Learn More About My Bill for English Language Learners
I know of at least one student in New Hampshire who was near the top of his class in reading and writing, but was unable to get out of the ELL (English Language Learner) program.
Annual testing happens in a computer lab where the student has to speak through a headset which is uncomfortable and embarrassing. If you are too embarrassed to speak into a headset in a silent room full of other students testing, you fail.
His mom met with the school board many times, and the only way for her to get him out of the program was to appeal to the State Board of Education.
Even as a strong, empowered woman this was a big and scary task.
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This bill will allow parents to remove their child from the ELL program if:
- their child is performing at grade level in reading and writing, or
- their child is not receiving ELL services.
It also would automatically remove students who have not received services in two years, giving schools extra incentive to help these students to continue getting extra state money.
This is the text of the bill. The parts added to existing law are in bold italic.
1 Definitions; English Language Learner. Amend RSA 198:38, VI to read as follows:
VI. "English language learner" (ELL) means a pupil who has a predominant language other than English or who is educationally disadvantaged by a limited English proficiency, and who participated in the annual assessment of English language proficiency required of such pupils by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 U.S.C. section 6311 (b)(7). Parents may remove their child from the ELL program if their child is performing at grade level in reading and writing, or if their child has not been provided ELL services. Students who have not received ELL services in the preceding 2 years shall be automatically removed from the program. The school district shall have the burden to appeal removals under thisparagraph to the state board of education.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
Your ECONOMIST in Concord
Today's high inflation makes my degree in Economics from MIT much more exciting than usual. My training helps me see how wasteful government spending slows growth and increases costs. Your Republican legislature delivered a budget which is helping New Hampshire perform better than other states, and I will work to promote policies that will make New Hampshire continue to do better than other states.
The biggest economic challenges are coming from Washington DC, but sound leadership in New Hampshire can help us lead the way out of the coming recession.
Representative Erica Layon has spent decades focused on studying risk both in school and in the real world. As a MIT Economist, she worked on Wall Street first as an options market maker who underwent 100 hours of intensive poker instruction to thrive in the trading floor pits, culminating her career as a Medical Device Analyst who worked with company executives and top doctors to bring new ideas to actual patient care.
As an economist, Erica understands how decisions to block energy suppliers leads to doubling electric bills and how smart fiscal policy drives New Hampshire's best-in-New-England unemployment rates. She will continue to reduce unnecessary red-tape that strangles economic growth and drives the inflation that is causing difficult kitchen table decisions across the Granite State.
As Vice Chairman of the Health Human Services and Elderly Affairs committee in 2022, Erica was a strong voice to the people of Derry. In final negotiations between the House and Senate she not only sat at the table, she chaired two committees that delivered strong policy around medical privacy and the right to use approved medicines for unapproved uses. Medicines are used off-label more than they are for the disease they are approved to treat, and now New Hampshire has clear guidelines on how and when informed consent is needed.
Committee assignments for the current term will be announced soon.
2021
- Member House Education Committee
- I wrote a bill to fix the voter checklists and to make better use of existing information to remove voters who no longer live in town which was is now law.
2022
- Vice Chairman, Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee
- Member, NH Council on Suicide Prevention
- Chairman, Committee of Conference for HB1466 and HB1487. This is where the House and Senate resolve differences on bill language.
- I wrote a bill to streamline homeschool laws which is now the law.
- I was also deeply involved in crafting final language on bills to
2023
- Chairman, Derry Joint Legislative Committee
National Recognition
- NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures) Rural Health Regional Roundtable, NH Member
- NCSL Health Innovations Task Force, NH Member
- ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) Task Force on Education & Workforce Development
- ALEC Task Force on Health & Human Services