Dual language immersion programs: instructional materials: grants.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Juan Carrillo and 8 co-sponsors

Provides one-time grants of up to $100,000 to LEAs to develop or purchase standards-aligned instructional materials in partner languages for California dual language immersion prog

In committee: Held under submission.

#duallanguageimmersionprograms #grants #instructionalmaterials

Purpose / Intent

AB 865 would create a one-time, time-limited grant program to expand the quantity and quality of instructional materials in non‑English “partner languages” used in California dual language immersion (DLI) programs. The goal is to support local educational agencies (LEAs) in acquiring or developing standards‑aligned textbooks, workbooks, and supplemental materials in students’ partner languages.

Key provisions

Establishes the Dual Language Immersion Education Instructional Materials Grant Program (Education Code, new Article 1, §§52100–52104).

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the General Fund for the 2026–27 fiscal year to the State Department of Education (SDE) to administer one‑time grants (implementation is contingent on inclusion in the Budget Act or other statute).

Grant size and allocation:

One‑time grants of $100,000 each to eligible LEAs (school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools).
Two allocation categories:
Instructional Materials Grant A — $3,500,000 to fund up to 35 grants ($100,000 each) for schoolsites offering DLI in partner languages identified (by the department using the most recent U.S. Census) as among the top five languages spoken by English learner pupils in California. The department should try to ensure each of those top five languages is represented by at least one award.
Instructional Materials Grant B — $1,500,000 to fund up to 15 grants ($100,000 each) for schoolsites offering DLI in partner languages not among the top five.

Eligible uses: developing standards‑aligned instructional materials in partner languages (e.g., textbooks, workbooks) and purchasing supplemental instructional materials.

Application and reporting:

Grant applicants must submit a plan to the department describing proposed use of funds for review and approval.
After expenditure, recipients must report to the SDE by June 29, 2029, describing how funds were used and provide physical or digital copies (and a list) of materials obtained or developed.
SDE must compile and submit a report to the Legislature’s policy and fiscal committees by December 31, 2029, including the data from recipients.

Funds are available for expenditure or encumbrance through June 30, 2029.

Sunset/repeal: The article is repealed January 1, 2030.

Who is affected

Direct beneficiaries: LEAs (school districts, county offices of education, charter schools) that operate existing DLI programs and successfully apply for a grant.

Indirect beneficiaries: pupils in DLI programs (particularly English learners), classroom teachers, curriculum developers, and communities seeking instructional materials in partner languages.

Fiscal and procedural notes

Proposed one‑time General Fund appropriation: $5,000,000 (2026–27). The bill states the appropriation would count toward constitutional minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts (Article XVI, Section 8).

Implementation requires the Legislature to appropriate funds in the Budget Act or another statute; the program is time‑limited and subject to reporting deadlines through 2029.

Legislative progress: introduced Feb 19, 2025; amended in March 2025; referred to Assembly Appropriations and placed on suspense; held under submission as of May 23, 2025.

Bill

Dual language immersion programs: instructional materials: grants.

AB 865 — Dual Language Immersion Education Instructional Materials Grant Program

Purpose / Intent

Key provisions

Who is affected

Fiscal and procedural notes

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