Democrat Rep. Raul Grijalva introduced legislation “to establish dual language education programs in low-income communities.” According to the bill, the Congress acknowledges the advantages of dual language programs, including gains in language, literacy and mathematics.

The text of the bill cites four purposes:

(1) To provide incentives for local educational agencies to develop innovative strategies for working with low-income and limited English proficient children.

(2) To improve the school readiness of low-income and limited English proficient children and to ensure they enter school ready to succeed.

(3) To provide consistent support for learning through high-quality dual language programs from preschool through the fifth grade.

(4) To authorize the Secretary to carry out a demonstration project to enhance the biliteracy and bilingualism skills for children in impoverished communities, including limited English proficient and minority children, through the use and longitudinal evaluation of dual language programs beginning in preschool through the fifth grade.

Read the complete text of the bill here.