Committee approves $5 million grant program to expand dual-language instructional materials

Assemblymember Gonzales presented AB 865, a bill that would create a one-time $5,000,000 grant program administered by the California Department of Education over three years to increase dual language immersion (DLI) instructional materials across languages.

The measure splits funding into two pots: $3.5 million for programs teaching the state's top five English-learner languages (Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Arabic) and $1.5 million for other languages such as Korean, Japanese and Armenian. The bill requires grant recipients to report to the CDE by June 29, 2029, and requires the CDE to report to the Legislature by December 31, 2029.

Witnesses from Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California and Glendale Unified—School District described the lack of approved instructional materials in partner languages outside Spanish and the burdens on teachers who must translate or create curricula. Nancy Hong, director of dual language immersion and magnet programs at Glendale Unified, said publishers generally do not produce materials aligned to California standards in many partner languages, leaving districts and teachers to develop materials at high cost and large time investments.

Supporters argued the bill would reduce teacher workload, increase access to standards-aligned materials for multilingual students and advance state goals to expand DLI programming. Multiple education organizations, county offices and district representatives testified in favor.

The committee passed AB 865 as amended to appropriations with seven affirmative votes recorded at the hearing.