By: Alonzo H.B. No. 4122
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a collaborative language
acquisition pilot program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.070 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.070. ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLABORATIVE LANGUAGE
ACQUISITION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) From available funds that may be
used for that purpose, the commissioner shall grant $1 million to
the Texas Center for Education Policy of the University of Texas at
Austin for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of an
after-school language acquisition pilot program for students of
limited English proficiency.
(b) The Texas Center for Education Policy shall partner with
at least one independent school district and a municipal or
community entity in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of
the pilot program.
(c) Subject to Subsection (d), the Texas Center for
Education Policy may use funds allocated for this program to
collaborate and contract with entities in public or private
institutions of higher education to promote the expansion of the
pilot program across the state.
(d) A pilot program established under this section shall:
(1) adhere, to the extent practicable, to the La Clase
Mgica program model, also known as The Magic Classroom, including
any fundamental, programmatic, and data collection requirements of
that model;
(2) prepare students to perform satisfactorily on
assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023 by
implementing an after-school curriculum that develops a principled
understanding of reading, science, and mathematics content;
(3) build literacy skills in English and the student's
native language;
(4) promote digital literacy skills;
(5) promote financial literacy skills;
(6) promote college aspirations by:
(A) increasing knowledge about and encouraging
positive attitudes toward higher education; and
(B) providing consistent peer interactions with
university mentors;
(7) expand the student's ability to communicate in any
educational or professional setting;
(8) communicate information under this section to the
school, students, students' parents, and the community; and
(9) inform students' parents regarding school district
standards and requirements and state requirements regarding
assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023.
(e) The Texas Center for Education Policy must match funds
provided in this section with other private, federal, state, or
local funds, including:
(1) gifts, grants, or donations of funds;
(2) contributions of property that may be used in
providing the program;
(3) in-kind financial support to implement the program
from collaborating or contracted public entities or private
institutions of higher education;
(4) in-kind financial support to implement the program
from municipalities, school districts, or community entities
partnering in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the
program;
(5) university faculty and staff time allocated
towards the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the
program.
(f) Not later than January 1, 2011, the Texas Center for
Education Policy shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the presiding officers of the standing committees of each house
of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over public education
a report addressing the success of the pilot program under this
section. This subsection expires September 1, 2011.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.