Bill Text: TX HB4004 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to a study on improving educational outcomes for public school students of limited English proficiency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-21 - Referred to Public Education [HB4004 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB4004-Introduced.html
  86R13815 MP-D
 
  By: Allen H.B. No. 4004
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study on improving educational outcomes for public
  school students of limited English proficiency.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 29.068 to read as follows:
         Sec. 29.068.  STUDY ON IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR
  STUDENTS OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. (a) In this section,
  "coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
  Board.
         (b)  The agency and the coordinating board jointly shall
  conduct a study on improving educational outcomes for students of
  limited English proficiency.
         (c)  The study must analyze:
               (1)  current practices of screening and placing
  students of limited English proficiency in a bilingual education or
  special language program under this subchapter;
               (2)  the ability of students of limited English
  proficiency to access high quality prekindergarten programs
  operated under Subchapter E-1, including how the prekindergarten
  guidelines established by the agency may be better used to support
  learning for those students;
               (3)  current practices for assessing English
  proficiency, including the effectiveness of assessing English
  proficiency:
                     (A)  under the assessment system developed by the
  commissioner under Section 39.027(e);
                     (B)  with a reading instrument included on the
  list adopted by the commissioner for use in diagnosing the reading
  development and comprehension of kindergarten students under
  Section 28.006(b);
                     (C)  with the tools used by a language proficiency
  assessment committee under Section 29.063 to monitor a student's
  progress; and
                     (D)  with a reading assessment instrument
  administered under Section 39.023(a);
               (4)  the extent to which students of limited English
  proficiency who are also eligible for a special education program
  under Subchapter A are being provided equitable and quality early
  learning experiences through early childhood special education
  services;
               (5)  any difference in educational outcomes for
  students of limited English proficiency enrolled in each
  classification of bilingual education or special language program
  under Section 29.066, including an analysis of any demographic
  differences between the students primarily enrolled in each
  classification of program;
               (6)  any barriers to or limitations on the
  implementation by school districts of higher quality programming
  for students of limited English proficiency; 
               (7)  teacher preparation programs at public
  institutions of higher education, including an analysis of:
                     (A)  the course work and professional development
  requirements associated with teaching certificates appropriate for
  bilingual education instruction or for teaching English as a second
  language issued under Section 29.061; and
                     (B)  methods for recruiting classroom teachers
  from diverse backgrounds to teach in bilingual education or special
  language programs; and
               (8)  the feasibility of improving publicly available
  data used to track the educational outcomes of students of limited
  English proficiency.
         (d)  Not later than September 1, 2020, the agency and the
  coordinating board jointly shall submit to the legislature a report
  on the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative
  or other action.
         (e)  This section expires September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2019.
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