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House passes English-immersion bill requiring daily instruction, parental involvement
Summary
The House approved second substitute HB 19 to require districts to implement or demonstrate an English-immersion program with at least one English class daily, ESL-trained instructors, and parent involvement. Sponsor Michael R. Steiler said the measure reflects classroom experience; members questioned assessment and eligibility procedures.
The Utah House on Feb. 15 passed second substitute House Bill 19 to require school districts to implement or demonstrate programs that provide structured English-language instruction for students who cannot speak, read or write English. The measure passed on the floor and was referred to the Senate.
Sponsor Representative Michael R. Steiler told the chamber the bill grew from his classroom experience and asked colleagues to support a program that would ensure students receive at least one English class per day taught by instructors trained in ESL methods. “What we’re doing in this bill, we’re asking each school district ... to implement or at least demonstrate to the satisfaction of the State Board of Education that they have a program that will require these students to have at least one English class a day,” Steiler said.
Members asked how eligibility and assessment would work. Representative Baca asked whether every student would be tested and how referrals would be made; Steiler said assessment and placement would follow a model set by the State Board of Education and involve the student, teacher and parents. “If the student feels and the teacher and the parents feel that there is sufficient progress being made ... they can leave it,” Steiler said, describing how students may exit the program.
Representative Busch sought to clarify the bill’s language on who qualifies; Steiler said the provision is inclusive and applies if a student cannot perform any one of the skills — speaking, reading or writing — that the bill lists.
The House recorded 69 yes votes and 1 no vote on the second substitute; the bill will be sent to the Senate for further action.
