88R8910 CXP-D
By: Guerra H.B. No. 2168
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to measures to prepare students to teach bilingual
education, English as a second language, or Spanish.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.1831 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.1831. PROGRAM OF STUDY IN BILINGUAL EDUCATION,
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, AND SPANISH. (a) The agency shall
develop a program of study for use in career and technology
education programs that prepares and assists students in pursuing a
career teaching:
(1) bilingual education;
(2) English as a second language; or
(3) Spanish.
(b) The agency shall post on the agency's Internet website
information regarding:
(1) the program of study developed under this section;
and
(2) the financial incentive program to prepare
teachers to obtain certification to teach bilingual education,
English as a second language, or Spanish administered by the Texas
Higher Education Coordinating Board under Subchapter SS, Chapter
61.
SECTION 2. Section 33.007(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) During the first school year a student is enrolled in a
high school or at the high school level in an open-enrollment
charter school, and again during each year of a student's
enrollment in high school or at the high school level, a school
counselor shall provide information about postsecondary education
to the student and the student's parent or guardian. The
information must include information regarding:
(1) the importance of postsecondary education;
(2) the advantages of earning an endorsement and a
performance acknowledgment and completing the distinguished level
of achievement under the foundation high school program under
Section 28.025;
(3) the disadvantages of taking courses to prepare for
a high school equivalency examination relative to the benefits of
taking courses leading to a high school diploma;
(4) financial aid eligibility;
(5) instruction on how to apply for federal financial
aid;
(6) the center for financial aid information
established under Section 61.0776;
(7) the automatic admission of certain students to
general academic teaching institutions as provided by Section
51.803;
(8) the eligibility and academic performance
requirements for the TEXAS Grant as provided by Subchapter M,
Chapter 56;
(9) the availability of programs in the district under
which a student may earn college credit, including advanced
placement programs, dual credit programs, joint high school and
college credit programs, and international baccalaureate programs;
(10) the availability of education and training
vouchers and tuition and fee waivers to attend an institution of
higher education as provided by Section 54.366 for a student who is
or was previously in the conservatorship of the Department of
Family and Protective Services; [and]
(11) the availability of college credit awarded by
institutions of higher education to veterans and military
servicemembers for military experience, education, and training
obtained during military service as described by the informational
materials developed under Section 302.0031(h), Labor Code; and
(12) the availability of programs that prepare
students for teaching bilingual education, English as a second
language, or Spanish, including:
(A) the program of study developed under Section
29.1831; and
(B) the financial incentive program administered
by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Subchapter
SS, Chapter 61.
SECTION 3. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter SS to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER SS. FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO PREPARE TEACHERS IN
BILINGUAL EDUCATION, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, AND SPANISH
Sec. 61.99991. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF
PROGRAM. (a) The board shall establish a program to provide
financial incentives such as tuition assistance or student loan
repayment to:
(1) assist persons in obtaining certification to teach
bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish in a
public elementary or secondary school in this state; and
(2) facilitate the employment of those persons by a
public elementary or secondary school in this state that has a
shortage of teachers certified to teach in those fields.
(b) In administering the program, the board shall give
priority to awarding financial incentives to those eligible persons
who demonstrate the greatest financial need.
Sec. 61.99992. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
financial incentives under this subchapter, a person must:
(1) apply to the board in the form and manner
prescribed by board rule;
(2) be admitted into an educator preparation program
at an institution of higher education or at a private or independent
institution of higher education that prepares students for
certification to teach bilingual education, English as a second
language, or Spanish;
(3) enter into an agreement with the board as provided
by Section 61.99993; and
(4) satisfy any other criteria jointly prescribed by
the board and the State Board for Educator Certification.
Sec. 61.99993. AGREEMENT. To qualify for financial
incentives under this subchapter, a person must enter into a
written agreement with the board as provided by this section. The
agreement must require the person to:
(1) obtain, within the period prescribed by board
rule, certification to teach bilingual education, English as a
second language, or Spanish in a public elementary or secondary
school in this state;
(2) accept, during the first school year that begins
after the date the person becomes certified as provided by
Subdivision (1), an offer of full-time employment to teach
bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish in a
public elementary or secondary school in this state that has a
shortage of teachers certified to teach in one or more of those
fields; and
(3) teach bilingual education, English as a second
language, or Spanish at that school for at least two school years.
Sec. 61.99994. FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. The board shall award
financial incentives such as tuition assistance or student loan
repayment to each participant in the program to assist with the cost
of payment of mandatory tuition and fees for courses required to
obtain certification to teach bilingual education, English as a
second language, or Spanish.
Sec. 61.99995. REIMBURSEMENT; EXCEPTIONS. (a) A program
participant who fails to meet the requirements of Section 61.99993
shall reimburse the board for the amount of any assistance received
by the participant under this subchapter.
(b) The board by rule shall establish exceptions to the
reimbursement requirement under this section for participants who
are unable to meet the requirements of Section 61.99993 as a result
of an unusual hardship.
Sec. 61.99996. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. In addition
to money appropriated by the legislature, the board may solicit and
accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.99997. RULES. The board shall adopt rules
necessary for the administration of this subchapter, including a
rule that sets the maximum amount of financial assistance that a
person may receive under this subchapter in one year.
SECTION 4. The Texas Education Agency shall develop the
program of study for use in a school district's career and
technology education program to teach bilingual education, English
as a second language, or Spanish as required by Section 29.1831,
Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning not later than the
2024-2025 school year.
SECTION 5. Section 33.007(b), Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.
SECTION 6. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules for the administration of Subchapter SS, Chapter
61, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable
after this Act takes effect.
SECTION 7. 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, 2023.