H.B. No. 2256
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating a bilingual special education certification to
  teach students of limited English proficiency with disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.04891 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.04891.  BILINGUAL SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION.
  (a) In this section, "limited English proficiency" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 29.052.
         (b)  To ensure that there are teachers with special training
  in providing instruction to students of limited English proficiency
  with disabilities, the board shall establish a bilingual special
  education certificate.
         (c)  To be eligible for a certificate established under this
  section, a person must:
               (1)  satisfactorily complete the coursework for that
  certificate in an educator preparation program, including a
  skills-based course of instruction on providing instruction to
  students of limited English proficiency with disabilities, which
  must include instruction on:
                     (A)  the foundations of bilingual, multicultural,
  and second language special education;
                     (B)  providing individualized education programs
  for students of limited English proficiency with disabilities;
                     (C)  providing assessment of students of limited
  English proficiency with and without disabilities;
                     (D)  developing teaching methods to recognize the
  intellectual, developmental, and emotional needs of students in
  dual language and transitional bilingual education settings;
                     (E)  teaching fundamental academic skills,
  including reading, writing, and mathematics, to students of limited
  English proficiency; and
                     (F)  creating partnerships with families and
  school professionals;
               (2)  perform satisfactorily on a bilingual special
  education certificate examination prescribed by the board; and
               (3)  satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the
  board.
         SECTION 2.  The State Board for Educator Certification shall
  propose rules:
               (1)  establishing requirements and prescribing an
  examination for a bilingual special education certificate as
  required by Section 21.04891, Education Code, as added by this Act;
  and
               (2)  establishing standards to govern the approval and
  renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for bilingual
  special education certification.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2256 was passed by the House on May 6,
  2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 113, Nays 30, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 2256 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 113, Nays 32,
  1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2256 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor