Bill Text: CA AB1876 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Pupils: diploma alternatives: language options.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [AB1876 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB1876-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1876	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 18, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 11, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 28, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Lopez

                        FEBRUARY 10, 2016

   An act to add Section 51420.5 to the Education Code, relating to
pupils.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1876, as amended, Lopez. Pupils: diploma alternatives: language
options.
   Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to
issue a high school equivalency certificate and an official score
report, or an official score report only, to a person who has not
completed high school and who meets specified requirements,
including, among others, having taken all or a portion of a general
education development test that has been approved by the State Board
of Education and administered by a testing center approved by the
State Department of Education, with a score determined by the state
board to be equal to the standard of performance expected from high
school graduates.
   Commencing January 1, 2019, this bill would prohibit the
department from approving or renewing approval of a contractor or
testing center to administer the tests described above unless the
contractor or testing center provides those tests in  the top
3 primary languages used in the state, as determined by the
department based on United States Census data.  
English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.  The bill would require that
an examinee be permitted to take the test in the language of his or
her choice of  the top 3 primary languages used in the state.
  those specified languages. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following:
   (a) The intention in enacting the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual
Services Act was to provide for effective communication between all
levels of government in this state and the people of this state who
are precluded from utilizing public services because of language
barriers.
   (b) It is in the interest of California to reduce language
barriers in obtaining high school equivalency certificates.
  SEC. 2.  Section 51420.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   51420.5.  (a) Commencing January 1, 2019, the department shall not
approve or renew approval of a contractor or testing center to
administer tests for purposes of Section 51420 unless the contractor
or testing center provides the general educational development tests
that have been approved by the state board in  the top three
primary languages used in the state, as determined by the department
based on United States Census data.   English, Spanish,
and Vietnamese. 
   (b) An examinee shall be permitted to take the test in the
language of his or her choice of the  top three primary
languages used in the state.  languages specified in
subdivision (a). 
   (c) This section is intended to supplement and not supplant any
other requirements the department adopts for the approval of
contractors or testing centers under this article.