By: Lucio, et al. S.B. No. 560
(Guerra, Campos, Lopez, Morales Shaw, Morales of Maverick)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to developing a strategic plan for the improvement and
expansion of high-quality bilingual education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.067 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.067. STRATEGIC PLAN TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND BILINGUAL
EDUCATION. (a) In this section, "general academic teaching
institution" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) The agency, in collaboration with the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce Commission,
shall develop a strategic plan that sets tangible goals and
establishes timelines to:
(1) increase the number of educators certified under
Subchapter B, Chapter 21, in bilingual education instruction;
(2) increase the number of dual language
immersion/one-way and two-way program models used in public
schools;
(3) educate families and school district employees
regarding the importance of bilingual education in early childhood;
(4) adopt a uniform process for:
(A) identifying students in prekindergarten
through 12th grade of limited English proficiency;
(B) monitoring the bilingual learning of
students in prekindergarten through 12th grade; and
(C) collecting data regarding the identification
and monitoring under Paragraphs (A) and (B); and
(5) increase the number of bilingual and multilingual
high school graduates.
(c) In developing the strategic plan, the agency:
(1) shall consult with appropriate representatives
of:
(A) general academic teaching institutions;
(B) public schools;
(C) early childhood education programs; and
(D) parents and legal guardians of public school
students;
(2) may collaborate with representatives of:
(A) state, regional, and local agencies;
(B) nonprofit organizations;
(C) social services providers;
(D) faith-based organizations; and
(E) the business community; and
(3) shall study the use of the Bilingual Target
Language Proficiency Test to certify educators in bilingual
education instruction and:
(A) determine:
(i) the impact of using that test to assess
the critical competencies necessary to instruct bilingual programs
at each grade level; and
(ii) if any barriers to the certification
of bilingual educators exist based on differences between the
dialect of the educator and the dialect used on the test; and
(B) make recommendations to modify or revise the
assessments used to certify educators in bilingual education
instruction to enhance the competency of educators serving
bilingual programs.
(d) The agency shall submit the plan developed under this
section to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of
the house of representatives, and each member of the standing
committees of the senate and house of representatives having
primary jurisdiction over public education not later than December
1, 2022.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2023.
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, 2021.