By: RodrÃguez S.B. No. 161
Garcia, West
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study regarding the costs of educating students of
limited English proficiency 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 29.068 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.068. STUDY REGARDING COSTS OF EDUCATING STUDENTS OF
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY; REPORT. (a) The agency shall conduct
a study to examine the costs of educating a student of limited
English proficiency in public schools. The study must:
(1) determine whether the bilingual education
allotment under Section 42.153 provides adequate funding to schools
for meeting the educational needs of students of limited English
proficiency;
(2) if it is determined under Subdivision (1) that the
bilingual education allotment is inadequate, determine the amount
of adjustment for the bilingual education allotment that would
provide adequate funding to schools for meeting the educational
needs of students of limited English proficiency;
(3) determine whether the educational needs of
students of limited English proficiency and the costs of meeting
those needs vary by grade level from kindergarten through the 12th
grade; and
(4) identify measures that may lower costs and improve
outcomes, including the following measures:
(A) implementation of:
(i) new technologies;
(ii) new teaching mediums; and
(iii) new teaching techniques; and
(B) changes to the duration of the academic
calendar and school day.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2016, the agency shall prepare
a report detailing the results of the study under this section and
submit the report to each standing legislative committee with
primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary education.
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.