Arizona pays fines for english learning programs

The measure, and another bill aimed at allowing English-language learners to enroll in dual language programs, rather than the four-hour block of English immersion, have been stuck in that committee for nearly a month. Garrick Taylor, senior vice president for government relations for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the bill would allow flexibility for high school students to be able to complete the coursework they need to graduate.

But Yarbrough told the Capitol Times that he was around for the crafting of the four-hour block, and he believes the model is working. The bill passed the House of Representatives on a vote, and cleared the Senate Education Committee unanimously. Republican Rep. ThisIsTucson is member-supported. Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community.

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In , a lawsuit was filed in the U. District Court claiming that Arizona state schools had failed to provide programs and teaching aids for English learners. In , the court ordered the state to conduct a cost study for the state's language learners. The District court then ordered that the schools did a new study which would specify the needs and costs of language services. This was when HB was implemented stating that correct funding is to be distributed for English learning programs. Supreme Court to step in because the courts were meddling with Arizona's business.

The supreme court then pushed the case back to the Appeals court, saying they should keep in mind the changes the state has made for instruction of English learners. In , Arizona state had fully paid and had their ELL programs in compliance, after spending millions of dollars in fines. This case was significant because without it, ELL students wouldnt have the programs or the funding needed to help them to learn English, thus diminishing the children's motivation to continue to learn.

Arizona's schools were taking away from the students rights to having English learning programs due to lack of funding and that caused the courts to make them re-evaluate where the funding was going. Now ELL students have the ability to continue learning and can stay caught up, academically, with their English-speaking peers. This case impacts me as an educator today because there is a high possibility that I will be teaching students who are learning English thus needing ELL programs.

The HB is what helps to pay for such programs along with teacher aides.