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For Representative Yashira Lebrón Rodríguez, who will serve as the next deputy speaker of the island’s House of Representatives, bilingual education in public schools, especially at the elementary level, is set to be a key focus in the upcoming four-year term commencing in January.
“Aligned with the public education strategy of our elected governor, Jenniffer González, which aims to enhance bilingual education for our public school students, we will be drafting legislation to make this goal achievable, particularly in primary grades, so our children graduate from elementary school equipped with English language skills, essential for their professional growth in our interconnected global landscape,” stated the Bayamón lawmaker.
“We will advocate for the Pilar Barbosa Boarding School, a distinctive initiative established by Law 53-1997, managed by the Legislative Assembly, aimed at broadening the academic opportunities for our teachers at various education levels, including university, through the Congress boarding school system and federal government agencies in Washington, D.C.,” the New Progressive Party representative further asserted. “We believe this program holds significant promise for advancing bilingual education initiatives in public schools.”
“According to the findings of the META-PR assessments, only 33 percent of students within the public education system demonstrate English proficiency. This is insufficient; indeed, it falls 40 percent short of the benchmark set by the Department of Education itself,” Lebrón remarked. “The Action Plan for Puerto Rico, which received support from the voters, identifies increasing this percentage as an educational priority, and this is our pledge from the new House of Representatives …”
Law 53-1997 established the Pilar Barbosa Program for Educational Internships within the Legislative Assembly. The law stipulates that the “Program is designed to provide Puerto Rican teachers and educators with a deeper understanding of Congress and the Federal Government’s operations, as well as to facilitate the involvement of interns in federal agencies and the United States Congress in roles related to education, extending beyond just formal classroom instruction.”