Bill
HD 2002
Establishes the Language Education Grant Program in Massachusetts to fund expanded world/heritage/second language and ELL programs in public schools, subject to appropriation.
Overview
- Purpose: Establish a state-funded, grant-based program to expand and improve language education across public schools in Massachusetts, including world language, second language, heritage language, and English language learner (ELL) programs.
- Status: Introduced November 29, 2025 (House Docket No. 2002). The bill text indicates it would amend Chapter 15 of the General Laws to create the program, contingent on appropriation.
- Key aim: Increase access to comprehensive language education and encourage voluntary expansion of foreign language offerings in the Commonwealth.
What the bill would do (Key Provisions)
- Create the Language Education Grant Program within the Department of Education (DOE), subject to appropriation.
- Purpose of grants:
- Assist school districts, Horace Mann Charter Schools (state-authorized charter schools), and Commonwealth charter schools.
- Support development of expanded world language, second language, heritage language, and English language learner education programs.
- Help students succeed academically and broaden access to language education.
- Encourage voluntary expansion of existing foreign language programs.
- Governance and guidelines:
- The DOE must develop guidelines for the grant program and for its implementation.
- Eligible applicants:
- Commonwealth school districts.
- Horace Mann charter schools.
- Commonwealth charter schools.
- Evaluation and replication:
- The DOE commissioner must annually evaluate programs funded under the section.
- Assess the potential for replicating successful programs throughout the Commonwealth.
- Technical assistance:
- The DOE must provide technical assistance to districts seeking to replicate funded programs.
Funding and administration
- Funding: The program is “subject to appropriation,” meaning explicit funding levels must be provided by the Legislature in annual or multi-year budgets.
- Administration: The DOE would administer the grants, issue guidelines, and oversee implementation and ongoing evaluation.
Impact and who is affected
- Affected entities:
- Public school districts across Massachusetts.
- Horace Mann and Commonwealth charter schools.
- Potential impacts:
- Expanded language education offerings (world, second, and heritage languages) and strengthened ELL programs.
- Increased opportunities for students to learn additional languages, with potential long-term benefits in college and career readiness.
- Availability of DOE-supported technical assistance to help schools design and scale programs.
- Equity considerations:
- By expanding access to language education, the program aims to reduce disparities in language-learning opportunities across districts and charter schools.
Timeline and next steps
- Since the bill requires appropriation, actual implementation depends on the Commonwealth’s budget process.
- If enacted and funded, the DOE would publish guidelines and begin distributing grants, with annual evaluations and ongoing technical assistance and potential replication initiatives.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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