A new era for bilingual education: explaining California's Proposition 58

Proposition 58, placed on the ballot by the state Legislature, was approved by voters with a 73.5 percent majority on Nov. 8, 2016. The proposition implements the California Multilingual Education Act of 2016, which was introduced in the Legislature by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens.

Proposition 58, placed on the ballot by the state Legislature, was approved by voters with a 73.5 percent majority on Nov. 8, 2016. The proposition implements the California Multilingual Education Act of 2016, which was introduced in the Legislature by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens. A full legislative digest is available here. 

What will the new law do?

The California Multilingual Education Act will give California public schools more control over dual language acquisition programs. Proposition 58 effectively repeals the English-only requirement of Proposition 227 — the initiative approved by voters in 1998 that requires English learners to be taught in English immersion classrooms. Under the new law, students can learn English through multiple programs outside of English immersion classes. The old law required parents to sign waivers to enroll their children in bilingual or dual immersion programs; the new law does not.

When does the new law go into effect?

The law goes into effect July 1, 2017.

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