The board has the highest commitment toward ensuring an equal educational opportunity for every student. While English is the basic language of instruction in the district's schools, the district shall provide a transitional bilingual program for children whose primary language is not English, and whose English skills are sufficiently deficient or absent to impair learning.

The district and its staff shall:

A. Communicate authentically with parents of students in the bilingual program in a language they can understand; and

B. Provide in-service training for teachers, counselors, and other staff who are involved in the district's transitional bilingual program, including alternative instructional programs, on appropriate instructional strategies for students of culturally different backgrounds and use of curriculum materials and program models.

For purposes of providing such services, the superintendent or designee shall establish procedures for identifying eligible students, evaluating a student's previous course work, and granting credit to a student for purposes of graduation.

Legal References:
Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program - Chapter 28A.180 RCW
English language limitations and national origin discrimination - WAC 162-28-040
Special Service Program --Transitional Bilingual - Chapter 392-160 WAC

Highline School District 401
Adopted by the Board: August 1984
Revised by the Board: 01.08
Classification: Priority