86R13815 MP-D
By: Allen H.B. No. 4004
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study on improving educational outcomes for public
school students of limited English proficiency.
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 ON IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR
STUDENTS OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. (a) In this section,
"coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.
(b) The agency and the coordinating board jointly shall
conduct a study on improving educational outcomes for students of
limited English proficiency.
(c) The study must analyze:
(1) current practices of screening and placing
students of limited English proficiency in a bilingual education or
special language program under this subchapter;
(2) the ability of students of limited English
proficiency to access high quality prekindergarten programs
operated under Subchapter E-1, including how the prekindergarten
guidelines established by the agency may be better used to support
learning for those students;
(3) current practices for assessing English
proficiency, including the effectiveness of assessing English
proficiency:
(A) under the assessment system developed by the
commissioner under Section 39.027(e);
(B) with a reading instrument included on the
list adopted by the commissioner for use in diagnosing the reading
development and comprehension of kindergarten students under
Section 28.006(b);
(C) with the tools used by a language proficiency
assessment committee under Section 29.063 to monitor a student's
progress; and
(D) with a reading assessment instrument
administered under Section 39.023(a);
(4) the extent to which students of limited English
proficiency who are also eligible for a special education program
under Subchapter A are being provided equitable and quality early
learning experiences through early childhood special education
services;
(5) any difference in educational outcomes for
students of limited English proficiency enrolled in each
classification of bilingual education or special language program
under Section 29.066, including an analysis of any demographic
differences between the students primarily enrolled in each
classification of program;
(6) any barriers to or limitations on the
implementation by school districts of higher quality programming
for students of limited English proficiency;
(7) teacher preparation programs at public
institutions of higher education, including an analysis of:
(A) the course work and professional development
requirements associated with teaching certificates appropriate for
bilingual education instruction or for teaching English as a second
language issued under Section 29.061; and
(B) methods for recruiting classroom teachers
from diverse backgrounds to teach in bilingual education or special
language programs; and
(8) the feasibility of improving publicly available
data used to track the educational outcomes of students of limited
English proficiency.
(d) Not later than September 1, 2020, the agency and the
coordinating board jointly shall submit to the legislature a report
on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative
or other action.
(e) This section expires September 1, 2021.
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, 2019.