AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 3, 2023

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 8, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

95

CHAPTER 559

Statutes of 2023

[ Approved by Governor October 8, 2023. Filed with Secretary of State October 8, 2023. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Mike Fong

February 15, 2023

An act to amend Section 30 of the Education Code, relating to educational instruction.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: no   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires English to be the basic language of instruction in all schools and authorizes the governing board of a school district or community college district, and any private school to determine when and under what circumstances instruction may be given bilingually. Existing law declares that it is the policy of the state to ensure the mastery of English by all pupils in schools, as provided.

This bill would authorize a community college to offer courses taught in languages other than English without requiring students who enroll in those courses to concurrently enroll in an English as a Second Language (ESL) course.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 30 of the Education Code is amended to read:

30.

(a) English shall be the basic language of instruction in all schools.

(b) The governing board of a school district, or community college district, and any private school may determine when and under what circumstances instruction may be given bilingually.

(c) It is the policy of the state to ensure the mastery of English by all pupils in the schools, provided that bilingual instruction may be offered in those situations when that instruction is educationally advantageous to the pupils. Bilingual instruction is authorized to the extent that it does not interfere with the systematic, sequential, and regular instruction of all pupils in the English language.

(d) Pupils who are proficient in English and who, by successful completion of advanced courses in a world language or by other means, have become fluent in that language may be instructed in classes conducted in that world language.

(e) (1) A community college may offer courses taught in languages other than English. Students may enroll in these courses without being required to concurrently enroll in an English as a Second Language (ESL) course.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a community college student from enrolling in an ESL course, or preclude a community college from complying with the requirements set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 78221.5.