MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

RECEIVED

pare: 2! Jt 2018

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1830

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS ANU INDEX SERVICE

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Learning foreign language at an early age offers a wide possible set of benefits and
opportunities for children. The study conducted by the Harvard University confirms that
learning additional foreign languages develops critical thinking skills, improves academic
achievement, and enriches cultural awareness in young children’. Moreover, it gives
children an advantage to be globally competitive.

This bill seeks to establish a partnership program in foreign language education.
Patterned with the Foreign Language Education Partnership Program Bill filed in the
United States of America’s House of Representatives, 113‘ Congress, this bill provides
grants for partnerships to partnerships that can develop and maintain a foreign language
education program for select students from kindergarten through high school.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘ALFREDO D. VARGAS III

* Ford, C. (2014). “Children should start learning languages at age three.” The Telegraph. Available at:
{http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/11151726/Children-should-start-learning-languages-at-
age-three.html] [Retrieved 29 January 2016]


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1830

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1, Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Foreign Language
Education Partnership Act.”

SECTION 2. Purpose. - The purpose of this Act is to provide grants for developing
and maintaining model programs of articulated foreign language learning for select
students from kindergarten through high school that increase the number of students
graduating from high school with an advanced level of proficiency in at least one foreign
language.

SECTION 3. Grant. - The Secretary of Education (hereinafter “Secretary”) shall make
grants to eligible partnerships to develop and maintain, or to improve and expand, model
programs that support articulated foreign language learning in kindergarten through high
school for select students who exhibits aptitude for learning foreign language.

SECTION 4. Applications. ~ Each eligible partnership, desiring a grant under this Act,
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Secretary may require. Each application shall ~

(A) Identify each member of the partnership, provide contact information and
letters of commitment for each such member, and describe the responsibilities

of each such member, including -

a. Identifying the member that will receive and manage the grant;


b. Specifying how each member will be involved in the planning, development,
and implementation of the activities proposed under the grant;

c. Describing the resources to be provided by each member; and

d. Describing how each member will contribute to ensuring the continuity of
student progress in proficiency form kindergarten through high school in not
less than one foreign language to which the program relates;

(B) Describe how an articulated curriculum for students to achieve an advanced
level of proficiency upon graduation in high school in the foreign language will
be developed and implemente

(C) Identify target proficiency levels in the foreign language for students at critical
benchmarks, and describe how progress toward those proficiency levels will be
assessed at the benchmarks;

(D) Describe how the partnership will support and continue the program after the
grant has expired, including how the partnership will seek support from the
other sources, such as State and local governments, foundations, and the private
sector; and

(E) Describe what assessments will be used or, if assessments are not available, how
assessments will be developed.

SECTION 5. Use of Grant. - An eligible partnership receiving a grant under this
section shall use grant funds to ~

(A) Design model programs and teaching strategies relating to not less than one
foreign language that are informed by the best practices recognized by the field
and by available research;

(B)Develop, for the foreign language to which the model program relates,
curriculum materials based on an articulated framework or approach designed
to bring students to an advanced level of proficiency upon graduation in high
school;

(C) Recruit students and teachers for the foreign language, such as individuals from
heritage populations; and

D)Carry out teacher in-service and pre-service professional development
y P
programs, including summer institutes, that support the model programs.


SECTION 6. Evaluation. - The Secretary shall provide for an objective assessment
and evaluation system for the beneficiaries of this grant. The Secretary shall include in the
implementing rules of this Act the grounds for discontinuance of grant to non-performing
beneficiaries.

SECTION 7. Reporting. - Two years after the initial implementation of this Act and
every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the proper committees in
Congress. The said report shall contain the recommendations on the improvement of or
cessation, if so warranted, of this program.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All lase, decree, orders, and issuances, or portions
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed,

amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,