Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program

The Meridian Board of Directors is highly committed to ensuring an equal educational opportunity for every student. While English is the basic language of instruction in the district’s schools, the district will provide a transitional bilingual instruction program for children whose primary language is not English, and whose English skills are sufficiently deficient or absent to impair learning. The district’s transitional bilingual instruction program is designed to enable students to achieve competency in English. Annually, the board of directors will approve the district’s transitional bilingual instruction program.

The district and its staff will:
 

  1. Communicate with parents/family members of students who are English language learners in a language they can understand in accordance with 4218 – Language Access;
     
  2. Assess and determine, by means of a state approved placement test, student eligibility within 10 days of enrollment and attendance;
     
  3. Annually assess, by means of the state approved test, improvement in English language proficiency for each eligible English language learner;
     
  4. Provide professional development training for administrators, teachers, counselors and other staff on the district’s bilingual instruction program, appropriate use of instructional strategies and assessment results, and curriculum and instructional materials for use with culturally and linguistically diverse students; and
     
  5. Provide for continuous improvement and evaluation of the district’s program to determine its effectiveness.

For purposes of providing such services, the superintendent will establish procedures for implementing the district’s Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program.

 

Cross References:

Board Policy 3210 – Nondiscrimination
Board Policy 4129 – Family Involvement
Board Policy 4217 – Effective Communication
Board Policy 4218 – Language Access

 

Legal References:      

Chapter 28A.180 RCW Transitional bilingual instruction program
WAC 162-28-040 English language limitations and national origin discrimination
Chapter 392-160 WAC Special service program – Transitional bilingual

 

Adoption Date: 07/24/13
Classification: Encouraged
Revised Dates: 10/05/22

Policies and Procedures