Article 3Language of Instruction

Section § 30

Explanation

This law states that English is the main language for teaching in schools, but school boards can decide when to use bilingual instruction if it benefits students without interfering with their English education. Students fluent in a foreign language can learn in that language, and community colleges can offer courses in different languages without requiring students to take ESL classes at the same time. However, students can still choose to take ESL classes if they wish.

(a)CA Education Code § 30(a) English shall be the basic language of instruction in all schools.
(b)CA Education Code § 30(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)CA Education Code § 30(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)CA Education Code § 30(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)Copy CA Education Code § 30(e)
(1)Copy CA Education Code § 30(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)CA Education Code § 30(e)(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.
bilingual instruction English language instruction community college courses world language fluency non-English courses ESL courses language proficiency school district authority educational advantage language of instruction systematic instruction sequential learning community college enrollment
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 559, Sec. 1. (AB 1096) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Section § 30.5

Explanation

This law describes bilingual education as teaching that builds on the language abilities of students whose first language is not English or similar to English. It further defines 'primary language' as the language a student first learned, excluding English and languages derived from English. The law clarifies that anything derived from English includes dialects or languages that originate from English, even if their sentence structure is different. Additionally, schools cannot use state funds or resources to acknowledge or teach any language derived from English in bilingual programs.

(a)CA Education Code § 30.5(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, bilingual education shall be defined as a system of instruction which builds upon the language skills of a pupil whose primary language is neither English nor derived from English. For purposes of this paragraph:
(1)CA Education Code § 30.5(a)(1) “Primary language” is a language, other than English or a language derived from English, which is the language the pupil first learned.
(2)CA Education Code § 30.5(a)(2) “Derived from English” means any dialect, idiom, or language derived from English. Both of the following shall be construed as being derived from English:
(A)CA Education Code § 30.5(a)(2)(A) Any dialect, idiom, or language that has linguistic roots connected to English.
(B)CA Education Code § 30.5(a)(2)(B) Any dialect, idiom, or language that has a syntax distinct from English, yet can be traced linguistically as derived from English.
(b)CA Education Code § 30.5(b) A school district shall not utilize, as part of a bilingual education program, state funds or resources for the purpose of recognition of, or instruction in, any dialect, idiom, or language derived from English, as defined in paragraph (1).
bilingual education primary language languages derived from English dialects student language skills bilingual instruction school district policy state funding restrictions language recognition non-English primary language
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 750, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.)