HBA-PDH H.B. 686 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 686
By: Oliveira
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Spanish language arts is not part of a school's required
curriculum.  H.B. 686 places Spanish language arts in the required
curriculum if the school district offers kindergarten through twelfth grade
courses.  This bill also provides that Spanish language arts instruction is
a condition of a school district's accreditation.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the State Board of Education in SECTION
2 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 28.002 (a) and (c), Education Code, to include
Spanish language arts as part of a required curriculum if a school district
offers kindergarten through twelfth grade courses. Makes a conforming
change.  Provides that the State Board of Education (board), as a condition
of accreditation, shall require a district to provide Spanish language
instruction in the essential knowledge and skills at the appropriate high
school grade levels to enable students to receive at least two years of
instruction. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the board to adopt rules relating to instruction in
the essential knowledge and skills of the Spanish language in accordance
with Section 28.002(c), as amended by this Act, by March 1, 2000.  Requires
the rules to provide that each school district, as a condition of
accreditation, must provide Spanish language instruction beginning with the
2000-2001 school year. Requires the rules to provide for a transition
period to prevent undue hardship on students who are in the junior or
senior year of high school during the 2000-2001 school year.   

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.