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.