By:  Truan                                             S.B. No. 824
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to dual literacy programs in public schools.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 28.005, Education Code, is amended by
 1-5     amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
 1-6     follows:
 1-7           (a)  Except as provided by this section, English shall be the
 1-8     basic language of instruction in public schools.
 1-9           (c)  A school district may adopt a dual literacy program for
1-10     students as provided by Section 28.0051.
1-11           SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
1-12     amended by adding Section 28.0051 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 28.0051.  DUAL LITERACY PROGRAM.  (a)  A dual literacy
1-14     program of instruction should be designed to produce students with
1-15     a demonstrated mastery, in both English and Spanish, of the
1-16     required curriculum under Section 28.002(a).
1-17           (b)  The commissioner by rule shall adopt:
1-18                 (1)  minimum requirements for a dual literacy program
1-19     implemented by a school district;
1-20                 (2)  standards for evaluating:
1-21                       (A)  the success of a dual literacy program; and
1-22                       (B)  the performance of schools that implement a
1-23     dual literacy program; and
1-24                 (3)  standards for recognizing:
1-25                       (A)  schools that offer an exceptional dual
 2-1     literacy program; and
 2-2                       (B)  students who successfully complete a dual
 2-3     literacy program.
 2-4           (c)  A school district may implement a dual literacy program
 2-5     in a manner and at grade levels consistent with rules adopted by
 2-6     the commissioner under this section.
 2-7           SECTION 3.  The rules adopted by the commissioner of
 2-8     education under Section 28.0051, Education Code, as added by this
 2-9     Act, must first address the implementation of dual literacy
2-10     programs in prekindergarten through third grade classes before
2-11     addressing dual literacy programs in grade levels 4 through 12.
2-12           SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
2-13     school year.
2-14           SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-15     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-16     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-17     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-18     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.