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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a task force to evaluate the English |
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language proficiency standards used in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.067 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.067. TASK FORCE ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY |
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STANDARDS. (a) A task force is established under this section to |
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evaluate the efficacy of the agency's English language proficiency |
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standards for students in grades 9-12. |
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(b) The task force shall be composed of the following |
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members appointed by the commissioner: |
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(1) five teachers who are certified in bilingual |
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education, with appointments reflecting the geographic diversity |
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of this state and including teachers from both rural and urban |
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school districts; |
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(2) one representative of the agency with expertise |
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related to the English language proficiency standards; |
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(3) one representative of the agency with expertise |
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related to the Texas essential knowledge and skills; |
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(4) one central office administrator from an urban |
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school district and one central office administrator from a rural |
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school district; and |
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(5) one superintendent of a school district that has a |
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proportionately high number of students of limited English |
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proficiency. |
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(c) The member of the task force appointed under Subsection |
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(b)(2) shall serve as the presiding officer of the task force. |
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(d) The commissioner shall appoint the members of the task |
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force not later than December 1, 2015. |
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(e) The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of |
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the task force on or before January 1, 2016. The task force shall |
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meet at the times and places that the presiding officer determines |
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are appropriate. The task force shall adopt rules necessary to |
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fulfill the task force's duties under this section. |
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(f) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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task force. |
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(g) The task force shall: |
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(1) examine the impact of the agency's English |
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language proficiency standards on the achievement of students of |
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limited English proficiency in grades 9-12; |
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(2) examine the impact of the Texas essential |
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knowledge and skills on the agency's English language proficiency |
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standards; |
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(3) evaluate the efficacy of the agency's English |
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language proficiency standards for grades 9-12, with a focus on |
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maintaining quality of instruction and full access to the Texas |
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essential knowledge and skills curriculum; |
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(4) identify effective methods for incorporating the |
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Texas essential knowledge and skills curriculum into the agency's |
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English language proficiency standards for students in grades 9-12; |
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(5) examine the impact of the agency's English |
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language proficiency standards on the achievement of students |
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enrolled in special education programs; and |
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(6) examine the performance of students of limited |
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English proficiency who are evaluated with the agency's English |
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language proficiency standards against the performance of students |
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who are proficient in English. |
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(h) The task force shall prepare a report that includes: |
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(1) a description of the activities of the task force; |
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(2) the findings and recommendations of the task |
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force, including any proposed policy recommendations; and |
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(3) any proposals for legislation or other matters the |
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task force considers appropriate. |
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(i) Not later than September 1, 2017, the task force shall |
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deliver the report required by Subsection (h) to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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the chair of the State Board of Education, and the Bilingual/ESL |
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Unit of the Division of Curriculum in the agency. |
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(j) The task force is abolished and this section expires |
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December 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |