BP 6142.2 — World Language Instruction

Section: 6000 - Instruction
Status: Active

Adopted: 2020-02-13

Policy text

WORLD LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION

In order to prepare students for global citizenship and to broaden their intercultural understanding and career opportunities, the Governing Board shall provide students with opportunities to develop communicative and cultural proficiency and literacy in one or more world languages.

The Superintendent or designee shall recommend a variety of world languages to be taught in the district’s educational program based on student interest, community needs, and available resources.

For any program designed to provide students with instruction in a language other than English to a degree sufficient to produce proficiency in that language, the Superintendent or designee shall establish a process for schools to receive and respond to input from parents/guardians and other stakeholders regarding the non-English language in which instruction will be provided.

If American Sign Language courses are offered, they shall be open to all students regardless of hearing status.

The district shall offer a sequential curriculum aligned with the state content standards, state curriculum framework, and, as applicable, California university admission requirements for languages other than English.

Instruction in world languages shall be offered to secondary school students beginning no later than grade 7 and shall be designed to develop students’ skills in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing the language.

The Board shall ensure that students have access to high-quality instructional materials in world languages.

The Superintendent or designee shall provide professional development as necessary to ensure that teachers of world languages have the knowledge and skills they need to implement an effective instructional program that helps students attain academic standards, including communicative and cultural proficiency and understanding.

The district shall determine appropriate measures to assess student proficiency in world languages offered by district schools. Students who have attained a high level of proficiency may receive recognition for their achievement, including the State Seal of Biliteracy for students graduating from high school.