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2004 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Cox
Adult English-as-a-Second-Language

Item 144 #8h

Item 144 #8h

First Year - FY2005 Second Year - FY2006
Education: Elementary and Secondary
Direct Aid To Public Education FY2005 $50,000 FY2006 $50,000 GF

Language
Page 100, line 2, strike "$457,997,916" and insert "$458,047,916".
Page 100, line 2, strike "$465,142,441" and insert "$465,192,441".
Page 101, line 51, before "State", insert "1."
Page 102, after line 2, insert:
"2. Out of the amounts for Financial Assistance for Adult Education Instruction, $50,000 the first year and $50,000 the second year from the general fund is appropriated for adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes conducted by local adult education programs. Local adult education programs that receive funding earmarked for adult ESL classes shall charge a tuition fee for ESL classes.  The tuition fee may be assessed on a sliding scale, based on a student's ability to pay."


Explanation
(This amendment provides funding for local school divisions to provide additional English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes. This is based on a recent JLARC study that found there is an increasing demand and unmet need for adult ESL classes as the foreign-born population in Virginia increases, and that this demand is placing a strain on local adult education resources. According to the 2000 Census, 11 percent of Virginia residents over five speak a primary language other than English. Forty-one percent of this population is deemed "limited English proficient." The JLARC study reported that the most important factor in acclimating Virginia's foreign-born residents is the attainment of English language skills.)