§ 30. — 30. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 559, Sec. 1.)

(a)
English shall be the basic language of instruction in all schools.
(b)
The governing board of a school district, or community college district, and any private school may determine when and under what circumstances instruction may be given bilingually.
(c)
It is the policy of the state to ensure the mastery of English by all pupils in the schools, provided that bilingual instruction may be offered in those situations when that instruction is educationally advantageous to the pupils. Bilingual instruction is authorized to the extent that it does not interfere with the systematic, sequential, and regular instruction of
all pupils in the English language.
(d)
Pupils who are proficient in English and who, by successful completion of advanced courses in a world language or by other means, have become fluent in that language may be instructed in classes conducted in that world language.
(e)
(1)
A community college may offer courses taught in languages other than English. Students may enroll in these courses without being required to concurrently enroll in an English as a Second Language (ESL) course.
(2)
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a
community college student from enrolling in an ESL course, or preclude a community college from complying with the requirements set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 78221.5.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 559, Sec. 1. (AB 1096) Effective January 1, 2024.