SRC-MKV S.B. 467 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 467 By: Zaffirini Education 7/5/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE This legislation addresses the importance of "bi-literacy" in a rapidly growing international society by creating dual language immersion programs with the goal of children starting kindergarten to be literate in two languages by the end of the third grade and to maintain the second language in grades 4-12. S.B. 467 allows school districts to offer dual language immersion programs designed to produce students with a demonstrated proficiency in both English and one other language, of the required curriculum. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTION 2 (Section 28.0051, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 28.005, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: (a) Makes a conforming change. (c) Authorizes a school district to adopt a dual language immersion program for students enrolled in elementary school grades as provided by Section 28.0051. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 28A, Education Code, by adding Section 28.0051, as follows: Sec. 28.0051. DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM. (a) Provides that a dual language immersion program should be designed to produce students with a demonstrated mastery, in both English and one other language, of the required curriculum under Section 28.002(a). (b) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) by rule to adopt minimum requirements for a dual language immersion program implemented by a school district, standards for evaluating the success of the dual language immersion program and the performance of schools that implement a dual language immersion program, and standards recognizing schools that offer an exceptional dual language immersion program and students who successfully complete a dual language immersion program. (c) Authorizes a school district to implement a dual language immersion program in a manner and at elementary grade levels consistent with rules adopted by the commissioner under this section. SECTION 3. Amends Section 28.002, Education Code, by adding Subsection (l) to provide that Section 2001.039, Government Code, as added by Chapter 1499, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, does not apply to a rule adopted by the State Board of Education under Subsection (c) or (d). SECTION 4. Requires rules adopted by the commissioner under Section 28.0051, Education Code, as added by this Act, to first address the implementation of dual language immersion programs un prekindergarten through second grade classes before addressing dual language immersion programs in grade levels three and above. SECTION 5. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year. SECTION 6. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.