Bill would expand TEA authority to fund dual-language programs, supporters say

Senator Adam Hinojosa presented Senate Bill 21 85, which would clarify and expand the Texas Education Agency’s authority to fund bilingual education allotments for alternate dual-language programs. The sponsor described the measure as a legislative fix to ensure TEA can support districts that run dual-language immersion and other alternative language instruction models.

Invited witnesses included Eddie Conger, superintendent of International Leadership of Texas, and Laura Carrasco, deputy superintendent of academics and student services for the same network. Both testified that the bill would remove barriers that currently limit districts’ access to bilingual allotment funding when they offer alternative dual-language models. Carrasco noted she is both a product of bilingual education and a doctoral researcher on dual-language programs and said the allotment’s benefits are well-documented but that implementation and funding barriers remain.

Conger and Carrasco told the committee easing restrictions would encourage more districts to offer dual-language instruction, which they said produces academic and long-term opportunities for students and strengthens workforce and national-security capacities when citizens are bilingual. The bill drew invited testimony and was left pending for further committee consideration.