RECAP: Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island Launches Legislative Agenda
On March 23rd, 2021, the Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island (CMRI) held their 3rd Annual Multilingual Education Advocacy Day to announce their support for seven bills introduced during the 2021 legislative session. Legislative partners and community advocates spoke on the critical need for Rhode Island to prioritize multilingual language education. Advocates emphasized that the growing linguistic and cultural diversity in Rhode Island and across the globe makes it imperative that the state move quickly to create equitable ways to empower its children to navigate this new reality
The Coalition's agenda includes the World Language and Dual Language Immersion Act (H5239/S0457), which would create a position in the Rhode Island Department of Education and set aside funding to coordinate the expansion of multilingual education opportunities across the state. Other bills include legislation to create a dual language immersion model policy (S0355), to include English learners into school funding formulas (S0090), to award college credit to students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy (H5837/S814), to expand concurrent enrollment world language courses at Rhode Island universities (H5383), to recruit more teachers of color (H5699), and help more teachers get certified to teach multilingual learners (5829).
Rhode Island’s current youth boast considerable linguistic diversity: in the 2018-19 school year, nearly 10% of total students in public schools received English Learner services, almost double from that of 2010.
Representative Grace Diaz, among others, spoke of the challenges facing English Learners who are thrown into U.S. schools with little experience in the language of instruction and insufficient support. “These students fail to achieve the same level of success,” said Diaz. “It’s time to close that gap.” Diaz is confident that CMRI’s legislative priorities will “not only level the playing field for English Learners, but also help them excel in language arts and become bilingual.”
CMRI thanks the passionate legislators and advocates for joining the press conference and for expanding high quality education solutions for Rhode Island multilingual learners. See the full press conference footage here.
Speakers included:
Erin Papa, Coalition for a Multilingual RI Director
Nellie Gorbea, RI Secretary of State
Senator Frank A. Ciccone, III
Representative Grace Diaz
Senator Sandra Cano
Representative David Morales
Senator Ana Quezada
Fernanda and Andrew Poyant, Dual Language Parents
Jacqueline Agustin, Research & Policy Director, Progreso Latino
Aline Binyungu, Executive Director, Women's Refugee Care
Sandra Victorino, Director of Workforce Development, Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations at Care New England
Paige Clausius-Parks, Senior Policy Analyst, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
Howie Berman, Executive Director of ACTFL
Amanda Seewald, President of JNCL-NCLIS
About
We are a coalition of organizations and community members dedicated to creating a culturally sustaining educational environment where all Rhode Island students learn in multiple languages from Pre-K to college. Find out more at www.MultilingualRI.org.