HB3460 - Relating to the bilingual education allotment under the public school finance system.

  89R14803 ANG-F     By: Dutton H.B. No. 3460       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the bilingual education allotment under the public   school finance system.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 29.054, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:           (e)     Notwithstanding Section 29.066(c), the agency may   require, for purposes of implementing Section 48.105, a school   district that is granted an exception under this section to:                 (1)     include in the district's Public Education   Information Management System (PEIMS) report additional   information specified by the agency and relating to the alternative   language education methods used by the district; and                 (2)     classify the alternative language education   methods used by the district under the Public Education Information   Management System (PEIMS) report as specified by the agency.          SECTION 2.  Section 48.105, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) and amending Subsection (b) to   read as follows:           (a-1)     The agency shall review school districts that offer   alternative language education methods approved by the agency under   Section 29.054(d) and approve districts to receive the allotment   under Subsection (a-2) for that biennium in a manner that provides   not more than $10 million total under the allotment to school   districts in each biennium.   In approving school districts to   receive the allotment under this subsection, the agency shall, to   the extent possible, approve eligible school districts from a   cross-section of this state.           (a-2)     For each student in average daily attendance in an   alternative language education method approved by the agency under   Section 29.054(d), and offered by a school district approved to   receive the allotment under Subsection (a-1), the district is   entitled to an annual allotment equal to the basic allotment   multiplied by:                 (1)     0.15 for an emergent bilingual student, as defined   by Section 29.052, if the student is in an alternative language   education method using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way   program model; and                 (2)     0.05 for a student not described by Subdivision   (1), if the student is in an alternative language education method   using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program model.          (b)  At least 55 percent of the funds allocated under this   section must be used in providing bilingual education or special   language programs under Subchapter B, Chapter 29. A district's   bilingual education or special language allocation may be used only   for program and student evaluation, instructional materials and   equipment, staff development, supplemental staff expenses, teacher   salaries [ salary supplements for teachers ], incremental costs   associated with providing smaller class sizes, and other supplies   required for quality instruction.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.