most efficient
pathway for second language acquisition in a school setting; and
WHEREAS, the immersion programs produce bilingual and biliterate individuals
equipped with the necessary language skills to better function in today's global workforce
and economy; and
Page 1 of 2 HCR NO. 210 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, foreign language immersion students enrolled in state-certified
immersion programs perform as well as and typically score higher than their non-immersion
peers on standardized tests; and
WHEREAS, schools with foreign language immersion programs that have earned
state certification should be recognized for the enhanced services the programs offer to their
students; and
WHEREAS, awarding additional points to the school performance scores of schools
with foreign language immersion programs is a strong incentive for more immersion sites
to become state-certified and consequently maintain a highly effective immersion pathway.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to recognize state-
certified foreign language immersion sites as models of excellence in bilingual and biliterate
education and to award five additional points to the school performance score of a school
with a state-certified foreign language immersion program for each year the school
maintains such certification status.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state
superintendent of education.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 2 of 2