HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2318        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 327

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Denise Andrews

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to improve global competitiveness through additional language competency.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

1/17/2013

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

1/30/2013

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

1/29/2013

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

2/1/2013


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2318        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 327

By Ms. Andrews of Orange, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 327) of Denise Andrews and others relative to public school foreign language competency for students in grades pre-kindergarten to 12.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

_______________

 

An Act to improve global competitiveness through additional language competency.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following 2 sections:-

Section 1O. The department shall develop standards and objectives for foreign language competency for all students in grades pre-kindergarten to 12, inclusive, within the existing foreign language curriculum. The department shall identify additional resources necessary for school districts to achieve the required competency.

Section 1P. The department shall conduct a feasibility study concerning the inclusion of foreign languages on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, hereinafter referred to as MCAS in this section, on or before the last Wednesday in March 2014. Should the department conclude that the inclusion of foreign language on the MCAS, is feasible, students shall demonstrate competency, as defined by the department, on the MCAS in 1 or more of the following languages: Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi-Urdu, Arabic, Portuguese, Russian, French or Haitian Creole.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of elementary and secondary education shall submit a report containing its recommendations, standards, objectives, and conclusions pursuant to section 1O of chapter 69 of the joint committee on education on or before the last Wednesday in December 2013.