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House Bill 2814 |
House Author: Eissler et al. |
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Effective: 6-15-07 |
Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte |
House Bill 2814 amends the Education Code to require the commissioner of education to establish a pilot project in selected school districts to examine dual language education programs and their effect on a student's ability to graduate from high school. The bill establishes criteria for the selection of up to 10 districts and up to 30 campuses, which must include a three-year district commitment to operate a dual language education program, but it limits a district during the first year of the program to planning activities, including the hiring and training of certified teachers, establishing parental and community support, and acquiring the necessary instructional materials. The bill also requires each participating district or campus to establish a community educational pipeline progress team, appointed by the district's board of trustees and consisting of educators, district-level administrators, and parents, to assist in developing and implementing the dual language education pilot project.
To expand language learning opportunities for all public school students and district or campus employees, including students and employees in districts or campuses not participating in the pilot project, the bill requires the commissioner to enter into a contract to license language learning software using language immersion methods and to make the software available online to public school students and employees across the state not later than January 1, 2008.