By Sadler                                             H.B. No. 2700
         76R8482 SRC-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the promotion of public school students based on
 1-3     satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments, to
 1-4     programs to assist children and school districts in achieving
 1-5     satisfactory performance, and to the admission and attendance of
 1-6     students.
 1-7           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-8           SECTION 1.  Section 12.104(b), Education Code, is amended to
 1-9     read as follows:
1-10           (b)  An open-enrollment charter school is subject to:
1-11                 (1)  a provision of this title establishing a criminal
1-12     offense; and
1-13                 (2)  a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as
1-14     applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this
1-15     title, relating to:
1-16                       (A)  the Public Education Information Management
1-17     System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with
1-18     this subchapter as determined by the commissioner;
1-19                       (B)  criminal history records under Subchapter C,
1-20     Chapter 22;
1-21                       (C)  reading instruments and accelerated reading
1-22     instruction programs under Section 28.006;
1-23                       (D)  satisfactory performance on assessment
1-24     instruments and to accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211;
 2-1                       (E)  high school graduation under Section 28.025;
 2-2                       (F) [(D)]  special education programs under
 2-3     Subchapter A, Chapter 29;
 2-4                       (G) [(E)]  bilingual education under Subchapter
 2-5     B, Chapter 29;
 2-6                       (H) [(F)]  prekindergarten programs under
 2-7     Subchapter E, Chapter 29;
 2-8                       (I) [(G)]  extracurricular activities under
 2-9     Section 33.081;
2-10                       (J) [(H)]  health and safety under Chapter 38;
2-11     and
2-12                       (K) [(I)]  public school accountability under
2-13     Subchapters B, C, D, and G, Chapter 39.
2-14           SECTION 2.  Section 25.085(d), Education Code, is amended to
2-15     read as follows:
2-16           (d)  Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a
2-17     student enrolled in a school district must attend:
2-18                 (1)  an extended-year program for which the student is
2-19     eligible that is provided by the district for students identified
2-20     as likely not to be promoted to the next grade level or tutorial
2-21     classes required by the district under Section 29.084;
2-22                 (2)  an accelerated reading instruction program to
2-23     which the student is assigned under Section 28.006(g); and
2-24                 (3)  an accelerated instruction program to which the
2-25     student is assigned under Section 28.0211.
2-26           SECTION 3.  Section 28.006, Education Code, is amended by
2-27     amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (g)-(m) to read as
 3-1     follows:
 3-2           (d)  The superintendent of each school district shall:
 3-3                 (1)  report to the commissioner and the board of
 3-4     trustees of the district the results of the reading instruments;
 3-5     and
 3-6                 (2)  report, in writing, to a student's parent or
 3-7     guardian the student's results on the reading instrument.
 3-8           (g)  A school district shall notify the parent or guardian of
 3-9     each student in kindergarten or first or second grade who is
3-10     determined, on the basis of reading instrument results, to be below
3-11     grade level in reading development or comprehension.  The district
3-12     shall implement an accelerated reading instruction program that
3-13     provides reading instruction to those students and shall determine
3-14     the form, content, and timing of that program.
3-15           (h)  The school district shall make a good faith effort to
3-16     ensure that the notice required under this section is provided
3-17     either in person or by regular mail and that the notice is clear
3-18     and easy to understand and is written in English and in the parent
3-19     or guardian's native language.
3-20           (i)  The commissioner shall certify, no later than July 1 of
3-21     each school year or as soon as practicable thereafter, whether
3-22     sufficient funds have been appropriated statewide for the purposes
3-23     of this section.  A determination by the commissioner is final and
3-24     may not be appealed.  For purposes of certification, the
3-25     commissioner shall not consider Foundation School Program funds.
3-26           (j)  No more than 15 percent of the funds certified by the
3-27     commissioner under Subsection (i) may be spent on indirect costs.
 4-1     The commissioner shall evaluate the programs that fail to meet the
 4-2     standard of performance under Section 39.051(b)(7) and may
 4-3     implement sanctions under Subchapter G, Chapter 39.  The
 4-4     commissioner may audit the expenditures of funds appropriated for
 4-5     purposes of this section.  The use of the funds appropriated for
 4-6     purposes of this section shall be verified as part of the district
 4-7     audit under Section 44.008.
 4-8           (k)  The provisions of this section relating to parental
 4-9     notification of a student's results on the reading instrument and
4-10     to implementation of an accelerated reading instruction program may
4-11     be implemented only if funds are appropriated during a school year
4-12     for administering the accelerated reading instruction program
4-13     specified under this section.
4-14           (l)  Each district shall provide the accelerated reading
4-15     instruction under Subsection (g) to students in:
4-16                 (1)  kindergarten during the 1999-2000 school year;
4-17                 (2)  kindergarten and first grade during the 2000-2001
4-18     school year; and
4-19                 (3)  kindergarten and first and second grades beginning
4-20     with the 2001-2002 school year.
4-21           (m)  Subsection (l) and this subsection expire January 1,
4-22     2002.
4-23           SECTION 4.  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
4-24     amended by adding Section 28.0211 to read as follows:
4-25           Sec. 28.0211.  SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE ON ASSESSMENT
4-26     INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED; ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION.  (a)  Except as
4-27     provided by Subsection (e), a student may not be promoted to:
 5-1                 (1)  the fourth grade program to which the student
 5-2     would otherwise be assigned if the student does not perform
 5-3     satisfactorily on the third grade reading assessment instrument
 5-4     under Section 39.023;
 5-5                 (2)  the sixth grade program to which the student would
 5-6     otherwise be assigned if the student does not perform
 5-7     satisfactorily on the fifth grade mathematics and reading
 5-8     assessment instruments under Section 39.023; or
 5-9                 (3)  the ninth grade program to which the student would
5-10     otherwise be assigned if the student does not perform
5-11     satisfactorily on the eighth grade mathematics, reading, and
5-12     writing assessment instruments under Section 39.023.
5-13           (b)  A school district shall provide to a student who
5-14     initially fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment
5-15     instrument specified under Subsection (a) at least two additional
5-16     opportunities to take the assessment instrument.
5-17           (c)  Each time a student fails to perform satisfactorily on
5-18     an assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a), the school
5-19     district in which the student attends school shall provide to the
5-20     student accelerated instruction in the applicable subject area,
5-21     including reading instruction for a student who fails to perform
5-22     satisfactorily on a reading assessment instrument.  After a student
5-23     fails to perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument a first
5-24     time, the school district shall screen the student for dyslexia and
5-25     related disorders in accordance with Section 38.003 if the student
5-26     has not been previously diagnosed as having dyslexia or a related
5-27     disorder.  If the student is diagnosed as having dyslexia or a
 6-1     related disorder, the student's parent or guardian shall be
 6-2     notified of the testing accommodations available for the assessment
 6-3     instrument.  After a student fails to perform satisfactorily on an
 6-4     assessment instrument a second time, a grade placement committee
 6-5     shall be established to prescribe the accelerated instruction the
 6-6     district shall provide to the student before the student is
 6-7     administered the assessment instrument the third time.  The grade
 6-8     placement committee shall be composed of the principal or the
 6-9     principal's designee, the student's parent or guardian, and the
6-10     teacher of the subject of an assessment instrument on which the
6-11     student failed to perform satisfactorily.  The district shall
6-12     notify the parent or guardian of the time and place for convening
6-13     the grade placement committee and the purpose of the committee.  An
6-14     accelerated instructional group may not have a ratio of more than
6-15     10 students for each teacher.
6-16           (d)  In addition to providing accelerated instruction to a
6-17     student under Subsection (c), the district shall notify the
6-18     student's parent or guardian of:
6-19                 (1)  the student's failure to perform satisfactorily on
6-20     the assessment instrument;
6-21                 (2)  the accelerated instructional program to which the
6-22     student is assigned; and
6-23                 (3)  the possibility that the student might be retained
6-24     at the same grade level for the next school year.
6-25           (e)  A student who, after at least three attempts, fails to
6-26     perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument specified under
6-27     Subsection (a) shall be retained at the same grade level for the
 7-1     next school year in accordance with Subsection (a).  The student's
 7-2     parent or guardian may appeal the student's retention by submitting
 7-3     a request to the grade placement committee established under
 7-4     Subsection (c).  The school district shall give the parent or
 7-5     guardian written notice of the opportunity to appeal.  The grade
 7-6     placement committee may decide in favor of a student's promotion
 7-7     only if the committee concludes, using standards adopted by the
 7-8     board of trustees, that if promoted and given accelerated
 7-9     instruction, the student is likely to perform at grade level.  A
7-10     student may not be promoted on the basis of the grade placement
7-11     committee's decision unless that decision is unanimous.  The
7-12     commissioner by rule shall establish a timeline for making the
7-13     placement determination.  This subsection does not create a
7-14     property interest in promotion.  The decision of the grade
7-15     placement committee is final and may not be appealed.
7-16           (f)  A school district shall provide to a student who, after
7-17     three attempts, has failed to perform satisfactorily on an
7-18     assessment instrument specified under Subsection (a) accelerated
7-19     instruction during the next school year as prescribed by an
7-20     educational plan developed for the student by the student's grade
7-21     placement committee established under Subsection (c).  The district
7-22     shall provide that accelerated instruction regardless of whether
7-23     the student has been promoted or retained.  The educational plan
7-24     must be designed to enable the student to perform at the
7-25     appropriate grade level by the conclusion of the school year.
7-26     During the school year, the student shall be monitored to ensure
7-27     that the student is progressing in accordance with the plan.  The
 8-1     district shall administer to the student the assessment instrument
 8-2     for the grade level in which the student is placed at the time the
 8-3     district regularly administers the assessment instruments for that
 8-4     school year.
 8-5           (g)  This section does not preclude the retention at a grade
 8-6     level, in accordance with state law or school district policy, of a
 8-7     student who performs satisfactorily on an assessment instrument
 8-8     specified under Subsection (a).
 8-9           (h)  In each instance under this section in which a school
8-10     district is specifically required to provide notice to a parent or
8-11     guardian of a student, the district shall make a good faith effort
8-12     to ensure that such notice is provided either in person or by
8-13     regular mail and that the notice is clear and easy to understand
8-14     and is written in English or the parent or guardian's native
8-15     language.
8-16           (i)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
8-17     shall provide transportation for students required to attend
8-18     accelerated programs under this chapter.
8-19           (j)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
8-20     implement this section, including rules concerning when school
8-21     districts shall administer assessment instruments required under
8-22     this section and which administration of the assessment instruments
8-23     will be used for purposes of Section 39.051.
8-24           (k)  The commissioner shall issue a report to the legislature
8-25     not later than December 1, 2000, that reviews the enrollment of
8-26     students in accelerated instruction and the quality and
8-27     availability of accelerated instruction programs, including
 9-1     accelerated instruction-related teacher professional development
 9-2     programs.
 9-3           (l)  This section may be implemented only if sufficient funds
 9-4     are appropriated during a school year for administering the
 9-5     accelerated instruction programs specified under this section.
 9-6           (m)  This section applies to the assessment instrument
 9-7     administered to students in:
 9-8                 (1)  the third grade beginning with the 2002-2003
 9-9     school year;
9-10                 (2)  the fifth grade beginning with the 2004-2005
9-11     school year; and
9-12                 (3)  the eighth grade beginning with the 2007-2008
9-13     school year.
9-14           (n)  Subsection (m) and this subsection expire January 1,
9-15     2008.
9-16           SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 39, Education Code, is
9-17     amended by adding Section 39.0231 to read as follows:
9-18           Sec. 39.0231.  REPORTING OF RESULTS OF CERTAIN ASSESSMENTS.
9-19     The agency shall ensure that each assessment instrument
9-20     administered in accordance with Section 28.0211 is scored and that
9-21     the results are returned to the appropriate school district not
9-22     later than 10 days after receipt of the test materials by the
9-23     agency or its test contractor.
9-24           SECTION 6.  Section 39.024(b), Education Code, is amended to
9-25     read as follows:
9-26           (b)  Each school district shall offer an intensive program of
9-27     instruction for students who did not perform satisfactorily on an
 10-1    assessment instrument administered under this subchapter.  The
 10-2    intensive programs for students who did not perform satisfactorily
 10-3    on an assessment instrument under Section 39.023(a) or (c) shall be
 10-4    designed to enable the students to be performing at grade level at
 10-5    the conclusion of the next regular school term and, if applicable,
 10-6    to carry out the purposes of Section 28.0211.  The intensive
 10-7    programs for students who did not perform satisfactorily on an
 10-8    assessment instrument under Section 39.023(b) shall be designed by
 10-9    each student's admission, review, and dismissal committee to enable
10-10    the student to attain a standard of annual growth on the basis of
10-11    the student's individualized education program and, if applicable,
10-12    to carry out the purposes of Section 28.0211.
10-13          SECTION 7.  Sections 39.051(b) and (d), Education Code, are
10-14    amended to read as follows:
10-15          (b)  Performance on the indicators adopted under this section
10-16    shall be compared to state-established standards.  The degree of
10-17    change from one school year to the next in performance on each
10-18    indicator adopted under this section shall also be considered.  The
10-19    indicators must be based on information that is disaggregated with
10-20    respect to race, ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status and must
10-21    include:
10-22                (1)  the results of assessment instruments required
10-23    under Sections 39.023(a) and (c), aggregated by grade level and
10-24    subject area;
10-25                (2)  dropout rates;
10-26                (3)  student attendance rates;
10-27                (4)  the percentage of graduating students who attain
 11-1    scores on the secondary exit-level assessment instruments required
 11-2    under Subchapter B that are equivalent to a passing score on the
 11-3    test instrument required under Section 51.306;
 11-4                (5)  the percentage of graduating students who meet the
 11-5    course requirements established for the recommended high school
 11-6    program by State Board of Education rule;
 11-7                (6)  the results of the Scholastic Assessment Test
 11-8    (SAT) and the American College Test;
 11-9                (7)  the number of students, aggregated by grade level,
11-10    provided accelerated instruction under Section 28.0211(c), the
11-11    results of assessments administered under that section, the number
11-12    of students promoted through the grade placement committee process
11-13    under Section 28.0211, the subject of the assessment instrument on
11-14    which each student failed to perform satisfactorily, and the
11-15    performance of those students in the school year following that
11-16    promotion on the assessment instruments required under Section
11-17    39.023;
11-18                (8)  the percentage of students taking end-of-course
11-19    assessment instruments adopted under Section 39.023(d);
11-20                (9) [(8)]  the percentage of students exempted, by
11-21    exemption category, from the assessment program generally
11-22    applicable under this subchapter; and
11-23                (10) [(9)]  any other indicator the State Board of
11-24    Education adopts.
11-25          (d)  Annually, the commissioner shall define exemplary,
11-26    recognized, and unacceptable performance for each academic
11-27    excellence indicator included under Subsections (b)(1) through (6)
 12-1    and shall project the standards for each of those levels of
 12-2    performance for succeeding years.  For the indicator under
 12-3    Subsection (b)(7), the commissioner shall define exemplary,
 12-4    recognized, and unacceptable performance based upon student
 12-5    performance for the period covering both the current and prior
 12-6    academic years.
 12-7          SECTION 8.  Section 39.052(b), Education Code, is amended to
 12-8    read as follows:
 12-9          (b)  The report card shall include the following information
12-10    where applicable:
12-11                (1)  the academic excellence indicators adopted under
12-12    Sections 39.051(b)(1) through (9) [(8)];
12-13                (2)  student/teacher ratios; and
12-14                (3)  administrative and instructional costs per
12-15    student.
12-16          SECTION 9.  Sections 39.072(b) and (c), Education Code, are
12-17    amended to read as follows:
12-18          (b)  The academic excellence indicators adopted under
12-19    Sections 39.051(b)(1) through (7) [(6)] shall be the main
12-20    consideration of the agency in the rating of the district under
12-21    this section.  Additional criteria in the rules may include
12-22    consideration of:
12-23                (1)  compliance with statutory requirements and
12-24    requirements imposed by rule of the State Board of Education under
12-25    specific statutory authority that relate to:
12-26                      (A)  reporting data through the Public Education
12-27    Information Management System (PEIMS);
 13-1                      (B)  the high school graduation requirements
 13-2    under Section 28.025; or
 13-3                      (C)  an item listed in Sections
 13-4    7.056(e)(3)(C)-(I) that applies to the district; and
 13-5                (2)  the effectiveness of the district's programs in
 13-6    special education based on the agency's most recent compliance
 13-7    review of the district and programs for special populations.
 13-8          (c)  The agency shall evaluate against state standards and
 13-9    shall report the performance of each campus in a district and each
13-10    open-enrollment charter school on the basis of the campus's
13-11    performance on the indicators adopted under Sections 39.051(b)(1)
13-12    through (7) [(6)].
13-13          SECTION 10.  Section 39.073(a), Education Code, is amended to
13-14    read as follows:
13-15          (a)  The agency shall annually review the performance of each
13-16    district and campus on the indicators adopted under Sections
13-17    39.051(b)(1) through (7) [(6)] and determine if a change in the
13-18    accreditation status of the district is warranted.
13-19          SECTION 11.  Section 39.074(e), Education Code, is amended to
13-20    read as follows:
13-21          (e)  If an annual review indicates low performance on one or
13-22    more of the indicators under Sections 39.051(b)(1) through (7)
13-23    [(6)] of one or more campuses in a district, the agency may conduct
13-24    an on-site evaluation of those campuses only.
13-25          SECTION 12.  Section 38.003(a), Education Code, is amended to
13-26    read as follows:
13-27          (a)  Students enrolling in public schools in this state shall
 14-1    be tested for dyslexia and related disorders at appropriate times
 14-2    in accordance with a program approved by the State Board of
 14-3    Education.  The commissioner shall adopt a list of recommended
 14-4    instruments that may be used to screen students for dyslexia and
 14-5    related disorders.
 14-6          SECTION 13.  Section 39.183, Education Code, is amended to
 14-7    read as follows:
 14-8          Sec. 39.183.  REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL REPORT.  The agency
 14-9    shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
14-10    the speaker of the house of representatives, each member of the
14-11    legislature, the Legislative Budget Board, and the clerks of the
14-12    standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with
14-13    primary jurisdiction over the public school system a regional and
14-14    district level report covering the preceding two school years and
14-15    containing:
14-16                (1)  a summary of school district compliance with the
14-17    student/teacher ratios and class-size limitations prescribed by
14-18    Sections 25.111 and 25.112, including the number of districts
14-19    granted an exception from Section 25.112;
14-20                (2)  a summary of the exemptions and waivers granted to
14-21    school districts under Section 7.056 or 39.112 and a review of the
14-22    effectiveness of each campus or district following deregulation;
14-23    [and]
14-24                (3)  an evaluation of the performance of the system of
14-25    regional education service centers based on the indicators adopted
14-26    under Section 8.101 and client satisfaction with services provided
14-27    under Subchapter B, Chapter 8; and
 15-1                (4)  an evaluation of accelerated instruction programs
 15-2    offered under Section 28.006, including an assessment of the
 15-3    quality of such programs and the performance of students enrolled
 15-4    in such programs.
 15-5          SECTION 14.  Sections 25.001(a) and (b), Education Code, are
 15-6    amended to read as follows:
 15-7          (a)  A person who is at least five years of age and under 21
 15-8    years of age on the first day of September of any school year is
 15-9    entitled to the benefits of the available school fund for that
15-10    year.  Any other person enrolled in a prekindergarten class under
15-11    Section 29.153 or a kindergarten class under Section 29.151 is
15-12    entitled to the benefits of the available school fund.
15-13          (b)  The board of trustees of a school district or its
15-14    designee shall admit into the public schools of the district free
15-15    of tuition a person who is entitled to the benefits of the
15-16    available school fund under Subsection (a) [over five and younger
15-17    than 21 years of age on the first day of September of the school
15-18    year in which admission is sought] if:
15-19                (1)  the person and either parent of the person reside
15-20    in the school district;
15-21                (2)  the person does not reside in the school district
15-22    but a parent of the person resides in the school district and that
15-23    parent is a joint managing conservator or the sole managing
15-24    conservator or possessory conservator of the person;
15-25                (3)  the person and the person's guardian or other
15-26    person having lawful control of the person under a court order
15-27    reside within the school district;
 16-1                (4)  the person has established a separate residence
 16-2    under Subsection (d);
 16-3                (5)  the person is homeless, as defined by 42 U.S.C.
 16-4    Section 11302, regardless of the residence of the person, of either
 16-5    parent of the person, or of the person's guardian or other person
 16-6    having lawful control of the person;
 16-7                (6)  the person is a foreign exchange student placed
 16-8    with a host family that resides in the school district by a
 16-9    nationally recognized foreign exchange program, unless the school
16-10    district has applied for and been granted a waiver by the
16-11    commissioner under Subsection (e); or
16-12                (7)  the person resides in the school district and is
16-13    18 years of age or older or the person's disabilities of minority
16-14    have been removed.
16-15          SECTION 15.  Section 25.085(b), Education Code, is amended to
16-16    read as follows:
16-17          (b)  Unless specifically exempted by Section 25.086, a child
16-18    who was [is] at least five [six] years of age on June 1 of the
16-19    preceding school year, or who was [is] younger than five [six]
16-20    years of age but [and] has previously been enrolled in
16-21    prekindergarten [first grade], and who has not yet reached the
16-22    child's 18th birthday shall attend school.
16-23          SECTION 16.  Section 29.151, Education Code, is amended to
16-24    read as follows:
16-25          Sec. 29.151.  FREE KINDERGARTEN.  The board of trustees of
16-26    each school district shall establish and maintain one or more
16-27    kindergartens for the training of children residing in the district
 17-1    who were [are] at least five years of age on June [September] 1 of
 17-2    the preceding school year or who were younger than five years of
 17-3    age but have previously been enrolled in prekindergarten.
 17-4          SECTION 17.  Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
 17-5    amended by adding Section 29.155 to read as follows:
 17-6          Sec. 29.155.  GRANTS FOR EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT OF HEAD START.
 17-7    (a)  From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commissioner
 17-8    shall make grants for use in providing an educational component to
 17-9    federal Head Start programs or similar government-funded early
17-10    childhood care and education programs.
17-11          (b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules for implementation of
17-12    this section, including rules prescribing eligibility criteria for
17-13    receipt of a grant and for expenditure of grant funds.
17-14          SECTION 18.  Chapter 46, Education Code, is amended by adding
17-15    Section 46.012 to read as follows:
17-16          Sec. 46.012.  GRANTS FOR KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS.  (a)  From
17-17    funds appropriated for the purpose, the commissioner shall make
17-18    grants to school districts for the construction of kindergarten
17-19    classrooms and for technology used in the instruction of
17-20    kindergarten students.  The legislature shall appropriate not more
17-21    than $160 million for a fiscal biennium for this purpose.
17-22          (b)  To receive a grant under this section, a school district
17-23    must apply to the commissioner and submit evidence that one or more
17-24    additional kindergarten classrooms are necessary for the district
17-25    to accommodate the compulsory attendance of kindergarten students
17-26    under Section 25.085.  The application must also include an
17-27    estimate of the cost of the construction of the additional
 18-1    classrooms, including technology appropriate for the instruction of
 18-2    kindergarten students.
 18-3          (c)  If the commissioner approves an application, the
 18-4    commissioner shall grant to the district an amount equal to 100
 18-5    percent of the estimated cost.  If the number of applications
 18-6    results in a total estimated cost of all applications that exceeds
 18-7    the amount appropriated, the commissioner shall award grants to
 18-8    districts that present evidence of the greatest financial need, as
 18-9    determined by the commissioner.
18-10          (d)  The commissioner shall adopt rules for the
18-11    implementation of this section.
18-12          SECTION 19.  The heading of Chapter 46, Education Code, is
18-13    amended to read as follows:
18-14             CHAPTER 46.  INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES [ALLOTMENT]
18-15          SECTION 20.  The commissioner of education shall recommend to
18-16    the 77th Legislature appropriate measures to accommodate students
18-17    with learning disabilities, including dyslexia and related
18-18    disorders, with respect to the requirements of Section 28.0211,
18-19    Education Code, as added by this Act.
18-20          SECTION 21.  The implementation of this Act is contingent on
18-21    the legislature appropriating money sufficient to fund professional
18-22    development for teachers required to teach the remedial programs
18-23    specified under this Act.
18-24          SECTION 22.  Sections 14-16 of this Act apply beginning with
18-25    the 1999-2000 school year.
18-26          SECTION 23.  This Act takes effect immediately, except that
18-27    Sections 1-13 and 17-21 take effect September 1, 1999.
 19-1          SECTION 24.  The importance of this legislation and the
 19-2    crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 19-3    emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 19-4    constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 19-5    days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 19-6    and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
 19-7    terms, and it is so enacted.