1-1     By:  Truan                                             S.B. No. 824
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 21, 2001; February 22, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
 1-4     May 9, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
 1-5     Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 9, 2001,
 1-6     sent to printer.)
 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 824                    By:  Truan
 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-9                                   AN ACT
1-10     relating to dual literacy programs in public schools.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1.  Section 28.005, Education Code, is amended by
1-13     amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
1-14     follows:
1-15           (a)  Except as provided by this section, English shall be the
1-16     basic language of instruction in public schools.
1-17           (c)  A school district may adopt a dual literacy program for
1-18     students as provided by Section 28.0051.
1-19           SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
1-20     amended by adding Section 28.0051 to read as follows:
1-21           Sec. 28.0051.  DUAL LITERACY PROGRAM.  (a)  A dual literacy
1-22     program of instruction should be designed to produce students with
1-23     a demonstrated mastery, in both English and Spanish, of the
1-24     required curriculum under Section 28.002(a).
1-25           (b)  The commissioner by rule shall adopt:
1-26                 (1)  minimum requirements for a dual literacy program
1-27     implemented by a school district;
1-28                 (2)  standards for evaluating:
1-29                       (A)  the success of a dual literacy program; and
1-30                       (B)  the performance of schools that implement a
1-31     dual literacy program; and
1-32                 (3)  standards for recognizing:
1-33                       (A)  schools that offer an exceptional dual
1-34     literacy program; and
1-35                       (B)  students who successfully complete a dual
1-36     literacy program.
1-37           (c)  A school district may implement a dual literacy program
1-38     in a manner and at grade levels consistent with rules adopted by
1-39     the commissioner under this section.
1-40           SECTION 3.  The rules adopted by the commissioner of
1-41     education under Section 28.0051, Education Code, as added by this
1-42     Act, must first address the implementation of dual literacy
1-43     programs in prekindergarten through third grade classes before
1-44     addressing dual literacy programs in grade levels 4 through 12.
1-45           SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
1-46     school year.
1-47           SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-48     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-49     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-50     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-51     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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