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House Education Committee sends memorial to study Hispanic and bilingual education to interim study
Summary
The House Education Committee voted to give House Memorial 43 a do-pass recommendation, asking the Legislative Education Study Committee to examine how the Hispanic Education Act and Bilingual Education Act are implemented, funded and whether changes are needed to better serve students.
Representative Liz Guarola, sponsor of House Memorial 43, told the House Education Committee that lawmakers have repeatedly heard concerns the Hispanic Education Act and the Bilingual Education Act are “not completely funded” and that the state lacks a full picture of what is working.
"We have talked, I guess, probably for more than, I would say, this session about the Hispanic education or bilingual education," Representative Guarola said, urging the committee to send the memorial for interim study.
The memorial asks the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) to inventory current programs across the state, identify successful dual-language or bilingual programs, and recommend statutory or funding changes to better support students and teachers. Proponents said the study should examine teacher credentials, program design and funding levels.
Representative Tanya Mirabal Moya, a committee member and educator, said data and program details are needed so the state can determine which bilingual or dual-language approaches produce measurable gains. "One of the things that I would like to learn about is what type of dual language program... are out there, which ones are making the strongest impact," Mirabal Moya said.
Several committee members emphasized the state's demographic context: with roughly 60% of public-school students identified as Hispanic, members said the study should not treat Hispanic students as a monolithic group and should include parent and student voice. Representative Roberto Roybal Caballero urged that the memorial aim to "institutionalize" improvements so that recommendations translate into statewide policy and funding.
The committee adopted a motion to give House Memorial 43 a do-pass recommendation during the meeting. No roll-call vote or tally was recorded in the transcript.
The committee's action sends the memorial to the interim Legislative Education Study Committee, which will be responsible for conducting the study and reporting back to the Legislature.
