What's happening
This bill creates incentive programs and funding for foreign language instruction in elementary schools and for college students training to become foreign language teachers in New York.
Why it matters
Targets Educational Equity. By funding foreign language programs specifically in high-need, low-income elementary schools, the bill aims to address disparities in language education access that traditionally favor wealthier districts, thus promoting educational equity and future opportunities for underserved students.
Addresses Teacher Shortages. The bill directly responds to a severe shortage of certified foreign language (LOTE) teachers in New York by incentivizing college students with tuition scholarships and cash awards, tied to a commitment to teach in-state for at least three years. This could improve language program availability in public schools.
Emphasizes Early Language Learning. Citing research and best practices, the bill focuses on starting language instruction early and sustaining it through elementary years, which is shown to significantly increase proficiency and cognitive benefits, better preparing students for a globalized workforce.
Creates a Model for Expansion. By piloting FLES in five schools and rigorously assessing outcomes, the bill seeks to demonstrate viability in high-need areas, with the intention of sparking broader adoption by other districts—potentially leading to systemic change in language education across the state.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Early Language Learning
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Fund Elementary Language Programs
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3641
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2017
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commissioner of education to establish an incentive program for school districts wishing to implement programs of foreign language in the elementary schools and directing the commissioner of education to establish an incentive program for college students wishing to become foreign language teachers; and making an appropriation therefor
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 817 to read as follows:
§ 817. Foreign language in the elementary school program. 1. Legislative intent. The students of New York state need to have skills in at least one language other than English (LOTE) and understanding of another culture in order to successfully confront the challenges of the world of today and tomorrow. They will have to compete in the global economy; work with people of diverse cultures abroad and at home, and ensure our national security.
One goal of this section is to provide funding to start foreign language in the elementary school (FLES) programs for a limited number of schools in high-need districts. Participation in this program is voluntary. Relatively few school districts offer FLES Nation-wide, only six percent of students study foreign language in elementary school. These districts tend to be among the more affluent. By choosing five schools in high-need districts, we hope to demonstrate that those schools who cannot otherwise afford to have FLES programs can succeed. Children of low-income districts deserve to have the skills to succeed in the global world as well as those of more affluent areas.
According to research and the guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), students who begin study of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01137-01-7
S. 3641 2
LOTE at an early age and who continue that study for a long sequence of years have the best chances of attaining intermediate proficiency in that language.
It is hoped that the success of these programs, which will be carefully monitored by the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers (NYSAFLT), will not only encourage the districts to find the funds to continue offering the FLES programs once funding from the bill has ended, but also will generate interest in the neighboring districts which will inspire them to implement FLES programs, thus creating a grassroots movement in favor of FLES.
The second goal of this section is to provide funding to encourage college students wishing to become LOTE teachers. There is a current severe shortage of LOTE teachers in New York state. This shortage can prevent school districts from offering a variety of languages as well as from adding classes with the purpose of increasing LOTE study. The funding provided would cover the cost of tuition for education courses leading to certification for teaching LOTE in New York state.
2. Foreign language elementary school (FLES) pilot program. Participation in this program is voluntary. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner, the commissioner shall establish a two year foreign language elementary school (FLES) pilot program in five elementary schools located in high-need districts that are consistent with models provided by the Elementary Foreign Language Education Committee of the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers.
(a) The language elementary school program shall:
(1) consist of at least three to five sessions per week;
(2) be in duration of at least twenty minutes per session for grades kindergarten through second and thirty minutes in duration for grades three through six; and
(3) attempt to utilize foreign language elementary school certified teachers and to require ongoing and age-appropriate assessments.
(b) The curriculum should be content coordinated with overall coordination with the school district's foreign language program.
(c) Funding for this program shall be provided to:
(1) hire foreign language elementary certified teachers;
(2) purchase instructional materials; and
(3) incorporate other forms of support to ensure that the program is sustainable and successful.
3. Student incentive award for certification in languages other than English (LOTE) teaching. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner, the commissioner shall establish a student incentive award for attracting and retaining college students wishing to become teachers of languages other than English.
(a) These incentives should be used to pay for tuition in education courses, undergraduate or graduate, leading to certification in New York state.
(b) A provision of such tuition scholarships would be a commitment on the part of the prospective teacher to teach foreign languages in New York state for a minimum of three years after graduation. Such program shall include an incentive award of ten thousand dollars per student upon the completion of courses fulfilling the requirement for certification in languages other than English (LOTE) teaching in New York state.
S. 3641 3
§ 2. The sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of education out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes account, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education in the manner prescribed by law. Such sum shall be distributed as follows:
1. One million dollars ($1,000,000) for the foreign language elementary school (FLES) pilot program, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of education from any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes account not otherwise appropriated for services and expenses of the department of education for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act.
Five elementary schools will receive one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per year, for each year of the two year program.
2. One million dollars ($1,000,000) for student incentives, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of education from any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of the state purposes account not otherwise appropriated for services and expenses of the department of education for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act.
One hundred individual student incentive awards will be issued at ten thousand dollars ($10,000) each. Such sum shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education, or his or her duly designated representative in the manner provided by law.
3. No expenditure shall be made from this appropriation until a certificate of approval of availability shall have been issued by the director of the budget and filed with the state comptroller and a copy filed with the chair of the senate finance committee and the chair of the assembly ways and means committee.
4. Such certificate may be amended from time to time by the director of the budget and a copy of each such amendment shall be filed with the state comptroller, the chair of the senate finance committee and the chair of the assembly ways and means committee.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to directing the commissioner of education to establish an incentive program for school districts wishing to implement programs of foreign language in the elementary schools and directing the commissioner of education to establish an incentive program for college students wishing to become foreign language teachers; and making an appropriation therefor
Purpose
This bill would accomplish two purposes. First, a pilot program would be established in five high needs districts ($200,000 each) to expand foreign language education programs at the elementary level. In addition, the bill provides for 100 awards of up to $10,000 each for students who are working towards certification in foreign languages education, to cover the costs of tuition and materials for their education.
Summary of provisions
Adds a new section 817 to the education law;makes appropriations thereof.
Justification
Studies have shown that young children have the best ability to adapt to new languages. As we grow older, even by the time we reach high school, the language patterns in our brains are much more established, making it difficult to learn new languages. In these times of increasing globalization, it is becoming imperative that New York's workforce be able to cope with communications around the world. For these reasons, foreign language education start at a much earlier time than is currently common in public schools in our state, so that all students are able to develop proficiencies in one or more languages other than English (LOTE), and be better prepared to enter into the global workforce upon completion of their education. By focusing the pilot program on five high needs districts, this bill ensures additional assistance to schools that are already in great need. Moreover, expanding these programs will require new teachers. By offering a tuition incentive to would-be foreign language teachers, New York can ensure that the necessary workforce infrastructure is available to enact this new program.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.554/A.329 - Referred to Finance 2013-14: S.5192/A.1973(Parker)-Referred to Finance 2011-12: S.721/A.6232( Kavanagh)-Referred to Education 2009-10: S.1457/A.505 (Kavanagh)-Referred to Education
Fiscal impact on the state
This bill would appropriate $2,000,000, of which $1,000,000 would be allocated to each incentive program.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of September next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.