SRC-MWN S.B. 824 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 824
77R5811 BDH-DBy: Truan
Education
3/5/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As the population of Texas becomes increasingly bilingual, there is a
growing need for public schools to produce graduates who are bi-literate as
distinct from simply bilingual. As proposed, S.B. 824 makes dual literacy
programs available from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and provides for
the establishment of a dual literacy teacher certificate. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education
in SECTION 3 (Section 28.0051, Education Code) and the State Board of
Education through the State Board of Educator Certification in SECTION 4 of
this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 21B, Education Code, by adding Section 21.0482,
as follows: 

Sec. 21.0482. DUAL LITERACY TEACHER CERTIFICATION. Requires the State Board
of Education (board), to ensure that there are teachers with special
training to work with students in dual literacy programs of instruction
under Section 28.0051, to establish a dual literacy teacher certificate. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 28.005, Education Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (d), to require English, except as provided by
this section, to be the basic language of instruction in public schools.
Authorizes a school district to adopt a dual literacy program for students
as provided by Section 28.0051. 

SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 28(A), Education Code, by adding Section 28.0051,
as follows: 

Sec. 28.0051. DUAL LITERACY PROGRAM. Provides that a dual literacy program
of instruction should be designed to produce students with a demonstrated
mastery, in both English and Spanish, of the required curriculum under
Section 28.002(a). Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) by
rule to adopt certain provisions. Authorizes a school district to implement
a dual literacy program in a manner and at grade levels consistent with
rules adopted by the commissioner under this section. 

SECTION 4. Provides that the rules proposed by the State Board for Educator
Certification to implement Section 21.0482, Education Code, as added by
this Act, and the rules adopted by the commissioner of education under
Section 28.0051, Education Code, as added by this Act, are required to
first address the certification of dual literacy teachers and the
implementation of dual literacy programs in pre-kindergarten through third
grade classes before addressing teacher certification and dual literacy
programs in grade levels 4 through 12. 

SECTION 5. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
school year. 

 SECTION 6. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.