By Alonzo H.B. No. 2832
74R5730 ESH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to providing grants for training programs for bilingual
1-3 education teachers.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 11.2093 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 11.2093. GRANTS FOR BILINGUAL EDUCATION TEACHER
1-8 TRAINING PROGRAMS. (a) From funds withheld as provided by Section
1-9 16.153(d), the Central Education Agency may award a grant for a
1-10 program to train teachers for assignment to bilingual education
1-11 programs under Subchapter L, Chapter 21. An eligible program may
1-12 be developed jointly by:
1-13 (1) one or more school districts and an institution of
1-14 higher education; or
1-15 (2) one or more school districts, an institution of
1-16 higher education, and a community college.
1-17 (b) Funds awarded under this section may be used only to
1-18 provide scholarships to students who seek a bachelor's degree and
1-19 teacher certification with a bilingual education endorsement.
1-20 (c) To receive a grant under this section, the entities
1-21 developing the program must submit an application to the
1-22 commissioner of education. The application must include the
1-23 information required by the commissioner and be submitted by the
1-24 date specified by the commissioner.
2-1 (d) The Central Education Agency shall award grants under
2-2 this section on a competitive basis. In awarding a grant, the
2-3 agency shall give preference to an application submitted by a
2-4 school district or group of school districts that has a
2-5 demonstrated shortage of bilingual education teachers. A school
2-6 district that has received a waiver or exception from the
2-7 commissioner of education in relation to the use of a teacher
2-8 holding a certificate with a bilingual education endorsement is
2-9 considered to have a demonstrated shortage.
2-10 (e) The entities developing a program that receives a grant
2-11 under this section shall select the recipients of scholarships
2-12 under the program. To be eligible for a scholarship under the
2-13 program, a person must be fluent in English and in another language
2-14 that is offered in the bilingual education program of a school
2-15 district participating in the grant program. The entities shall:
2-16 (1) give first priority to paraprofessional employees
2-17 of a school district participating in the program; and
2-18 (2) give second priority to a student transferring to
2-19 the institution of higher education from a community college
2-20 participating in the program.
2-21 (f) A student who receives a scholarship under this section
2-22 must commit to at least two years of service in the bilingual
2-23 education program of a school district participating in the program
2-24 under which the student received a scholarship.
2-25 SECTION 2. Section 16.153, Education Code, is amended by
2-26 adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
2-27 (d) The commissioner of education shall:
3-1 (1) withhold not more than 10 percent of the funds
3-2 appropriated for allotments under this section for grants to
3-3 institutions of higher education for bilingual education teacher
3-4 training programs under Section 11.2093; and
3-5 (2) reduce each district's allotments under Subsection
3-6 (a) in the same manner described for a reduction in allotments
3-7 under Section 16.254.
3-8 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
3-9 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-10 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-11 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-12 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-13 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.