Massachusetts schools will now have more options for how they educate students learning the English language, under a bill Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law Wednesday.
A 2002 ballot law required English learners to be taught in sheltered immersion programs. Under the new law, school districts will be able to continue to use immersion, but will now also be able to choose a different approach to meet their students needs, subject to approval by state education officials.
The 2002 ballot question passed 68 percent to 32 percent after a campaign that stressed the benefits of children learning English as quickly as possible. Supporters of the bill Baker signed have argued the ballot law is overly restrictive and has not helped close the achievement gap.
The number of English learners in Massachusetts schools has doubled to more than 90,204 students, or 9.5 percent of the student population since 2000.
Baker signed the bill Wednesday morning without a public ceremony. In a press release, he said the new law “preserves an existing approach that works well for many students, while providing school districts with the opportunity to adopt alternative, credible ways to teach English that may be more beneficial for certain students.”