By: Alonzo H.B. No. 4122

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a collaborative language acquisition pilot program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.070 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.070. ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLABORATIVE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) From available funds that may be used for that purpose, the commissioner shall grant $1 million to the Texas Center for Education Policy of the University of Texas at Austin for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of an after-school language acquisition pilot program for students of limited English proficiency.

(b) The Texas Center for Education Policy shall partner with at least one independent school district and a municipal or community entity in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the pilot program.

(c) Subject to Subsection (d), the Texas Center for Education Policy may use funds allocated for this program to collaborate and contract with entities in public or private institutions of higher education to promote the expansion of the pilot program across the state.

(d) A pilot program established under this section shall:

(1) adhere, to the extent practicable, to the La Clase Mágica program model, also known as The Magic Classroom, including any fundamental, programmatic, and data collection requirements of that model;

(2) prepare students to perform satisfactorily on assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023 by implementing an after-school curriculum that develops a principled understanding of reading, science, and mathematics content;

(3) build literacy skills in English and the student's native language;

(4) promote digital literacy skills;

(5) promote financial literacy skills;

(6) promote college aspirations by:

(A) increasing knowledge about and encouraging positive attitudes toward higher education; and

(B) providing consistent peer interactions with university mentors;

(7) expand the student's ability to communicate in any educational or professional setting;

(8) communicate information under this section to the school, students, students' parents, and the community; and

(9) inform students' parents regarding school district standards and requirements and state requirements regarding assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023.

(e) The Texas Center for Education Policy must match funds provided in this section with other private, federal, state, or local funds, including:

(1) gifts, grants, or donations of funds;

(2) contributions of property that may be used in providing the program;

(3) in-kind financial support to implement the program from collaborating or contracted public entities or private institutions of higher education;

(4) in-kind financial support to implement the program from municipalities, school districts, or community entities partnering in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the program;

(5) university faculty and staff time allocated towards the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the program.

(f) Not later than January 1, 2011, the Texas Center for Education Policy shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding officers of the standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over public education a report addressing the success of the pilot program under this section. This subsection expires September 1, 2011.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

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, 2009.