HB 1581

AN ACT relating to public school bilingual education programs, dual

House Bill Guerra | Talarico | Plesa | Dutton | Garcia Hernandez, Cassandra
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Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

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Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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What This Bill Does

Enhances Texas public schools' bilingual education and dual language programs by requiring the state education agency to develop administrator training materials and implement more robust monitoring of these programs. The bill mandates schools to report detailed data about bilingual students, including demographic information, program enrollment, and gaps in specialized language instruction. It aims to improve educational outcomes for emergent bilingual students by ensuring more comprehensive tracking and support of language education programs.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

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
(1)  bilingual education programs offered under
(2)  dual language immersion programs described by
SECTION 2.  Section 29.066(a), Education Code, is amended to
(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
(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
(4)  any other information required by the agency under
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
(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.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to public school bilingual education programs, dual