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.