House Republican Press Release

June 12, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Sawyer attends bill signing for legislation that allows high school students to earn credits for world language courses

HARTFORD - State Rep. Pamela Sawyer (R-Bolton) today attended a bill signing ceremony where Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed into law H.B. 5820, An Act Concerning High School Credit for Private World Language Courses and for Other Subject Areas.

Rep. Sawyer, a member of the legislature’s Education and Higher Education Committees, advocated that students get the deserved benefits for successfully completing qualified world language courses taken outside the standard high school arena. Many of these courses are offered by non-profit providers.

“This legislation not only rewards students who achieve competence in world languages outside the classroom, but also allows these students the time in their schedule to pursue the study of other subjects while they are in their high school setting,” said Rep. Sawyer. “I'd like to thank my legislative colleagues, as well as the Governor for supporting this win-win piece of legislation.”

Rep. Sawyer expressed her satisfaction with language in the bill that originally proposed that local boards of education grant up to two credits for successfully completed world language courses, be expanded to four.

“Students who have great fluency and mastery of a language will be given the credits that could be used for early graduation or create openings in their schedules to take other courses that they find interesting and challenging,” said Rep. Sawyer.  

The bill was passed unanimously in both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate.