SB 2185

S.B. No. 2185
  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.  Section 29.054, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  Notwithstanding Section 29.066(c), the agency may
  require, for purposes of implementing Section 48.105, a school
  district that is granted an exception under this section to:
               (1)  include in the district's Public Education
  Information Management System (PEIMS) report additional
  information specified by the agency and relating to the alternative
  language education methods used by the district; and
               (2)  classify the alternative language education
  methods used by the district under the Public Education Information
  Management System (PEIMS) report as specified by the agency.
         SECTION 2.  Section 48.105, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) and amending Subsection (b) to
  read as follows:
         (a-1)  The agency shall review school districts that offer
  alternative language education methods approved by the agency under
  Section 29.054(d) and approve districts to receive the allotment
  under Subsection (a-2) for that biennium in a manner that provides
  not more than $10 million total under the allotment to school
  districts in each biennium.  In approving school districts to
  receive the allotment under this subsection, the agency shall, to
  the extent possible, approve eligible school districts from a
  cross-section of this state.
         (a-2)  For each student in average daily attendance in an
  alternative language education method approved by the agency under
  Section 29.054(d), and offered by a school district approved to
  receive the allotment under Subsection (a-1), the district is
  entitled to an annual allotment equal to the basic allotment
  multiplied by:
               (1)  0.15 for an emergent bilingual student, as defined
  by Section 29.052, if the student is in an alternative language
  education method using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way
  program model; and
               (2)  0.05 for a student not described by Subdivision
  (1), if the student is in an alternative language education method
  using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program model.
         (b)  At least 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 program and student evaluation, instructional materials and
  equipment, staff development, supplemental staff expenses, teacher
  salaries [salary supplements for teachers], incremental costs
  associated with providing smaller class sizes, and other supplies
  required for quality instruction.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
  ______________________________
  ______________________________
     President of the Senate
  Speaker of the House     
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2185 passed the Senate on
  April 22, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2185 passed the House on
  May 20, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 76, Nays 57, two
  present not voting.
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
  Approved:
  ______________________________ 
              Date
  ______________________________ 
            Governor