By: Hinojosa of Nueces, et al. S.B. No. 2185
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the bilingual education allotment under the public
school finance system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.054, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) Notwithstanding Section 29.066(c), the agency may
require, for purposes of implementing Section 48.105, a school
district that is granted an exception under this section to:
(1) include in the district's Public Education
Information Management System (PEIMS) report additional
information specified by the agency and relating to the alternative
language education methods used by the district; and
(2) classify the alternative language education
methods used by the district under the Public Education Information
Management System (PEIMS) report as specified by the agency.
SECTION 2. Section 48.105, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) and amending Subsection (b) to
read as follows:
(a-1) The agency shall review school districts that offer
alternative language education methods approved by the agency under
Section 29.054(d) and approve districts to receive the allotment
under Subsection (a-2) for that biennium in a manner that provides
not more than $10 million total under the allotment to school
districts in each biennium. In approving school districts to
receive the allotment under this subsection, the agency shall, to
the extent possible, approve eligible school districts from a
cross-section of this state.
(a-2) For each student in average daily attendance in an
alternative language education method approved by the agency under
Section 29.054(d), and offered by a school district approved to
receive the allotment under Subsection (a-1), the district is
entitled to an annual allotment equal to the basic allotment
multiplied by:
(1) 0.15 for an emergent bilingual student, as defined
by Section 29.052, if the student is in an alternative language
education method using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way
program model; and
(2) 0.05 for a student not described by Subdivision
(1), if the student is in an alternative language education method
using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program model.
(b) At least 55 percent of the funds allocated under this
section must be used in providing bilingual education or special
language programs under Subchapter B, Chapter 29. A district's
bilingual education or special language allocation may be used only
for program and student evaluation, instructional materials and
equipment, staff development, supplemental staff expenses, teacher
salaries [salary supplements for teachers], incremental costs
associated with providing smaller class sizes, and other supplies
required for quality instruction.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.