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. 1-52 * * * * *