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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the bilingual education and special language programs |
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offered in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.052, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows: |
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(3) "Special language program" includes an English |
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language immersion program and a program of instruction in English |
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as a second language. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.055(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A bilingual education program established by a school |
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district shall be a full-time program of dual-language instruction |
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that provides for learning basic skills in the primary language of |
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the students enrolled in the program and for carefully structured |
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and sequenced mastery of English language skills. An English |
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language immersion program established by a school district shall |
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be a program of instruction provided primarily in English. A |
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program of instruction in English as a second language established |
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by a school district shall be a program of intensive instruction in |
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English from teachers trained in recognizing and dealing with |
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language differences. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 29.053(d) and 29.054, Education Code, |
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are repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |