Section 380.1153 - Bilingual instruction program; establishment and operation(1) The board of a school district may establish and operate a bilingual instruction program for children of limited English-speaking ability.(2) A child of limited English-speaking ability residing in a district that does not have an appropriate bilingual instruction program or that is not required to have a bilingual instruction program may enroll in a bilingual instruction program in another school district.(3) An intermediate school district may operate or contract for the operation of a bilingual program or service, and may carry children enrolled in the program in membership in the same manner as a local school district and be entitled to its proportionate share of state funds available for the program. Membership shall be calculated under rules promulgated by the state board. The intermediate school board shall consider: (a) Whether the cost of operating an intermediate bilingual instruction-support program is justified by the number of children at each grade level who would benefit from its establishment.(b) Whether alternative methods of providing a bilingual instruction-support program, such as visiting teachers or part-time instruction, can be provided.(4) The state shall continue to fund programs of bilingual instruction described in this section at least at the level that instruction is funded in the 1995-1996 state fiscal year.1976, Act 451, Imd. Eff. 1/13/1977 ;--Am. 1977, Act 43, Imd. Eff. 6/29/1977 ;--Am. 1995, Act 289, Eff. 7/1/1996.