NM HB116

Amends eligibility requirements for state-funded bilingual multicultural education programs to require using a home or heritage language as the primary medium of instruction, or using a department-approved language revitalization instruction model for at-risk heritage languages

Prioritizes funding for culturally and linguistically different students in kindergarten through third grade who have an identifiable need to improve development of English and a home or heritage language

Requires teachers and personnel in bilingual programs to specialize in elementary or secondary education and bilingual education, and to administer language proficiency assessments in both English and the home or heritage language until proficiency is achieved

Mandates that programs include instruction on the history and cultures associated with the home or heritage language and establish parent advisory committees representative of the language and culture of students

Replaces prior annual parental notification requirement with a requirement to provide parents adequate notice of their ability to place students in the program