By: RodrÃguez, et al. S.B. No. 159
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certification requirements for teachers in bilingual
education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.061, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
(b-2) to read as follows:
(b) A teacher assigned to a bilingual education program
using one of the following program models must be appropriately
certified for bilingual education by the board:
(1) transitional bilingual/early exit program model;
or
(2) transitional bilingual/late exit program model.
(b-1) A teacher assigned to a bilingual education program
using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program model
must be appropriately certified by the board for:
(1) bilingual education for the component of the
program provided in a language other than English; and
(2) bilingual education or English as a second
language for the component of the program provided in English.
(b-2) A school district that provides a bilingual education
program using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program
model may assign a teacher certified under Subsection (b-1)(1) for
the language other than English component of the program and a
different teacher certified under Subsection (b-1)(2) for the
English language component.
(c) A teacher assigned to an English as a second language
[or other special language] program must be appropriately certified
for English as a second language by the board.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
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, 2015.