HBA-MPM H.B. 2776 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2776 By: Dukes Public Education 4/20/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there are no guidelines for induction-year mentor programs, nor does the law provide additional funding to mentor teachers or their districts. H.B. 2776 requires the State Board for Educator Certification (board) to propose rules establishing guidelines for induction-year mentor programs (programs) for beginning teachers. The bill further entitles a mentor teacher to a stipend, as set by the board, and entitles a district to receive state assistance in an amount equal to the stipends received by all mentor teachers in the district. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the State Board for Educator Certification in SECTION 2 (Section 21.0501, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.044, Education Code, to delete entering an induction year program from those processes for which the State Board for Educator Certification (board) is required to propose rules establishing training requirements before a person may begin the process. Makes a nonsubstantive change. SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Section 21.0501, as follows: Sec. 21.0501. INDUCTION-YEAR MENTOR PROGRAM. (a) Requires the board to propose rules establishing guidelines for induction-year mentor programs (programs) for beginning teachers. Requires the guidelines to include: _minimum qualifications for selection of mentor teachers that include certain requirements; _training for mentor teachers, including training related to the demonstration of effective strategies, observation and guidance of beginning teachers; _a requirement that a beginning teacher and the teacher's mentor meet for a minimum of 20 hours in the classroom and 50 hours outside the classroom each school year; _recommended support structures; and _a method for including information from mentor teachers about the beginning teacher's performance in the evaluation of educator preparation programs under Section 21.045 (Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs), Education Code. (b) Entitles a mentor teacher to a stipend in an amount not to exceed 10 percent of the teacher's salary as determined by the board of trustees of the school district (district). (c) Entitles a district to receive, each school year and subject to availability of appropriated funds, assistance from the state in an amount equal to the stipends received by all mentor teachers in the district. Requires the board to reduce each district's entitlement proportionately if the appropriated amount is not sufficient. SECTION 3. Makes this Act applicable beginning with the 1999-2000 school year. SECTION 4.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.