Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 411 amends the Education Code to require the State Board for Educator Certification to establish master science teacher certificates for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. The bill establishes eligibility criteria for certification as a master science teacher and requires the commissioner of education to establish a grant program to provide year-end stipends of up to $5,000 to selected certified master science teachers at high-need campuses identified by the commissioner, beginning with the 2005-2006 school year. The bill requires the commissioner to develop, in consultation with appropriate college and university faculty members, teacher training materials and resources to help school districts further develop science teachers' expertise.The bill also allows school districts to provide intensive after-school or summer programs for students not performing at grade level in science or not succeeding in science courses, and it requires that all nonexempt students be tested in science in eighth grade as well as in grades five and 10.