Article 3. Language Of Instruction of California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 3.

English shall be the basic language of instruction in all schools. The governing board of any school district, or community college district, and any private school may determine when and under what circumstances instruction may be given bilingually. It is the policy of the state to insure the mastery of English by all pupils in the schools; provided that bilingual instruction may be offered in those situations when such 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. Pupils who are proficient in English and who, by successful completion of advanced courses in a foreign language or by other means, have become fluent in that language may be instructed in classes conducted in that foreign language.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, bilingual education shall be defined as a system of instruction which builds upon the language skills of a pupil whose primary language is neither English nor derived from English. For purposes of this paragraph:
  (1) "Primary language" is a language, other than English or a language derived from English, which is the language the pupil first learned.
  (2) "Derived from English" means any dialect, idiom, or language derived from English. Both of the following shall be construed as being derived from English:
  (A) Any dialect, idiom, or language that has linguistic roots connected to English.
  (B) Any dialect, idiom, or language that has a syntax distinct from English, yet can be traced linguistically as derived from English.
  (b) A school district shall not utilize, as part of a bilingual education program, state funds or resources for the purpose of recognition of, or instruction in, any dialect, idiom, or language derived from English, as defined in paragraph (1).