By: Guerra, Guillen, González of El Paso, H.B. No. 2256
      et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating a bilingual special education certification to
  teach students of limited English proficiency with disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.04891 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.04891.  BILINGUAL SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION.
  (a) In this section, "limited English proficiency" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 29.052.
         (b)  To ensure that there are teachers with special training
  in providing instruction to students of limited English proficiency
  with disabilities, the board shall establish a bilingual special
  education certificate.
         (c)  To be eligible for a certificate established under this
  section, a person must:
               (1)  satisfactorily complete the coursework for that
  certificate in an educator preparation program, including a
  skills-based course of instruction on providing instruction to
  students of limited English proficiency with disabilities, which
  must include instruction on:
                     (A)  the foundations of bilingual, multicultural,
  and second language special education;
                     (B)  providing culturally responsive
  individualized education programs for students of limited English
  proficiency with disabilities;
                     (C)  providing assessment for equity and
  inclusion of students of limited English proficiency with and
  without disabilities;
                     (D)  developing teaching methods to recognize the
  intellectual, developmental, and emotional needs of students in
  dual language and transitional bilingual education settings;
                     (E)  teaching fundamental academic skills,
  including reading, writing, and mathematics, to students of limited
  English proficiency; and
                     (F)  creating dynamic and collaborative
  partnerships with families and school professionals;
               (2)  perform satisfactorily on a bilingual special
  education certificate examination prescribed by the board; and
               (3)  satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the
  board.
         SECTION 2.  The State Board for Educator Certification shall
  propose rules:
               (1)  establishing requirements and prescribing an
  examination for a bilingual special education certificate as
  required by Section 21.04891, Education Code, as added by this Act;
  and
               (2)  establishing standards to govern the approval and
  renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for bilingual
  special education certification.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.