By: Barrientos S.B. No. 98
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of certain state assessment
instruments in Spanish to Spanish-speaking students of limited
English proficiency who are in special education programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.023, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (o) to read as follows:
(o) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for the
administration of the assessment instruments adopted under
Subsection (b) in Spanish to students who are of limited English
proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052, whose primary language
is Spanish, and who are not otherwise exempt from the
administration of an assessment instrument under Section
39.027(a)(3) or (4). Each student of limited English proficiency
whose primary language is Spanish and who would otherwise be
assessed using an English language assessment instrument adopted
under Subsection (b) may be assessed using an assessment instrument
in Spanish under this subsection. The language proficiency
assessment committee established under Section 29.063 shall
determine which students are administered assessment instruments
in Spanish under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, the
State Board of Education shall administer assessment instruments in
accordance with rules adopted under Section 39.023(o), Education
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.