87R617 MP-F
By: Lucio S.B. No. 559
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to teacher certification examinations in bilingual target
language proficiency and 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
adding Subsections (b-3) and (b-4) to read as follows:
(b-3) For a bilingual target language proficiency
certification examination prescribed under Section 21.048(a), the
commissioner shall adopt satisfactory levels of performance
differentiated for each grade level based on the level of language
proficiency required to teach that language in a bilingual
education program at that grade level. An educator preparation
program may not be penalized under Section 21.045 for a candidate
that meets the lowest satisfactory level of performance adopted
under this subsection on a bilingual target language proficiency
certification examination, regardless of the grade level for which
the candidate was seeking certification.
(b-4) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, a
teacher may only be assigned to a bilingual education program, or,
for a bilingual education program described by Subsection (b-1),
for the component of the program provided in a language other than
English, at a grade level for which the teacher has achieved on the
applicable bilingual target language proficiency certification
examination the satisfactory level of performance for that grade
level adopted by the commissioner under Subsection (b-3). A teacher
appropriately certified in bilingual education before January 1,
2022, may be assigned to a bilingual education program at any grade
level.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the commissioner
of education shall adopt the satisfactory levels of performance as
required by Section 29.061(b-3), Education Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. Section 29.061(b-4), Education Code, as added by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.