BILL ANALYSIS

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Many special education teachers have students identified in need of bilingual education services in their classrooms, thus requiring the teacher to have the bilingual education certification in addition to their SPED certification. Section 29.054(c), Education Code, states that a teacher may receive a waiver. However, the exception is granted once and is valid for only one year, leaving the teacher little time to earn the bilingual education certification while continuing their classroom teaching obligation during the day.

S.B. 2518 seeks to provide teachers more time to earn a bilingual education certification if they have bilingual students. With special education identified as a top shortage area by the Texas Education Agency, this bill provides relief to school districts and their personnel who have bilingual education students in their classrooms.

S.B. 2518 amends current law to give teachers a waiver of up to three years.

As proposed, S.B. 2518 amends current law relating to an application for an exception to the bilingual education program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 29.054(c), Education Code, as follows:

(c) Provides that an exception is required to be granted under Section 29.054 (Exception) on an individual district basis and is valid for three years, rather than only one year. Requires that application for an exception for a second or succeeding period, rather than succeeding year, be accompanied by the documentation prescribed by Subsection (b) (relating to authorizing an application for an exception be filed when a district is unable to hire a sufficient number of teachers with teaching certificates appropriate for bilingual education instruction to staff the required program). Authorizes an application for an exception for a second or succeeding period to be for the same teacher or a different teacher as in a preceding period.

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2023�2024 school year.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.