BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 180

By: Alonzo

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, there is a critical shortage of teachers certified to teach bilingual education in certain areas of Texas, especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is estimated that more than 2,200 additional teachers certified in bilingual education are needed to teach the estimated 49,000 students living in the Metroplex who are entitled to but not receiving bilingual education program services.

Relying on funding from successive appropriations riders approved by the legislature and other sources, the University of North Texas at Dallas for six years has operated a program to increase the number of teachers certified to teach bilingual education by offering financial incentives in the form of tuition assistance or student loan repayment to a student at an institution of higher education in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who agrees both to enroll in an educator preparation program at the University of North Texas at Dallas and to obtain certification to teach bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish; who accepts an offer of full-time employment to teach the subject in which the person is certified at a public elementary or secondary school in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and who teaches that subject at that school for at least two school years. However, the nature of the funding for the program is temporary because the mechanism of state funding expires after two years, and the other source of funding is provided through reimbursement.

H.B. 180 establishes the student financial incentive program at the University of North Texas at Dallas as a permanent program to prepare teachers in bilingual education, English as a second language, and Spanish.    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 180 amends the Education Code to require the University of North Texas at Dallas to establish and administer a program to provide financial incentives such as tuition assistance or student loan repayment to a student at an institution of higher education in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who agrees both to enroll in an educator preparation program at the University of North Texas at Dallas and to obtain, within the period prescribed by the university, certification to teach bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish; who accepts, during the first school year that begins after the date the student becomes certified, an offer of full-time employment to teach the subject in which the person is certified at a public elementary or secondary school in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and who teaches that subject at that school for at least two school years. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.