S.B. No. 2185 amends the Education Code to enhance the bilingual education allotment within Texas public schools. The bill introduces new provisions that allow the Texas Education Agency to require school districts granted exceptions to report additional information regarding alternative language education methods in their Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) reports. Furthermore, it mandates the agency to review and approve school districts offering approved alternative language education methods, ensuring that no more than $10 million is allocated to these districts in each biennium. The bill also specifies the allotment amount for students enrolled in these programs, with different rates for emergent bilingual students and others.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that at least 55 percent of the funds allocated must be used for bilingual education or special language programs, with specific allowable expenses including teacher salaries, instructional materials, and staff development. The language regarding salary supplements for teachers has been deleted, indicating a shift towards direct salary allocations. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 29.054, Education Code 48.105 (Education Code 48, Education Code 29)