Lawmakers in the Arizona House of Representatives show support for including English Language Learners in dual-language immersion programs at public schools.

The Arizona Legislature’s House Minority and Majority Caucuses House gave due pass recommendations yesterday to House Concurrent Resolution 2005, which would allow public district and charter schools to establish dual-language immersion programs for both native and nonnative English speakers.

Passage of HCR 2005, sponsored by Rep. John Fillmore, would repeal sections of statute created when Arizona voters approved Prop. 203, also known as English Language Education for Children in Public Schools Act in 2000, and direct the Arizona Secretary of State to submit this proposition to voters in the next general election. It received a due pass recommendation in the House Education Committee last week.

Video by Jacquelyn Gonzales/AZEdNews: #Legislative Legit: Dual-Language Immersion for English Learners

Click here for Arizona School Boards Association’s Governmental Relations Team analysis of HCR 2005

The bill would repeal – upon voter approval – a statute that requires all children enrolled in Arizona public schools be taught English through English language instruction in English language classrooms and eliminate statute that would allow a parent to apply for a waiver to transfer their student to a class teaching subjects through bilingual educational techniques only if certain criteria are met.

“It’s a common-sense fix, and the last piece we need to provide English Learners with the education they need to actually learn the language,” said Geoff Esposito on behalf of UnidosUS. Then he thanked Rep. Fillmore for sponsoring this legislation for several past legislative sessions.