bill raising the bilingual education allotment

The text as introduced · 308 words

By: Romero
H.B. No. 5374

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. Sections 48.105(a) and (b), Education Code, are

amended to read as follows:

(a) For each student in average daily attendance in a

bilingual education or special language program under Subchapter B,

Chapter 29, a district is entitled to an annual allotment equal to

the basic allotment multiplied by:

(1) for an emergent bilingual student, as defined by

Section 29.052:

(A) 0.15 [ 0.1 ]; or

(B) 0.25 [ 0.15 ] if the student is in a bilingual

education program using a dual language immersion[ /one-way or

two-way program ] model; and

(2) for a student not described by Subdivision (1),

0.05 if the student is in a bilingual education program using a dual

language immersion[ /two-way program ] model.

(b) At least 60 [ 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 :

(1) program and student evaluation ; [ , ]

(2) supplementary instructional materials and

equipment ; [ , ]

(3) staff development and bilingual educator

training; [ , ]

(4) supplemental staff expenses , excluding base

salaries; [ , ]

(5) salary supplements for bilingual-certified

teachers , excluding base salaries; [ , ]

(6) incremental costs associated with providing

smaller class sizes , including salaries for educational aides

serving emergent bilingual students; [ , ]

(7) recruitment, preparation, and retention

incentives for bilingual educators; [ , ] and

(8) other supplies and expenses directly required for

quality instruction.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.