Opinion ID: 2595388
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Proposed Initiative 1999-2000 # 258(A) [1]

Text: The title as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows: AN AMENDMENT TO THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION CONCERNING ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION, AND IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, REQUIRING ALL CHILDREN IN COLORADO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE TAUGHT ENGLISH AS RAPIDLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE; REQUIRING EVERY CHILD TO BE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH, EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN WHO PRIMARILY SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH; REQUIRING SUCH CHILDREN TO BE EDUCATED THROUGH A SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED ENGLISH IMMERSION PROGRAM DURING A TEMPORARY TRANSITION PERIOD NOT NORMALLY INTENDED TO EXCEED ONE YEAR AND TO THEREAFTER TRANSFER SUCH CHILDREN WHO HAVE ACQUIRED A GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH TO AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAINSTREAM CLASSROOM; EXCEPTING CERTAIN CHILDREN WHO PRIMARILY SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH FROM SUCH ENGLISH IMMERSION PROGRAM WHEN THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN PROVIDES A WRITTEN INFORMED CONSENT WAIVER; ESTABLISHING THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN'S LEGAL STANDING TO SUE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE MEASURE AND, IF SUCCESSFUL, TO COLLECT ATTORNEY'S FEES AND ACTUAL DAMAGES; ESTABLISHING THAT THE AMENDMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT ANY CHARTER SCHOOL; SPECIFYING THAT THE AMENDMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT ANY FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION PROGRAM, EXCEPT FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ANOTHER LANGUAGE, WHO ARE LIMITED TO ONE CLASS PERIOD PER DAY WITHOUT A PARENTAL WAIVER; SPECIFYING THAT THE AMENDMENT SHALL NOT PREVENT ANY TEACHER OR AIDE FROM PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL ASSISTANCE IN A NATIVE LANGUAGE TO A CHILD FOR TRANSLATION OR CLARIFICATION OR PREVENT ANY SCHOOL PERSONNEL FROM USING A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH FOR NON-INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES; AND CLARIFYING THAT THE AMENDMENT SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS IMPOSING OR MANDATING ANY LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME A CHILD MAY RECEIVE SPECIALIZED ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO LEARN ENGLISH. The ballot title and submission clause as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows: SHALL THERE BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION CONCERNING ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION, AND IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, REQUIRING ALL CHILDREN IN COLORADO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BE TAUGHT ENGLISH AS RAPIDLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE; REQUIRING EVERY CHILD TO BE TAUGHT IN ENGLISH, EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN WHO PRIMARILY SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH; REQUIRING SUCH CHILDREN TO BE EDUCATED THROUGH A SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED ENGLISH IMMERSION PROGRAM DURING A TEMPORARY TRANSITION PERIOD NOT NORMALLY INTENDED TO EXCEED ONE YEAR AND TO THEREAFTER TRANSFER SUCH CHILDREN WHO HAVE ACQUIRED A GOOD WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH TO AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAINSTREAM CLASSROOM; EXCEPTING CERTAIN CHILDREN WHO PRIMARILY SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH FROM SUCH ENGLISH IMMERSION PROGRAM WHEN THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN PROVIDES A WRITTEN INFORMED CONSENT WAIVER; ESTABLISHING THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN'S LEGAL STANDING TO SUE FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE MEASURE AND, IF SUCCESSFUL, TO COLLECT ATTORNEY'S FEES AND ACTUAL DAMAGES; ESTABLISHING THAT THE AMENDMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT ANY CHARTER SCHOOL; SPECIFYING THAT THE AMENDMENT SHALL NOT AFFECT ANY FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION PROGRAM, EXCEPT FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS OF ANOTHER LANGUAGE, WHO ARE LIMITED TO ONE CLASS PERIOD PER DAY WITHOUT A PARENTAL WAIVER; SPECIFYING THAT THE AMENDMENT SHALL NOT PREVENT ANY TEACHER OR AIDE FROM PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL ASSISTANCE IN A NATIVE LANGUAGE TO A CHILD FOR TRANSLATION OR CLARIFICATION OR PREVENT ANY SCHOOL PERSONNEL FROM USING A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH FOR NON-INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES; AND CLARIFYING THAT THE AMENDMENT SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS IMPOSING OR MANDATING ANY LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME A CHILD MAY RECEIVE SPECIALIZED ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO LEARN ENGLISH? The summary prepared by the Board is as follows: The measure amends the Colorado constitution by declaring that the English language is the common language of the United States and of Colorado and that English proficiency is a prerequisite for economic opportunity. In addition, the measure declares that full proficiency in a new language is best developed through high levels of classroom exposure to the language at an early age. The measure requires all children in Colorado public schools to be taught English as rapidly and effectively as possible. The measure defines English-learner to mean a child who is not able to participate meaningfully in an English language mainstream classroom and primarily speaks a language other than English. The measure defines structured English immersion to mean a program of instruction specifically designed to teach English and academic subjects to English-learners, in which all instruction is in English at a level appropriate to the English proficiency of the class of English-learners. The measure specifies that English-learners shall be educated through a program of structured English immersion during a temporary transition period not normally to exceed one year. The measure specifies that all students, except students whose parents or legal guardians have given written informed consent and signed a written waiver, shall be taught in English. Upon acquiring a good working knowledge of English, the measure requires English-learners to be transferred to English language mainstream classes. The measure specifies that nothing shall be construed to impose or mandate any limit on the amount of time an English-learner may receive specialized assistance in order to learn English or academic subject matter. The measure allows a student to be excepted from the structured English immersion education requirement upon the prior written informed consent of the student's parent or legal guardian. The measure identifies requirements of the written consent waiver, including a mandatory visit by the parent or legal guardian to the school to apply for the waiver and the provision to the parent or legal guardian, in a language they can understand, of a description of the educational materials and program of instruction offered at the school or at another school in the same school district. The measure specifies that if a parent has executed a waiver, the child may be transferred to classes where the child is taught English and other subjects through bilingual education or other generally recognized methodologies permitted by law. The measure requires schools that do not offer bilingual education to allow a parent to transfer his or her child to a school within the child's school district that does offer such a program, if one is available. The measure specifies that nothing shall be construed to affect foreign language instruction programs designed to teach English-speakers another language and provides that native speakers of other languages who do not have a good working knowledge of English shall not be allowed to participate in any foreign language program for more than one class period per day without prior written informed consent of such child's parent or legal guardian. The measure specifies that nothing shall be construed to prevent a teacher or instructional aide from providing supplemental assistance in the native language to English-learners for purposes of translation and clarification or to prevent school personnel from using languages other than English for non-instructional purposes. The measure grants a child's parent or legal guardian the legal standing to sue for enforcement of the provisions of this measure. If successful, the measure authorizes the court to award the parent or legal guardian normal and customary attorneys' fees and actual damages. The measure specifies that the constitutional amendment shall take effect upon proclamation of the vote by the governor and shall apply to public schools in school districts with school terms commencing on or after sixty calendar days of such proclamation. The Department of Local Affairs has determined that there would be no fiscal impact on local governments other than school districts resulting from the enactment of this measure. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting has determined that full compliance with the language of the measure would likely have a state fiscal impact. However, the Office of State Planning and Budgeting has determined that it is not possible to estimate the magnitude of the fiscal impact of the measure at this time because the specifics of the implementation and enforcement of this measure would be decided by school districts, the General Assembly, and the Governor at a future date. Hearing April 19, 2000: Single subject approved; staff draft amended; titles and summary set. Hearing adjourned 9:55 p.m. Hearing May 3, 2000: Motion for Rehearing granted in part to the extent that titles and summary were amended in response to grounds stated in part IV of the Motion, and denied with respect to all other grounds. Titles and summary amended. Hearing adjourned 6:29 p.m. The text of Initiative # 258(A) is as follows: Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Colorado: Section 1. Amendment of the Colorado Constitution for English Education. Article IX of the Constitution of the state of Colorado is amended by the addition of a new section to read: Section 17. English Language Education. (1) General Declarations. The English language is the common language of the United States and of Colorado, and proficiency in English is a prerequisite for economic opportunity. English proficiency is one of the most important skills that public schools provide students, regardless of their ethnicity or national origin. Full proficiency in a new language, such as English, is best developed through high levels of exposure to that language in the classroom at an early age. The current high dropout rates and low English proficiency levels of many immigrant children demonstrate that existing programs in many public schools do a poor job of educating immigrant children. Immigrant parents are eager to have their children acquire a good knowledge of English as quickly as possible, so their children may participate fully in the American Dream of economic and educational advancement. (2) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following definitions: (a) Bilingual education means any language acquisition program or other program of instruction in which some instruction, textbooks, and/or teaching materials are in the English-learner's native language. (b) English language mainstream classroom means a standard classroom  that is, one in which the language of instruction is English and the students are native-English-speakers or have acquired enough fluency in English to be able to participate meaningfully in the program of instruction without additional accommodations. (c) English-learner means a child who is not able to participate meaningfully in an English language mainstream classroom and primarily speaks a language other than English. (d) Structured English immersion means a program of instruction specifically designed to teach English and academic subjects to English-learners, in which all instruction is in English at a level appropriate to the English proficiency of the class of English-learners. (3) English language education. (a) All children in the state's public schools shall be taught English as rapidly and effectively as possible. (b) Subject to the exceptions provided in subsection (4), all children in the state's public schools shall be taught in English. (c) Children who are English-learners shall be educated through a program of structured English immersion during a temporary transition period not normally to exceed one year. Once English-learners have acquired a good working knowledge of English, they shall be transferred to English language mainstream classrooms. (4) Exceptions. (a) The requirements of subsection (3) may be waived with the prior written informed consent, to be provided annually, of the child's parent or legal guardian. (b) Such informed consent shall require that: I. The parent or legal guardian must visit the school to apply for the waiver; and, II. The parent or legal guardian shall be provided by the school with a full description, in a language they can understand, of the educational materials and program of instruction offered at the school or at other schools within the same school district. (c) If after such a visit, the parent or legal guardian wishes the child to be in a program of instruction other than that required in subsection (3), the parent or legal guardian may waive the requirements of subsection (3) by executing a written waiver provided by the school district that indicates the parent's or legal guardian's choice. If a parent has executed a written waiver, the child may be transferred to classes where the child is taught English and other subjects through bilingual education or other generally recognized educational methodologies permitted by law. Schools that do not offer bilingual education must allow parents to transfer their children to a school within the district that offers this programs, if one is available. Parents shall be informed in a language they can understand of their right to refuse to agree to a waiver of the requirements of subsection (3). No school or school district shall be required to offer a bilingual education program. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any foreign language instruction program designed to teach English-speakers another language. Native speakers of other languages who do not already have a good working knowledge of English may not participate in any foreign language programs for more than one class period per day without a parental waiver as specified in this subsection. (e) Nothing in this subsection (4) shall be construed to prevent any teacher or instructional aide from providing supplemental assistance in the native language to English-learners for the purposes of translation and clarification. Nor shall this subsection (4) be construed to prevent school personnel from using languages other than English for non-instructional purposes, including communicating with parents or legal guardians. (f) Nothing in this subsection (4) shall be construed as imposing or mandating any limits on the amount of time English-learners may receive specialized assistance in order to learn English or academic subject matter. Students may continue to receive specialized language assistance after they exit the structured English immersion program. (5) Legal standing and parental enforcement. If a child has been denied an English language education under subsection (3), the child's parent or legal guardian shall have legal standing to sue for enforcement of the provisions of this section. If successful, the parent or legal guardian shall be awarded normal and customary attorneys' fees and actual damages, but not punitive or consequential damages. (6) Charter schools. Nothing in this section shall affect the creation, curriculum, or the operation of charter schools. (7) Interpretation. Under circumstances in which portions of this section are subject to conflicting interpretations, subsection (3) shall be assumed to contain the governing intent of this section. Section 2. Effective date  applicability. This act shall take effect upon proclamation by the Governor, and shall apply to public schools in school districts with school terms beginning more than sixty days after such date.