AB 1249

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law provides various programs and services for the purposes of assisting English learners. Existing law provides economic impact aid funding to school districts based on the number of economically disadvantaged pupils and English learners enrolled in the school district. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to perform specified calculations to determine the amount of economic impact aid a school district receives for a fiscal year. Existing law defines "English learners" for purposes of economic impact aid funding as (a) children who do not speak English or whose native language is not English and who are not currently able to perform ordinary classroom work in English and (b) pupils of limited English proficiency. Existing law defines "pupils of limited English proficiency" as those who do not have the clearly developed English language skills of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing necessary to receive instruction only in English at a level substantially equivalent to pupils of the same age or grade whose primary language is English. This bill would expand the definition of "English learner" to include pupils whose native language is English and whose mastery of the standard English language or academic English is limited due to their use of nonstandard English.