By:  Isett                                                        H.B. No. 3468



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an intensive English language instruction pilot 
program.        
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 29.094, to read as follows:
	Sec. 29.094.  INTENSIVE READING AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE 
INSTRUCTION PILOT PROGRAM.  (a)  In this section, "program" means 
the intensive reading and English language instruction pilot 
program.
	(b)  The commissioner by rule shall establish an intensive 
reading and English language instruction pilot program in which 
campuses provide intensive reading and English language 
instruction to participating students.
	(c)  A campus may apply to the commissioner to participate in 
the program.  The commissioner may select only campuses that have 
failed to improve student performance in reading and English 
language proficiency as determined by the commissioner.
	(d)  The commissioner shall establish a program for 
participating campuses to use in providing intensive instruction to 
participating students.  The program must include neuroscience 
based, scientifically validated methods, interventions, or 
instructional tools that have been proven to accelerate learning, 
cognitive ability, and English language proficiency.  A 
participating campus must use the program developed by the 
commissioner in providing intensive instruction to participating 
students.
	(e)  The principal of a participating campus shall select 
students to participate in the program.  A participating campus 
shall assess each selected student before the student enters and 
after the student transfers out of the program to measure the 
student's progress in reading and English language proficiency.
	(f)  To the extent permissible under federal law and 
notwithstanding any other state law, the commissioner may provide 
funding for the program using not more than $6 million of federal 
and state funding designated for purposes of Section 28.0211 and 
Subchapter B.  The commissioner may as necessary proportionately 
reduce the amount of money each school district in the state 
receives for purposes of Section 28.0211 and Subchapter B, 
including the amount each school district receives as a 
transitional program allotment under Section 42.153.
	(g)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to 
implement this section, including rules relating to the criteria a 
principal must use in selecting students to participate in the 
program.
	(h)  The commissioner shall make the program available to 
participating campuses during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school 
years.  This section expires July 1, 2007.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.