(a) For the school years commencing July 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, the Department of Education, in consultation with public institutions of higher education and persons with expertise in language acquisition, shall administer an English language learner pilot program. The department shall select the following participants for inclusion in the pilot program: (1) The three school districts with the highest total number of English language learner students, and (2) the school district with the highest percentage of English language learner students to total student population. Participants in the pilot program shall develop language acquisition plans for English language learner students that (A) are research-based, (B) are developed in consultation with the department, public institutions of higher education or persons with expertise in language acquisition, and (C) take into consideration such things as the size of the school district or region, the characteristics of the English language learner student population, the geography and demography of the school district or region, the number of bilingual education teachers and the native languages of the student population. The regional educational service center that serves the region in which each participant is located shall provide administrative support to such participant in the implementation of the pilot program.

(b) The Department of Education shall contract with an independent evaluator from an institution of higher education or a professional evaluator with expertise in language acquisition to evaluate the English language learner pilot program. Not later than October 1, 2017, such evaluation shall be submitted to the Department of Education and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a.