1959     State Representative Malcolm McGregor, a Democrat from El Paso, sponsored HB 51 to set up a state-financed preschool instructional program fashioned after the Little Schools of the 400 Project founded by LULAC National President Felix and teacher, Isabel Verver.

1964      An Act to enforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States to provide injunctive relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes.

1967      The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) was founded by Pete Tijerina and others in San Antonio, Texas.

1968      Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1968, which became known as the Bilingual Education Act of 1968, marked the beginning of federal efforts develop and operate bilingual education programs.

TEXAS BILINGUAL EDUCATION LEGISLATION

1969 HB 103 Carlos Truan, et al
The 61st. Texas Legislature passed the state's first bilingual education bill on May 22, 1969. Before doing so, lawmakers would have to repeal the "English Only" statute of 1918, which made it a misdemeanor for any teacher or administrator to use a language other than English in school or to prescribe textbooks not printed in the English language, except in high school foreign language classes. House Bill 103 began by acknowledging English as the primary language of instruction in school, but went on to emphasize "the fact that instruction in the earlier years which includes the use of language the child understands makes learning easier." Accordingly, the legislation allowed, but did not require, school district to provide bilingual instruction through Grade 6. TEA approval was required before a district could offer bilingual education in the secondary grades.

1971 HB 495 Truan
Relating to bilingual instruction in the public schools.
The proposed bill was held up in committee.

HB 1024 Truan
Relating to bilingual instruction in the public schools.
The bill was passed but did not become law.
The State Board of Education passed the Revision of the Statewide Plan on Bilingual Education.

1973 HB 145 Truan
Relating to bilingual education training institutes, bilingual instructional materials, and bilingual teachers salaries.
This bill was laid on the table subject to call.

HB 146 Truan
Relating to bilingual instruction in the public schools. This bill was held in subcommittee pending a hearing date.

SB 121 Brooks, et al
Amending the Education Code to provide for establishment of bilingual education program content, method of instruction, allotment of the Foundation School Fund for operational expenses and transportation.

1975 HB 998 Madla
Relating to bilingual education in the public schools. This bill was referred to the committee on public education.

SB 96 Ogg
Relating to bilingual education in the public schools. This bill was reported from committee favorably with amendments.

HB 289 Truan, et al
Relating to bilingual education. This bill was reported from committee with substitute.

SB 102 Brooks, et al Relating to bilingual education. This bill was reported from committee favorably with amendments.

SB 907 Ogg
Relating to teaching the Spanish language in certain school districts. Referred to the committee on public education.

1977 SB 307 Truan
Relating to bilingual education. This bill was held in the Calendar Committee.

HB 1767 Matt Garcia
Relating to bilingual education. This bill was held in Calendar Committee.

1979 SB 195 Truan
Relating to bilingual education. This bill passed the Senate and failed to suspend rules in the House.

1981 SB 477 Truan, et al
Relating to bilingual education and English as a second language and other special language programs in the public schools. This bill was signed by the Governor on June 12, 1981. The United States vs. State of Texas (1981/1982) was filed by MALDEF asking the court to require TEA to implement a plan to provide a program of bilingual instruction to all LEP students in Texas.

1983 SB 27 Farabee
Relating to public schools texts (bilingual). This bill was signed the Governor on April 13, 1983.

1985 HB 1126 Hammond
Relating to the funding of special education, compensatory education, bilingual education, vocational educational education, and gifted and talented education programs. This bill was referred to public education.

HB 1814 Givens
Relating to the period during which a school district may offer summer programs for children of limited English proficiency. This bill was referred to public education.

1987 HB 183 Hammond
Relating to the funding of special education, compensatory education, bilingual education, and vocational education programs. This bill was left pending in committee.

HB 704 Hammond
Relating to the method of instruction in bilingual education programs in public schools. This bill was left pending in committee.

HR 210 Patterson
Creating a special interim committee to study the effectiveness of bilingual education programs and other special education language programs. This resolution was referred to public education.

1989 HB 774 Cueller
Relating to foreign language instruction for high school students. This bill received public testimony in committee.

HB 1920 Culberson
Relating to bilingual education and special language programs in public schools. This bill was referred to public education.

SB 1699 Glasgow
Relating to bilingual education and special language programs. This bill was referred to public education.

1991 HB 2144 Martinez, Barrientos
Relating to summer bilingual education programs. This bill was engrossed on June 5, 1991.

HB 2635 Junell
Relating to the transfer of students of limited English proficiency out of bilingual education programs. This bill was referred to public education.

1993 No legislation was proposed at this session.

1995 HB 2832 Alonzo
Relating to providing grants for training programs for bilingual education teachers. This bill was left pending in committee.

1997 HB 2350 Hernández
Relating to funding instruction in languages other than English in public schools. This bill was referred to public education.

HB 3273 Howard
Relating to certain bilingual education programs in public schools. This bill was referred to public education.

SB 1034 Barrientos
Relating to funding instruction in languages other than English in public schools. This bill was left pending in committee.

1999 HB 481 Wooley
Relating to bilingual education programs in public schools. This bill was left pending in committee.

HB 1044 Talton
Relating to the total amount of time a student may need in a bilingual education or special language program. This bill was left pending in committee.

HB 1501 Tillery
Relating to providing grants for training programs for certain teachers. This bill was withdrawn from schedule.

HB 2282 García, Domingo
Relating to the funding allotment for bilingual education programs in public schools. This bill was left pending in committee.

HB 2804 García, Domingo
Relating to the use of state administered instruments for public school students of limited English proficiency. This bill was withdrawn from schedule.

SR 1173 Zaffirini
Suspending limitations on conference committees jurisdiction, H.B. 1275. This resolution was enrolled on May 29, 1999.

2001 HB 379 García, Domingo
Relating to the funding allotment for bilingual education programs in public schools. This bill was left pending in committee.

HB 2880 Sadler
Relating to programs for students of limited English proficiency. This bill was referred to public education.

HCR 271 Oliveira
Encouraging school districts to develop and implement dual language bilingual programs.

SB 467 Zafffirini, et al
Relating to dual language immersion programs in certain public schools and to the review of existing rules of the State Board of Education affecting such programs. This bill was engrossed on June 14, 2001.

S.B. 824 Truan
Relating to dual literacy programs in pubic schools. This bill was sent to Calendars as a committee report.

SCR 50 Zafirini, et al
Encouraging school districts to develop and implement dual language bilingual programs.

2003 HB 2286 Alonzo
Relating to a pilot program to encourage certification to teach bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish. Pending as a referral to Higher Education.

HB 3101 Garza
Relating to use of certain public school funds for dual language immersion programs. Pending as a referral to Public Education.

SB 1510 Zaffirini
Relating to monitoring compliance of public school bilingual education and special language programs. Reported favorably as substituted on April 10, 2003.

HOUSE BILL 103

In his first year as a House member, Truan wrote and passed HB 103 which became the Texas Bilingual Education Act of 1969. At the time, the state had an English-only law and an 80% dropout rate among Hispanics. The legislation legalized bilingual education in Texas. Truan remembers being spanked by his elementary school principal on the first day of school for speaking Spanish. "I was speaking the language that we spoke all the time," Truan said. "The bilingual law has to be traced back to my experience." His commitment to education issues was a trademark of his legislative career.
(Corpus Christi Caller, January 13, 2003)

Carlos Truan, dean of the Texas Senate

• Carlos Truan, dean of the Texas Senate
• Born: June 9, 1935, in Kingsville
• Occupation: Life insurance agent since 1960
• Education: Texas A&I University, bachelor's in business administration, 1959
• Family: Carlos and Elvira Truan were married in 1963 and have four children: Carlos Jr., Veronica, Rene and Maria.
• Legislative experience: House member, 1969-1976; Senate member, 1977-present
• Hometown: Corpus Christi
• Party: Democrat

The 61st. Texas Legislature passed the state's first bilingual education bill on May 22, 1969. Before doing so, lawmakers would have to repeal the "English Only"statute of 1918, which made it a misdemeanor for any teacher or administrator to use a language other than English in school or to prescribe textbooks not printed in the English language, except in high school foreign language classes. House Bill 103 began by acknowledging English as the primary language of instruction in school, but went on to emphasize "the fact that instruction in the earlier years which includes the use of language the child understands makes learning easier." Accordingly, the legislation allowed, but did not require, a school district to provide bilingual instruction through Grade 6. TEA approval was required before a district could offer bilingual education in the secondary grades.

The State Board of Education Revised Statewide
Design for Bilingual Education

Each bilingual program was required to:

1. introduce the school environment using the child's first language
2. develop the child's language skills in both the first language and English
3. teach subject matter and concepts using both languages
4. help the child develop a positive self-image through an appreciation of his or her cultural heritage

The Texas Education Agency published a resource manual to help school districts implement bilingual education programs. The guide described the importance of incorporating the student's native language in the educational process, asserting that "bilingual education is not merely using the first language of a child as a bridge to English and then eliminating the first language as proficiency in English is attained. It was the total development of the child bilingually so that he can function within his own capabilities in two languages."

LINKS

1959 Little Schools of the 400 http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/LL/kdl2.html

1964 Civil Rights Act of 1964
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/laws/majorlaw/civilr19.htm

1967 MALDEF Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
http://www.maldef.org/

1968 Bilingual Education Act http://fcis.oise.utoronto.ca/~daniel_schugurensky/assignment1/1968kipp.html

HB 103 Truan

1973 SB 121

1991 HB 2144

Questions? Alma Perez asperez@mail.utexas.edu, Stacey Crawford staceycrawford@mail.utexas.edu , and Jessica Mejia jmejia@mail.utexas.edu