HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2026 TO BE "BILINGUAL AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNER MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

H8397

2026 -- H 8397
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LC004528
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2026 TO BE "BILINGUAL AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNER
MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Representatives Morales, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Kennedy, Ajello, Fellela, Shallcross Smith, Serpa, and Diaz

Date Introduced:
April 02, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island is and has always been a multilingual state; and
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WHEREAS, Throughout Rhode Island history, there have been Narragansett, Portuguese,
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Italian, Haitian, Creole, Khmer, Cape Verdean, French, Spanish, and many more languages
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spoken in our communities. Unfortunately, our language stories have often been ones of loss as
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many grandchildren cannot converse with their grandparents because students are pushed to
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forget their home language in order to assimilate to an English-centric educational system and
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therefore are forced to re-learn their own native language later in life; and
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WHEREAS, Our linguistic and cultural diversity is a strength that should be celebrated
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and nurtured; and
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WHEREAS, Bilingual and multilingual learners are one of the fastest growing student
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populations within American schools and this group of students brings multiple assets to our
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educational system and adds a rich layer of diversity amongst our students; and
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WHEREAS, Bilingual and Multilingual Learner Month is an opportunity to draw
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attention to the persistent gap between bilingual and multilingual learners and native English-
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speaking students; and
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WHEREAS, Bilingual and Multilingual Learner Month calls on stakeholders at all levels
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to examine the diverse needs of bilingual and multilingual learners and to build an inclusive and
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respectful culture; and
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WHEREAS, Bilingual and Multilingual Learner Month highlights a commitment to

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ensure educational equity and access, allowing these learners to thrive academically and become
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productive bi-literate and multiliterate global citizens, and encourages institutions to adopt
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policies and practices such as dual language instructional programs that value and use students’
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languages and cultural assets to learn high academic content, promote long-term academic
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achievement, and increase graduation rates; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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proclaims April of 2026 to be "Bilingual and Multilingual Learner Month" in the State of Rhode
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Island; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That this House hereby thanks bilingual and multilingual students,
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educators, school workers, supporters and advocates across the nation for their service to our
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communities and encourages all residents to advocate for bilingual and multilingual education in
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order to ensure that all Rhode Island students become bilingual, multilingual and bi-literate and
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are prepared for full participation in our State and world; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Angelica Infante-Green, Commissioner, Rhode
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Island Department of Education.
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