S.B. No. 654
AN ACT
1-1 relating to college board advanced placement tests and courses and
1-2 to establishing the Texas Advanced Placement Incentive Program.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Title 2, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-5 Chapter 35 to read as follows:
1-6 CHAPTER 35. ADVANCED PLACEMENT INCENTIVES
1-7 Sec. 35.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-8 (1) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
1-9 (2) "College advanced placement course" means a
1-10 board-approved high-school-level preparatory course for a college
1-11 advanced placement test which incorporates all topics specified by
1-12 the College Board on its standard syllabus for a given subject
1-13 area.
1-14 (3) "College advanced placement test" means the
1-15 advanced placement test administered by the College Board and
1-16 Educational Testing Service.
1-17 (4) "College Board" means the College Board and
1-18 Educational Testing Service.
1-19 (5) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of
1-20 education.
1-21 (6) "Program" means the Texas Advanced Placement
1-22 Incentive Program.
1-23 Sec. 35.002. CREATION OF PROGRAM AND PURPOSE. (a) The
2-1 Texas Advanced Placement Incentive Program is created to recognize
2-2 and reward those students, teachers, and schools that demonstrate
2-3 success in achieving the educational goals of the state.
2-4 (b) Awards and subsidies granted under this chapter are for
2-5 the public purpose of promoting an educated citizenry of the state.
2-6 Sec. 35.003. TYPES OF AWARDS. (a) Subject to legislative
2-7 appropriations, schools participating in this program may be
2-8 awarded the following:
2-9 (1) a one-time $3,000 equipment grant for providing a
2-10 college advanced placement course, to be paid to schools based on
2-11 need as determined by the commissioner; and
2-12 (2) $100 for each student who scores a three or better
2-13 on a college advanced placement test.
2-14 (b) Subject to legislative appropriations, teachers
2-15 participating in this program may be awarded the following:
2-16 (1) subsidized teacher training, not to exceed $450
2-17 per teacher, for college advanced placement courses;
2-18 (2) a one-time award of $250 for teaching a college
2-19 advanced placement course for the first time; and
2-20 (3) a share of the teacher bonus pool, which shall be
2-21 distributed by the teachers' school in shares proportional to the
2-22 number of courses taught.
2-23 (c) To be eligible for an award under Subsection (b) of this
2-24 section a teacher must teach a college advanced placement course.
2-25 (d) Fifty dollars may be deposited in the teacher bonus pool
3-1 for each student enrolled in the school that scores a three or
3-2 better on an advanced placement test.
3-3 (e) Students receiving a score of three or better on an
3-4 advanced placement test may receive a reimbursement, not to exceed
3-5 $65, for the advanced placement testing fee. This reimbursement
3-6 shall be reduced by the amount of any subsidies awarded either by
3-7 the College Board or under Section 35.004 of this code.
3-8 (f) The commissioner shall analyze and adjust, as needed,
3-9 the sum of and number of awards to ensure that the purpose of the
3-10 program is realized.
3-11 (g) The commissioner shall have the authority to promulgate
3-12 the rules necessary to meet the goals of this program.
3-13 Sec. 35.004. SUBSIDIES FOR COLLEGE ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEST.
3-14 (a) A student is entitled to a subsidy for a fee paid by the
3-15 student to take a college advanced placement test if the student
3-16 demonstrates financial need. The board must adopt guidelines
3-17 defining financial need consistent with the definition of financial
3-18 need adopted by the College Board.
3-19 (b) To obtain a subsidy under this section, the student
3-20 must:
3-21 (1) pay the fee for each college advanced placement
3-22 test for which the student seeks a subsidy; and
3-23 (2) submit to the board through the student's guidance
3-24 counselor a written application on a form prescribed by the
3-25 commissioner demonstrating financial need and the amount of the fee
4-1 paid by the student for each college advanced placement test.
4-2 (c) On approval by the board, the Central Education Agency
4-3 may pay all eligible applicants an equal amount, not to exceed $25
4-4 for each applicant.
4-5 Sec. 35.005. APPLICATION FOR AND USE OF SCHOOL AWARDS.
4-6 (a) A school shall give priority to academic enhancement purposes
4-7 in using the awards received under this chapter. The awards may
4-8 not be used for any purpose related to athletics.
4-9 (b) To obtain an award under this section, the school must
4-10 submit to the board a written application in a form, manner, and
4-11 time prescribed by the commissioner.
4-12 Sec. 35.006. APPLICATION FOR TEACHER AWARDS AND
4-13 REIMBURSEMENTS. To obtain an award or reimbursement for training
4-14 expenses under this section, a teacher must submit to the board a
4-15 written application in a form, manner, and time prescribed by the
4-16 commissioner.
4-17 Sec. 35.007. FUNDING. (a) The awards and subsidies granted
4-18 under this chapter may be funded by donations, grants, or
4-19 legislative appropriations. The commissioner may solicit and
4-20 receive grants and donations for the purpose of making awards under
4-21 this chapter. The donations, grants, or legislative appropriations
4-22 shall be accounted for and distributed by the Central Education
4-23 Agency.
4-24 (b) The Central Education Agency shall apply to the program
4-25 any available funds from its appropriations which may be used for
5-1 this purpose.
5-2 (c) All awards and subsidies granted under this program are
5-3 subject to the availability of funds.
5-4 (d) Any applications for funding provided under Sections
5-5 35.003 and 35.004 of this code may be filed with the commissioner
5-6 beginning July 15, 1995.
5-7 Sec. 35.008. CONFIDENTIALITY. All information regarding
5-8 individual students received by the commissioner under this chapter
5-9 from school districts and students is deemed confidential under
5-10 Chapter 424, Acts of the 63rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1973
5-11 (Article 6252-17a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
5-12 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1994.
5-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
5-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
5-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
5-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
5-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.