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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to teacher certification examinations in bilingual target |
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language proficiency and to certification requirements for |
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teachers in bilingual education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.061, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b-3), (b-4), and (b-5) to read as follows: |
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(b-3) For a bilingual target language proficiency |
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certification examination prescribed under Section 21.048(a), the |
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commissioner shall adopt satisfactory levels of performance |
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differentiated for each grade level based on the level of language |
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proficiency required to teach that language in a bilingual |
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education program at that grade level. An educator preparation |
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program may not be penalized under Section 21.045 for a candidate |
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who meets the lowest satisfactory level of performance adopted |
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under this subsection on a bilingual target language proficiency |
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certification examination, regardless of the grade level for which |
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the candidate was seeking certification. |
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(b-4) Except as provided by Subsection (b-5), a teacher may |
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only be assigned to a bilingual education program, or, for a |
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bilingual education program described by Subsection (b-1), for the |
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component of the program provided in a language other than English, |
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at: |
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(1) a grade level for which the teacher has achieved on |
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the applicable bilingual target language proficiency certification |
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examination the satisfactory level of performance for that grade |
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level adopted by the commissioner under Subsection (b-3); or |
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(2) a grade level below the grade level described by |
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Subdivision (1). |
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(b-5) Notwithstanding Subsection (b-4), a teacher |
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appropriately certified in bilingual education before January 1, |
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2024, may be assigned to a bilingual education program at any grade |
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level. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2024, the commissioner |
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of education shall adopt the satisfactory levels of performance as |
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required by Section 29.061(b-3), Education Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 29.061(b-4), Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |