84R2123 MK-D
By: González H.B. No. 345
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a task force to study the standards of
the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test administered to
bilingual educators in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.0611 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.0611. TASK FORCE ON BILINGUAL TARGET LANGUAGE
PROFICIENCY TEST. (a) A task force is established under this
section to examine and review the Bilingual Target Language
Proficiency Test.
(b) The task force shall be composed of the following
members appointed by the commissioner:
(1) one representative from the State Board for
Educator Certification;
(2) one representative from the Bilingual/ESL Unit of
the Division of Curriculum in the agency;
(3) four professional bilingual educators who are
certified after taking the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency
Test;
(4) four professional bilingual educators who are
certified without taking the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency
Test;
(5) two school district administrators who serve as
coordinators of bilingual programs in urban school districts; and
(6) two school district administrators who serve as
coordinators of bilingual programs in rural school districts.
(c) The member of the task force appointed under Subsection
(b)(2) shall serve as the presiding officer of the task force.
(d) The commissioner shall appoint the members of the task
force not later than November 1, 2015.
(e) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of
the task force on or before December 1, 2015. The task force shall
meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines
are appropriate. The task force shall adopt rules necessary to
fulfill the task force's duties under this section.
(f) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
task force.
(g) The task force shall:
(1) review the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency
Test and determine if the test effectively evaluates the skills a
professional bilingual educator will use when interacting with
students and parents of students;
(2) determine if the Bilingual Target Language
Proficiency Test adequately identifies and delineates the
essential knowledge and skills that a professional bilingual
educator must teach students; and
(3) investigate the efficacy of the current passing
standards for each domain of the Bilingual Target Language
Proficiency Test in order to determine if the standards are overly
restrictive.
(h) The task force shall prepare a report that includes:
(1) a description of the activities of the task force;
(2) the findings and recommendations of the task
force, including any proposed policy and research recommendations;
and
(3) any proposals for legislation or other matters the
task force considers appropriate.
(i) Not later than September 1, 2016, the task force shall
deliver the report required by Subsection (h) to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and the commissioner.
(j) The task force is abolished and this section expires on
December 1, 2016.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.