Assembly Bill No. 508–Committee on Education

 

March 24, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Requires certain school districts to establish pilot program to provide instruction in foreign languages and culture in elementary schools. (BDR S‑1217)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: Yes.

                           Effect on the State: Yes.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to education; requiring the Board of Trustees of the Clark County School District and the Board of Trustees of the Washoe County School District to establish a pilot program to provide instruction in certain foreign languages and the associated culture in the elementary schools; requiring the Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools to develop a plan to provide such instruction in all elementary schools; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1. 1.  On or before January 1, 2004, the Board of

1-2  Trustees of the Clark County School District and the Board of

1-3  Trustees of the Washoe County School District shall each:

1-4  (a) Establish a pilot program to provide instruction in the

1-5  Spanish language and the French language as well as the associated

1-6  culture to pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 6,

1-7  inclusive, within the school district.

1-8  (b) Provide instruction through the pilot program for the spring

1-9  semester of 2004 and for the 2004-2005 school year. The instruction

1-10  provided pursuant to the pilot program may be included as a part of

1-11  the regular school day.

2-1  2.  On or before February 1, 2005, the Board of Trustees of the

2-2  Clark County School District and the Board of Trustees of the

2-3  Washoe County School District shall each prepare a report

2-4  evaluating the success of the pilot program established pursuant to

2-5  subsection 1, including, without limitation, the effect of the pilot

2-6  program on the ability of pupils to understand and appreciate the

2-7  cultural, ethnic and racial diversity of our society and other cultures.

2-8  A copy of each report must be submitted to the:

2-9  (a) State Board of Education;

2-10      (b) Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools;

2-11  and

2-12      (c) Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmission

2-13  to the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.

2-14      Sec. 2.  1.  The Council to Establish Academic Standards for

2-15  Public Schools shall develop a plan for the adoption of standards of

2-16  content and performance for selected foreign languages, including,

2-17  without limitation, Spanish and French, and the associated culture,

2-18  for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive. The

2-19  plan must include a timeline by which the standards will be adopted

2-20  and carried out for selected grade levels.

2-21      2.  On or before February 1, 2005, the Council to Establish

2-22  Academic Standards for Public Schools shall submit the plan

2-23  developed pursuant to subsection 1 to:

2-24      (a) The State Board of Education; and

2-25      (b) The Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for

2-26  transmission to the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature.

2-27      Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

2-28  H