S.B. No. 560

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.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 560 passed the Senate on April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 560 passed the House on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 112, Nays 31, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor