HB1581 - Relating to public school bilingual education programs, dual language immersion programs, and special language programs.

  89R956 TSS-D     By: Guerra, Talarico, Plesa, Dutton, H.B. No. 1581       Garcia Hernandez, et al.       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to public school bilingual education programs, dual   language immersion programs, and special language programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 21.4572 to read as follows:           Sec.   21.4572.     TRAINING FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS:   BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION. The commissioner,   in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, shall develop and make   available training materials and other training resources to   increase school administrators' understanding of and improve   student outcomes for:                 (1)     bilingual education programs offered under   Section 29.053; and                   (2)     dual language immersion programs described by   Section 28.0051.          SECTION 2.  Section 29.066(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  A school district that is required to offer bilingual   education or special language programs shall include the following   information in the district's Public Education Information   Management System (PEIMS) report:                (1)  demographic information, as determined by the   commissioner, on students enrolled in district bilingual education   or special language programs;                (2)  the number and percentage of students enrolled in   each instructional model of a bilingual education or special   language program offered by the district; [ and ]                (3)  the number and percentage of students identified   as emergent bilingual students who do not receive specialized   instruction ; and                 (4)     any other information required by the agency under   Section 29.068(b) .          SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 29, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 29.068 to read as follows:           Sec.   29.068.     AGENCY MONITORING. (a) The agency shall adopt   rules providing for robust monitoring of bilingual education and   special language programs. The rules must require the agency to:                 (1)     review bilingual education and special language   program requirements to ensure those requirements prioritize   meeting student needs and closing learning gaps for emergent   bilingual students; and                 (2)     engage directly with school districts offering   bilingual education or special language programs to improve   outcomes for emergent bilingual students, including by identifying   districts offering programs with deficiencies and providing   technical assistance to those districts.           (b)     Rules adopted under Subsection (a) may include   requiring school districts that offer bilingual education or   special language programs to provide additional information   relevant to the programs through the Public Education Information   Management System (PEIMS) under Section 29.066.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.