SYLLABLE Act

To establish high-quality dual language immersion programs in low-income communities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Young Language Learners’ Access to Bilingual Education Act of 2020 SYLLABLE Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The demand for bilingual employees in the United States continues to outpace our supply. (2) Dual language immersion engenders an inclusive learning environment for all students. (3) Studies have demonstrated that all students in dual language immersion programs have higher academic achievement as measured by statewide examination, regardless of socioeconomic status. (4) Dual language immersion has proven to be one of the most effective and longest lasting intervention methods for English learners. (5) Long-term participation in dual language immersion programs is correlated with closing or substantial reduction of achievement gaps for African-American students, low socioeconomic status students, and special education students. (6) Few children from low-income families, particularly African-American children, have had access to a well-developed and well-implemented dual language program. (7) Children in dual language programs experience substantial gains in language, literacy, and mathematics. 3. Dual language flagship grants (a) Purposes The purposes of this section are as follows: (1) To provide incentives for local educational agencies to develop innovative strategies for planning and implementing dual language immersion programs serving children from low-income families, including English learners and minority children. (2) To improve the school readiness of children from low-income families, including English learners and minority children, and to ensure they enter school ready to succeed. (3) To provide consistent support for learning through high-quality dual language programs from preschool through the fifth grade. (4) To authorize the Secretary to carry out projects to enhance the biliteracy and bilingualism skills for children from low-income families, including English learners and minority children, through the use and longitudinal evaluation of dual language programs beginning in preschool through the fifth grade. (b) Program authorized From funds made available under subsection (i), and after reserving funds under subsection (c), the Secretary is authorized to award not more than five grants to fund programs proposed by eligible entities to demonstrate effective strategies in ensuring the academic success of students from low-income families, including English learners and minority students, through the implementation and evaluation of high-quality dual language programs that— (1) serve children in high-need schools, including English learners and minority children, from preschool through fifth grade; (2) establish an infrastructure that supports programs through a rigorous assessment system, dedicated staff time, professional development in assessment, a data collection plan, and the collection of multiple measures of academic progress, bilingualism, and biliteracy; (3) implement and align a curriculum that promotes the development of bilingual and biliterate competencies for all students through at least grade five; (4) utilize and align student-centered instructional methods that enhance the development of bilingualism, biliteracy, and academic achievement; (5) align professional development and training for early childhood education instructors and elementary school teachers and staff, with an emphasis on dual language instruction, second language acquisition, and content knowledge; (6) recruit, train, and continuously develop staff to implement high-quality, dual language immersion programs; and (7) establish a responsive infrastructure for positive, active, and ongoing relationships with students’ families and the community that responds to and is reflective of the needs of the community and goals of the program. (c) Reservation The Secretary shall reserve not more than 5 percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (i) to carry out this Act, including the technical assistance and evaluation described in subsection (g) and dissemination of best practices described in subsection (h). (d) Duration Each grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than five years. (e) Applications for grants (1) In general Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. (2) Required documentation Each application submitted by an eligible entity under this section for proposed programs shall include documentation that— (A) the eligible entity has partnered with a technical assistance entity that has proven expertise in the implementation of high-quality dual language programs to provide on-going technical assistance and assist with the evaluation of the program; (B) the eligible entity has the qualified personnel to develop, administer, evaluate, and implement the program; and (C) the eligible entity serves children from low-income families, including English learners and minority children. (3) Other application contents Each application submitted by an entity under this section for a proposed program shall include— (A) data showing that the program serves children from low-income families, including English learners and minority children; (B) a description of how the program will align the language of assessment with the language of instruction; (C) a description of how the program will be evaluated to assess the goals of the program; (D) a description, if applicable, of how the evaluation will be used to inform broader efforts to improve instruction for English learners, including for preschool-aged children; (E) a description of activities that will be pursued by the program including a description of— (i) how the activities will further the school readiness and academic progress of children served by this program and support dual language development through grade five; (ii) methods of designing culturally and linguistically appropriate dual language curriculum; and (iii) methods of teacher training and parent outreach that will be used or developed through the programs; (F) an assurance that the program will annually provide such information as may be required by the Secretary; and (G) any other information that the Secretary may require. (f) Selection of grantees The Secretary through a peer review process shall select eligible entities to receive grants under this section based on— (1) the articulation of preschool through fifth grade instructional practices, curriculum, and assessments strategies; (2) the extent to which relevant and directly impacted school leaders have been involved with the proposed programs and indicated a commitment to carrying out high-quality dual language immersion programs; and (3) the quality of the programs proposed in the applications submitted under subsection (e). (g) Technical assistance and evaluation From the amount appropriated under subsection (i) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve $250,000 to contract with an eligible entity with a proven track record in dual language immersion programs for the purpose of— (1) providing technical assistance to local educational agencies receiving grants under this Act in order to strengthen programs conducted by grantees pursuant to this Act; and (2) conducting an evaluation of programs funded under this Act, which shall— (A) be used by the Secretary to determine the effectiveness of programs funded through this Act and improve services to participating children; and (B) include— (i) a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of the programs on students, including an assessment of literacy skills and language development in both English and the partner language; (ii) a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of instructional practices used in the programs; and (iii) a comprehensive evaluation of professional development strategies. (h) Dissemination of best practices The Secretary shall disseminate information on model programs, materials, and other information developed under this section that the Secretary determines to be appropriate for use by early childhood education providers to improve the school readiness of English learners. (i) Authorization of appropriations For the purposes of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years. (j) Definitions In this section: (1) Dual language immersion program The term dual language immersion program (2) Early childhood education program The term early childhood education program (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) at least one local educational agency; (B) at least one early childhood education program; and (C) at least one technical assistance entity. (4) English learner The term English learner 20 U.S.C. 7801 (5) High-need school The term high-need school 20 U.S.C. 6641(b)(3)(A) (6) Low-income family The term low-income family 20 U.S.C. 6641(b)(3)(B) (7) Secretary The term Secretary (8) State-funded preschool program The term State-funded preschool program (A) serves children who are ages 3 through 5; (B) has a primary focus of supporting early childhood education, including supporting children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development and approaches to learning; (C) helps prepare children for a successful transition to kindergarten; (D) is either a school- or community-based program; and (E) is funded either in whole or in part by a State through a State agency with authority to promulgate regulations and monitor participating programs.

Summary: Supporting Young Language Learners' Access to Bilingual Education Act of 2020 or the SYLLABLE Act This bill authorizes the Department of Education to award up to five grants to partnerships of local educational agencies, early childhood education programs, and technical assistance entities for the implementation of dual language immersion programs designed to enhance and assess the biliteracy and bilingualism skills of low-income children, including English learners and minority children, in high-need schools from preschool through grade five.