By: Raymond H.B. No. 4544
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the number of students eligible to participate in a
  special education program who may be enrolled in a foundation
  curriculum course.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 25.115 to read as follows:
         Sec. 25.115.  LIMIT ON SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IN
  CLASSROOM. (a) Not more than 10 percent of students enrolled in a
  foundation curriculum course in a regular education classroom may
  be students who are identified as eligible to participate in a
  special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29.
         (b)  If a school district exceeds the limit imposed by
  Subsection (a), upon the request of the teacher, the district must:
               (1)  assign at least one additional teacher or
  educational aide to the foundation curriculum course classroom for
  the entire instructional day. The additional teacher or
  educational aide is in addition to:
                     (A)  instructional personnel already assigned to
  the foundation curriculum course classroom; and
                     (B)  instructional personnel assigned to a
  student as required by the student's individualized education
  program; or
               (2)  provide substantive assistance to the teacher of
  the regular education classroom from district special education
  personnel in the form of:
                     (A)  Co-teaching;
                     (B)  Structured, comprehensive mentoring; or
                     (C)  Collaborative planning and preparation time,
  in addition to the planning and preparation time required by §
  21.404, Education Code; or
               (3)  provide the teacher with research-based training
  that:
                     (A)  relates to instruction of students with
  disabilities; and
                     (B)  is designed for educators who work primarily
  outside the area of special education, as soon as practicable.
         (c)  This section shall be implemented in accordance with
  applicable federal law and regulations regarding placement of
  special education students.
         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.