By Cuellar, Rangel, Capelo, Uresti, H.B. No. 713
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the Texas Gateway to the Future Grant Program and the
1-3 Teach for Texas Program; consolidating financial aid, grant, and
1-4 scholarship programs; and providing for the education,
1-5 certification, and recruitment of teachers.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Chapter 56, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-8 Subchapter M to read as follows:
1-9 SUBCHAPTER M. TEXAS GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE GRANT PROGRAM
1-10 Sec. 56.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-11 (1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
1-12 Education Coordinating Board.
1-13 (2) "Eligible institution" means:
1-14 (A) an institution of higher education; or
1-15 (B) a private or independent institution of
1-16 higher education.
1-17 (3) "Private or independent institution of higher
1-18 education," "public junior college," and "public technical
1-19 institute" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.
1-20 Sec. 56.302. PROGRAM NAME; PURPOSE. (a) The student
1-21 financial assistance program authorized by this subchapter is known
1-22 as the Texas Gateway to the Future Grant Program, and an individual
1-23 grant awarded under this subchapter is known as a Texas Gateway
1-24 grant.
1-25 (b) The purpose of this subchapter is to provide a grant of
2-1 money to enable eligible students to attend public and private
2-2 institutions of higher education in this state.
2-3 Sec. 56.303. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The
2-4 coordinating board shall administer the Texas Gateway to the Future
2-5 Grant Program and shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the
2-6 program or this subchapter. The coordinating board shall consult
2-7 with the student financial aid officers of eligible institutions in
2-8 developing the rules.
2-9 (b) The coordinating board shall adopt rules to provide a
2-10 Texas Gateway grant to an eligible student enrolled in an eligible
2-11 institution in the most efficient manner possible.
2-12 (c) The total amount of Texas Gateway grants awarded may not
2-13 exceed the amount available for the program from appropriations,
2-14 gifts, grants, or other funds.
2-15 (d) In determining who should receive a Texas Gateway grant,
2-16 the coordinating board and the eligible institutions shall give
2-17 highest priority to awarding grants to students who demonstrate the
2-18 greatest financial need.
2-19 Sec. 56.304. INITIAL ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. (a) To be
2-20 eligible initially for a Texas Gateway grant, a person must:
2-21 (1) be a resident of this state as determined by
2-22 coordinating board rules;
2-23 (2) meet either of the following academic
2-24 requirements:
2-25 (A) be a graduate of a public high school in
2-26 this state or a private high school in this state who graduated not
2-27 earlier than the 1998-1999 school year and who completed the
3-1 recommended or advanced high school curriculum established under
3-2 Section 28.025 or an equivalent curriculum recognized by the State
3-3 Board of Education; or
3-4 (B) have received an associate degree from an
3-5 eligible institution not earlier than the 1998-1999 academic year;
3-6 (3) meet financial need requirements as defined by the
3-7 coordinating board;
3-8 (4) be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
3-9 certificate program at an eligible institution; and
3-10 (5) if the person does not meet the academic
3-11 requirement provided by Subdivision (2)(B), enroll for at least
3-12 one-half of a full course load as a first-time entering
3-13 undergraduate student in an undergraduate degree or certificate
3-14 program.
3-15 (b) A person is not eligible to receive a Texas Gateway
3-16 grant if the person has been granted a baccalaureate degree.
3-17 (c) A person may not receive a Texas Gateway grant for more
3-18 than 150 semester credit hours or the equivalent.
3-19 (d) A person may complete the advanced high school
3-20 curriculum requirements of Subsection (a)(2)(A) by attending
3-21 courses at the student's high school or by completing courses
3-22 offered by distance learning under Section 28.002(l).
3-23 (e) The requirement in Subsection (a)(2)(A) that a person
3-24 must have completed the recommended or advanced high school
3-25 curriculum or its equivalent does not apply to a person who:
3-26 (1) attended a high school that the commissioner of
3-27 education certifies did not offer all the necessary courses to
4-1 complete all parts of the recommended or advanced curriculum or its
4-2 equivalent; and
4-3 (2) completed all courses at the high school offered
4-4 toward the completion of the recommended or advanced curriculum or
4-5 its equivalent.
4-6 (f) Not later than March 1 of each year, the commissioner of
4-7 education shall certify to the coordinating board a list of all of
4-8 the public high schools that do not offer all the courses necessary
4-9 to complete all parts of the recommended or advanced curriculum or
4-10 its equivalent as required by Subsection (e)(1).
4-11 Sec. 56.305. CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
4-12 REQUIREMENTS. (a) After initially qualifying for a Texas Gateway
4-13 grant, a person may continue to receive a Texas Gateway grant
4-14 during each semester or term in which the person is enrolled at an
4-15 eligible institution only if the person:
4-16 (1) meets financial need requirements as defined by
4-17 the coordinating board;
4-18 (2) is enrolled in an undergraduate degree or
4-19 certificate program at an eligible institution;
4-20 (3) is enrolled for at least one-half of a full course
4-21 load in the person's undergraduate degree or certificate program;
4-22 and
4-23 (4) makes satisfactory academic progress toward an
4-24 undergraduate degree or certificate.
4-25 (b) If a person fails to meet any of the requirements of
4-26 Subsection (a) after the completion of any semester or term, the
4-27 person may not receive a Texas Gateway grant under this subchapter
5-1 during the next semester or term in which the person enrolls. A
5-2 person may become eligible to receive a grant in a subsequent
5-3 semester or term if the person:
5-4 (1) completes a semester or term during which the
5-5 student is not eligible for a scholarship; and
5-6 (2) meets all the requirements of Subsection (a).
5-7 (c) A person who qualifies for and subsequently receives a
5-8 Texas Gateway grant, who receives an undergraduate certificate or
5-9 associate degree, and who enrolls, not later than the 12th month
5-10 after the month the person receives the certificate or degree, in a
5-11 program leading to a higher-level undergraduate degree continues to
5-12 be eligible for a grant to the extent other eligibility
5-13 requirements are met.
5-14 (d) For purposes of this section, a person makes
5-15 satisfactory academic progress toward an undergraduate degree or
5-16 certificate only if:
5-17 (1) in the person's first academic year the person has
5-18 met the satisfactory academic progress requirements of the
5-19 institution at which the person is enrolled; and
5-20 (2) in a subsequent academic year, the person:
5-21 (A) completed at least 80 percent of the
5-22 semester credit hours attempted in the student's most recent
5-23 academic year; and
5-24 (B) has earned an overall grade point average of
5-25 at least 2.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on coursework
5-26 previously attempted at institutions of higher education.
5-27 Sec. 56.306. GRANT USE. (a) A person receiving a Texas
6-1 Gateway grant may use the money to pay any usual and customary cost
6-2 of attendance at an institution of higher education incurred by the
6-3 student.
6-4 (b) An institution may disburse all or part of the proceeds
6-5 of a Texas Gateway grant to an eligible person only if all tuition
6-6 and required fees owed by the person to the institution have been
6-7 paid.
6-8 Sec. 56.307. GRANT AMOUNT. (a) The amount of a Texas
6-9 Gateway grant for a semester or term for a person enrolled
6-10 full-time at an eligible institution other than an institution
6-11 covered by Subsection (b), (c), or (d) is the amount determined by
6-12 the coordinating board as the average statewide amount of tuition
6-13 and required fees that a resident student enrolled full-time in a
6-14 baccalaureate degree program would be charged for that semester or
6-15 term at general academic institutions.
6-16 (b) The amount of a Texas Gateway grant for a student
6-17 enrolled full-time at a private or independent institution of
6-18 higher education is the amount determined by the coordinating board
6-19 as the average statewide amount of tuition and required fees that a
6-20 resident student enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree
6-21 program would be charged for that semester or term at general
6-22 academic institutions.
6-23 (c) The amount of a Texas Gateway grant for a student
6-24 enrolled full-time at a public technical institute is the amount
6-25 determined by the coordinating board as the average statewide
6-26 amount of tuition and required fees that a resident student
6-27 enrolled full-time in an associate degree or certificate program
7-1 would be charged for that semester or term at public technical
7-2 institutes.
7-3 (d) The amount of a Texas Gateway grant for a student
7-4 enrolled full-time at a public junior college is the amount
7-5 determined by the coordinating board as the average statewide
7-6 amount of tuition and required fees that a student who is a
7-7 resident of the junior college district and is enrolled full-time
7-8 in an associate degree or certificate program would be charged for
7-9 that semester or term at public junior colleges.
7-10 (e) The amount of a Texas Gateway grant for a student
7-11 enrolled part-time at an eligible institution is equal to the pro
7-12 rata share of the average statewide amount of tuition and required
7-13 fees, as determined by the coordinating board under this section,
7-14 that is applicable to the type of institution in which the person
7-15 is enrolled.
7-16 (f) The amount of a Texas Gateway grant may not be reduced
7-17 by any gift aid for which the person is eligible, unless the total
7-18 amount of a person's grant plus any gift aid received exceeds the
7-19 total cost of attendance at an eligible institution.
7-20 (g) Not later than January 1 of each year, the coordinating
7-21 board shall publish the amounts of each Texas Gateway grant for
7-22 each type of institution established by the board for the next
7-23 academic year.
7-24 Sec. 56.308. NOTIFICATION OF PROGRAM; RESPONSIBILITIES OF
7-25 SCHOOL DISTRICTS. (a) The coordinating board shall distribute to
7-26 each eligible institution and to each school district a copy of the
7-27 rules adopted under this subchapter.
8-1 (b) Each school district shall:
8-2 (1) notify its middle school students, junior high
8-3 school students, and high school students and those students'
8-4 parents of the grant program and the eligibility requirements of
8-5 the program in a manner that assists the district in implementing a
8-6 strategy adopted by the district under Section 11.252(a)(4); and
8-7 (2) ensure that each student's official transcript or
8-8 diploma indicates whether the student has completed or will
8-9 complete:
8-10 (A) the recommended or advanced high school
8-11 curriculum established under Section 28.025; or
8-12 (B) for a school district covered by Section
8-13 56.304(e)(1), the required portion of the recommended or advanced
8-14 high school curriculum in the manner described in Section
8-15 56.304(e)(2).
8-16 (c) A student's transcript must indicate information
8-17 described by Subsection (b)(2) not later than the end of the
8-18 student's junior year.
8-19 Sec. 56.309. FUNDING. The coordinating board may solicit
8-20 and accept gifts and grants from any public or private source for
8-21 the purposes of this subchapter.
8-22 SECTION 2. Section 54.5021(c), Education Code, is amended to
8-23 read as follows:
8-24 (c) Not later than August 31 of each fiscal year, each
8-25 institution of higher education that has an unobligated and
8-26 unexpended balance in its student deposit fund that exceeds 150
8-27 percent of the total deposits to that fund during that year shall
9-1 remit to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board the amount
9-2 of that excess. The coordinating board shall allocate on an
9-3 equitable basis amounts received under this subsection to
9-4 institutions of higher education that do not have an excess
9-5 described by this subsection for deposit in their student deposit
9-6 fund. The amount allocated under this subsection may be used only
9-7 for making grants under Subchapter M, Chapter 56 [scholarship
9-8 awards to needy and deserving students under this section].
9-9 SECTION 3. Section 56.039, Education Code, is amended to
9-10 read as follows:
9-11 Sec. 56.039. FULL USE OF FUNDS. At the end of a fiscal
9-12 year, if the total amount of unencumbered funds that have been set
9-13 aside under this subchapter by an institution of higher education,
9-14 together with the total amount of unencumbered funds transferred by
9-15 that institution to the Coordinating Board, Texas College and
9-16 University System, exceeds 150 percent of the amount of funds set
9-17 aside by that institution in that fiscal year, the institution
9-18 shall transfer the excess amount to the coordinating board. The
9-19 coordinating board shall use funds transferred under this section
9-20 to award grants under Subchapter M [scholarships as provided by law
9-21 to students at institutions other than the institution that
9-22 transferred the funds].
9-23 SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
9-24 amended by adding Section 61.0776 to read as follows:
9-25 Sec. 61.0776. CENTER FOR FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION. (a)
9-26 The board and the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, in
9-27 cooperation with public or private or independent institutions of
10-1 higher education, public school counselors, representatives of
10-2 student financial aid offices of any institutions, and regional
10-3 education service centers, shall develop a center for financial aid
10-4 information. The center shall disseminate information about
10-5 financial aid opportunities and procedures, including information
10-6 about different types of financial aid available, eligibility
10-7 requirements, and procedures for applying for financial aid.
10-8 (b) To assist the board and the Texas Guaranteed Student
10-9 Loan Corporation in developing information provided by the center,
10-10 the agencies shall jointly create and appoint an advisory committee
10-11 that consists of experts in financial aid administration, public
10-12 school counselors, and other persons who can provide insight into
10-13 the informational needs of students.
10-14 (c) The agencies may designate an institution of higher
10-15 education or other entity with appropriate facilities and
10-16 resources to operate or house the center.
10-17 (d) The center shall maintain a toll-free telephone line
10-18 that is staffed by persons knowledgeable about financial aid
10-19 information in this state.
10-20 (e) The center shall, based on the advisory committee's
10-21 recommendations, publish information concerning financial aid
10-22 opportunities in this state and shall:
10-23 (1) furnish a written copy of the information to each
10-24 middle school, junior high school, and high school counselor in
10-25 this state; and
10-26 (2) post the information on an Internet website
10-27 accessible to the public.
11-1 SECTION 5. Section 11.252(a), Education Code, is amended to
11-2 read as follows:
11-3 (a) Each school district shall have a district improvement
11-4 plan that is developed, evaluated, and revised annually, in
11-5 accordance with district policy, by the superintendent with the
11-6 assistance of the district-level committee established under
11-7 Section 11.251. The purpose of the district improvement plan is to
11-8 guide district and campus staff in the improvement of student
11-9 performance for all student groups in order to attain state
11-10 standards in respect to the academic excellence indicators adopted
11-11 under Section 39.051. The district improvement plan must include
11-12 provisions for:
11-13 (1) a comprehensive needs assessment addressing
11-14 district student performance on the academic excellence indicators,
11-15 and other appropriate measures of performance, that are
11-16 disaggregated by all student groups served by the district,
11-17 including categories of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, and
11-18 populations served by special programs;
11-19 (2) measurable district performance objectives for all
11-20 appropriate academic excellence indicators for all student
11-21 populations, appropriate objectives for special needs populations,
11-22 and other measures of student performance that may be identified
11-23 through the comprehensive needs assessment;
11-24 (3) strategies for improvement of student performance
11-25 that include:
11-26 (A) instructional methods for addressing the
11-27 needs of student groups not achieving their full potential;
12-1 (B) methods for addressing the needs of students
12-2 for special programs, such as suicide prevention, conflict
12-3 resolution, violence prevention, or dyslexia treatment programs;
12-4 (C) dropout reduction;
12-5 (D) integration of technology in instructional
12-6 and administrative programs;
12-7 (E) discipline management;
12-8 (F) staff development for professional staff of
12-9 the district;
12-10 (G) career education to assist students in
12-11 developing the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for a
12-12 broad range of career opportunities; and
12-13 (H) accelerated education;
12-14 (4) strategies for providing to middle school, junior
12-15 high school, and high school students information about:
12-16 (A) higher education, including admissions and
12-17 financial aid opportunities;
12-18 (B) the Texas Gateway to the Future Grant
12-19 Program; and
12-20 (C) the need for students to make informed
12-21 curriculum choices to be prepared for success beyond high school;
12-22 (5) resources needed to implement identified
12-23 strategies;
12-24 (6) [(5)] staff responsible for ensuring the
12-25 accomplishment of each strategy;
12-26 (7) [(6)] timelines for ongoing monitoring of the
12-27 implementation of each improvement strategy; and
13-1 (8) [(7)] formative evaluation criteria for
13-2 determining periodically whether strategies are resulting in
13-3 intended improvement of student performance.
13-4 SECTION 6. Section 21.451(a), Education Code, is amended to
13-5 read as follows:
13-6 (a) The staff development provided by a school district must
13-7 be conducted in accordance with minimum standards developed by the
13-8 commissioner for program planning, preparation, and improvement.
13-9 The minimum standards must include guidelines for the cooperation
13-10 of principals, counselors, and teachers to provide middle school
13-11 students, junior high school students, high school students, and
13-12 those students' parents with information about higher education.
13-13 The staff development:
13-14 (1) must include technology training and training in
13-15 conflict resolution and discipline strategies; [and]
13-16 (2) may include instruction as to what is permissible
13-17 under law, including opinions of the United States Supreme Court,
13-18 in regard to prayers in public school; and
13-19 (3) must include information on:
13-20 (A) incorporating information about higher
13-21 education admissions and financial aid, including the Texas Gateway
13-22 to the Future Grant Program into the curriculum;
13-23 (B) the importance of students making informed
13-24 curriculum choices to be prepared for success beyond high school;
13-25 and
13-26 (C) sources of information on higher education
13-27 admissions and financial aid.
14-1 SECTION 7. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
14-2 adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
14-3 (l) A school district may offer courses required for
14-4 completion of the recommended or advanced curriculum by distance
14-5 learning methods. A school district may not offer more than 10
14-6 percent of the courses of the recommended or advanced curriculum
14-7 for a school by distance learning methods.
14-8 SECTION 8. Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding
14-9 Subchapter K to read as follows:
14-10 SUBCHAPTER K. TEACH FOR TEXAS PROGRAM
14-11 Sec. 21.501. PURPOSES. The purposes of the Teach for Texas
14-12 Program are to:
14-13 (1) attract to the teaching profession persons who
14-14 have expressed interest in teaching and to support the
14-15 certification of those persons;
14-16 (2) recognize the importance of the certification
14-17 process governed by the board under Subchapter B, which requires
14-18 verification of competence in subject area and professional
14-19 knowledge and skills;
14-20 (3) encourage the creation and expansion of educator
14-21 preparation programs that recognize the knowledge and skills gained
14-22 through previous educational and work-related experiences and that
14-23 are delivered in a manner that recognizes individual circumstances,
14-24 including the need to remain employed full-time while enrolled in
14-25 the Teach for Texas Program;
14-26 (4) require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
14-27 Board to develop guidelines for coursework that integrates subject
15-1 area knowledge with teaching strategies and instructional
15-2 techniques; and
15-3 (5) provide annual stipends to postbaccalaureate
15-4 teacher certification candidates.
15-5 Sec. 21.502. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
15-6 (1) "Board" means the State Board for Educator
15-7 Certification.
15-8 (2) "Program" means the Teach for Texas Program.
15-9 Sec. 21.503. DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE OF PROGRAM;
15-10 CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. (a) The board shall propose rules for
15-11 establishing the Teach for Texas Program.
15-12 (b) The program consists of:
15-13 (1) a professional tier to attract to the teaching
15-14 profession persons employed in other professions who have expressed
15-15 interest in teaching and whose skills are easily transferrable to
15-16 the classroom; and
15-17 (2) a student tier to attract to the teaching
15-18 profession students who are entering the sophomore or junior years
15-19 at a public or private junior college or public or private senior
15-20 college or university and who have expressed interest in teaching.
15-21 (c) The board shall propose alternative certification
15-22 requirements under Section 21.049:
15-23 (1) for persons in the professional tier of the
15-24 program that:
15-25 (A) take into account the value of a person's
15-26 current skills;
15-27 (B) limit the necessity of a person leaving
16-1 current employment to pursue certification under the program;
16-2 (C) maximize the use of integrated coursework
16-3 under Section 61.0514; and
16-4 (D) do not compromise the integrity of educator
16-5 certification in this state; and
16-6 (2) for persons in the student tier of the program
16-7 that:
16-8 (A) maximize the use of integrated coursework
16-9 under Section 61.0514; and
16-10 (B) do not compromise the integrity of educator
16-11 certification in this state.
16-12 Sec. 21.504. FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. (a) The program must
16-13 offer to participants financial incentives, including tuition
16-14 assistance and loan forgiveness. In offering a financial
16-15 incentive, the board shall:
16-16 (1) require a contract between each participant who
16-17 accepts a financial incentive and the board under which the
16-18 participant is obligated to teach in a public school in this state
16-19 for a stated period after certification;
16-20 (2) provide financial incentives in proportion to the
16-21 length of the period the person is obligated by contract to teach
16-22 after certification; and
16-23 (3) give special financial incentives to a participant
16-24 who agrees in the contract to teach in an underserved area.
16-25 (b) Financial incentives are payable from funds appropriated
16-26 for that purpose and from gifts, grants, and donations solicited by
16-27 the board for that purpose.
17-1 (c) The board shall propose rules establishing criteria for
17-2 awarding financial incentives under this section, including
17-3 criteria for awarding financial incentives if there are more
17-4 participants than funds available to provide the financial
17-5 incentives.
17-6 Sec. 21.505. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CAMPAIGN. The board,
17-7 working jointly with other state agencies involved in public
17-8 education matters and with school districts, shall conduct a
17-9 coordinated campaign to educate professionals and students about
17-10 the program. The campaign must emphasize:
17-11 (1) the importance of teaching as a profession;
17-12 (2) the short-term commitment to the program required
17-13 of participants; and
17-14 (3) the value of the experience offered by the
17-15 program.
17-16 SECTION 9. Section 21.004, Education Code, is amended to
17-17 read as follows:
17-18 Sec. 21.004. TEACHER RECRUITMENT PROGRAM. (a) The agency,
17-19 the State Board for Educator Certification, and the Texas Higher
17-20 Education Coordinating Board shall develop and implement programs
17-21 [a program] to identify talented students and recruit those
17-22 students and persons, including high school and undergraduate
17-23 students, mid-career and retired professionals, honorably
17-24 discharged and retired military personnel, and members of
17-25 underrepresented gender and ethnic groups, [those students for
17-26 entry] into the teaching profession.
17-27 (b) From funds appropriated for programs developed and
18-1 implemented under Subsection (a), the agency, the State Board for
18-2 Educator Certification, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
18-3 Board shall develop and widely distribute materials that emphasize
18-4 the importance of the teaching profession and inform individuals
18-5 about state-funded loan forgiveness and tuition assistance programs
18-6 [The recruitment program must include a technology program suitable
18-7 for presentation on campuses at high schools and institutions of
18-8 higher education in this state].
18-9 (c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
18-10 encourage public or private institutions of higher education to
18-11 incorporate a one semester credit hour course into the existing
18-12 core curriculum adopted under Section 61.822 for the purpose of
18-13 recruiting undergraduate students into the teaching profession. A
18-14 course under this subsection is not considered in determining the
18-15 number of semester credit hours of education courses required for
18-16 purposes of Section 21.050(b) [cooperate with and assist the agency
18-17 in the development and implementation of the recruitment program].
18-18 (d) The commissioner, in cooperation with the commissioner
18-19 of higher education and the executive director of the State Board
18-20 for Educator Certification, shall annually [may coordinate and
18-21 administer a comprehensive program to] identify the need for
18-22 teachers in specific subject areas and geographic regions and among
18-23 [to encourage members of] underrepresented groups [to enter the
18-24 teaching profession. In coordinating the program, the commissioner
18-25 shall consider the efforts of existing programs for recruiting
18-26 minorities into the teaching profession]. The commissioner shall
18-27 give priority to developing and implementing recruitment programs
19-1 to address those needs [this program] from the agency's
19-2 discretionary funds.
19-3 (e) [The commissioner may implement a plan to identify
19-4 talented secondary school students and to attract them to the
19-5 teaching profession. In cooperation with the commissioner, the
19-6 principal of each high school shall appoint a volunteer teacher as
19-7 the teacher recruiting officer for the school to assist in
19-8 providing information about the merits of the teaching profession
19-9 and in identifying and encouraging talented students to become
19-10 teachers. The commissioner may sponsor a meeting in each regional
19-11 education service center region of the teacher recruiting officers
19-12 from each high school in that area to provide the officers the
19-13 opportunity to share information and materials about the teacher
19-14 recruitment program.]
19-15 [(f)] The agency, the State Board for Educator
19-16 Certification, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
19-17 [commissioner] shall encourage the business community to cooperate
19-18 with local schools to develop recruiting programs designed to
19-19 attract and retain capable teachers, including programs to
19-20 provide[. The commissioner shall encourage the business community
19-21 to provide] summer employment opportunities for teachers.
19-22 (f) [(g)] The agency, the State Board for Educator
19-23 Certification, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
19-24 [commissioner] shall encourage major education associations to
19-25 cooperate in developing a long-range program promoting teaching as
19-26 a career and to assist in identifying local activities and
19-27 resources that may be used to promote the teaching profession.
20-1 (g) [(h)] Funds received for [the] teacher recruitment
20-2 programs [program] may be used only to publicize and implement the
20-3 programs [program].
20-4 SECTION 10. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended to
20-5 read as follows:
20-6 Sec. 21.044. EDUCATOR PREPARATION. The board shall propose
20-7 rules establishing the training requirements a person must
20-8 accomplish to obtain a certificate[, enter an internship, or enter
20-9 an induction-year program]. The board shall specify the minimum
20-10 academic qualifications required for a certificate.
20-11 SECTION 11. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
20-12 amended by adding Sections 21.0441 and 21.0442 to read as follows:
20-13 Sec. 21.0441. INDUCTION FOR BEGINNING EDUCATORS. The board
20-14 shall propose rules establishing guidelines for the induction of
20-15 beginning educators into the teaching profession. The guidelines
20-16 must:
20-17 (1) provide for training for effective mentors,
20-18 including modeling effective strategies and observing the practices
20-19 of beginning educators and providing suggestions for improvement;
20-20 (2) recommend support structures; and
20-21 (3) provide for assessing the performance of beginning
20-22 educators as required by Section 21.045(a).
20-23 Sec. 21.0442. COOPERATION WITH TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION
20-24 COORDINATING BOARD. The board shall cooperate with and advise the
20-25 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in adoption by the
20-26 coordinating board of rules for educator preparation coursework
20-27 guidelines under Section 61.0514.
21-1 SECTION 12. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
21-2 amended by adding Section 61.0514 to read as follows:
21-3 Sec. 61.0514. INTEGRATED COURSEWORK. The board by rule,
21-4 with the cooperation and advice of the State Board for Educator
21-5 Certification, shall adopt educator preparation coursework
21-6 guidelines that promote, to the greatest extent practicable, the
21-7 integration of subject matter knowledge with classroom teaching
21-8 strategies and techniques in order to maximize the effectiveness
21-9 and efficiency of coursework required for certification under
21-10 Subchapter B, Chapter 21.
21-11 SECTION 13. Subchapter M, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
21-12 amended to read as follows:
21-13 SUBCHAPTER M. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN
21-14 TEACHER AND FACULTY EDUCATION LOANS
21-15 Sec. 61.701. REPAYMENT AUTHORIZED. The [coordinating] board
21-16 may provide, in accordance with this subchapter and board rules,
21-17 assistance in the repayment of student loans for persons [teachers]
21-18 who apply and qualify for the assistance.
21-19 Sec. 61.702. ELIGIBILITY. [(a)] To be eligible to receive
21-20 repayment assistance, a person [teacher] must [:]
21-21 [(1)] apply to the [coordinating] board[;] and must
21-22 have:
21-23 (1) [(2) have] completed at least one year of
21-24 employment as and be employed as a full-time classroom teacher in
21-25 the elementary or secondary schools of this state in an area or
21-26 field of acute teacher shortage as designated by the State Board of
21-27 Education; or
22-1 (2) received a doctoral degree not earlier than
22-2 September 1, 1994, from a public or private institution of higher
22-3 education accredited as required by the board and be employed as a
22-4 full-time faculty member with instructional duties in an
22-5 institution of higher education located in a county that borders
22-6 the United Mexican States.
22-7 [(b) The coordinating board may provide by rule for
22-8 repayment assistance on a pro rata basis for teachers employed
22-9 part-time in an elementary or secondary school of this state in an
22-10 area or field of acute teacher shortage as designated by the State
22-11 Board of Education.]
22-12 Sec. 61.703. LIMITATION. A person [teacher] may not receive
22-13 repayment assistance grants for more than 10 [five] years.
22-14 Sec. 61.704. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The [coordinating] board
22-15 may provide repayment assistance for the repayment of any student
22-16 loan for education at a public or private [an] institution of
22-17 higher education, including loans for undergraduate and graduate
22-18 education, received by a person [teacher] through any lender.
22-19 (b) The [coordinating] board may not provide repayment
22-20 assistance for a student loan that is in default at the time of the
22-21 person's [teacher's] application.
22-22 Sec. 61.705. REPAYMENT. (a) The [coordinating] board shall
22-23 deliver any repayment made under this subchapter in a lump sum
22-24 payable to the lender and the person [teacher], in accordance with
22-25 federal law.
22-26 (b) A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied to
22-27 the principal amount of the loan and to interest that accrues.
23-1 (c) The minimum amount of repayment assistance that may be
23-2 received in one year by a person described by Section 61.702(2) is
23-3 50 percent of the amount of principal and accrued interest that is
23-4 due that year.
23-5 Sec. 61.706. ADVISORY COMMITTEES. The [coordinating] board
23-6 may appoint advisory committees from outside the board's membership
23-7 to assist the board in performing its duties under this subchapter.
23-8 Sec. 61.707. ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS. The [coordinating] board
23-9 may accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this
23-10 subchapter.
23-11 Sec. 61.708. RULES. (a) The [coordinating] board shall
23-12 adopt rules necessary for the administration of this subchapter,
23-13 including:
23-14 (1) a rule that sets a minimum or maximum amount of
23-15 repayment assistance that may be received in one year by a person
23-16 described by Section 61.702(1); and
23-17 (2) a rule that sets a maximum amount of repayment
23-18 assistance that may be received in one year by a person described
23-19 by Section 61.702(2) [teacher in one year].
23-20 (b) The [coordinating] board shall distribute a copy of the
23-21 rules adopted under this section and pertinent information in this
23-22 subchapter to:
23-23 (1) each institution of higher education that offers a
23-24 teacher education program;
23-25 (2) the personnel office at each institution of higher
23-26 education described by Section 61.702(2);
23-27 (3) any other appropriate state agency; and
24-1 (4) [(3)] any appropriate professional association.
24-2 SECTION 14. Section 151.423, Tax Code, is amended to read as
24-3 follows:
24-4 Sec. 151.423. REIMBURSEMENT TO TAXPAYER FOR TAX COLLECTIONS.
24-5 A taxpayer may deduct and withhold one-half of one percent of the
24-6 amount of taxes due from the taxpayer on a timely return as
24-7 reimbursement for the cost of collecting the taxes imposed by this
24-8 chapter. The comptroller shall provide a card with each form
24-9 distributed for the collection of taxes under this chapter. The
24-10 card may be inserted by the taxpayer with the tax payment to
24-11 provide for contribution of all or part of the reimbursement
24-12 provided by this section for use as grants [student financial
24-13 assistance grants offered] under Subchapter M, Chapter 56,
24-14 Education Code. If the taxpayer chooses to contribute the
24-15 reimbursement for the grants [student grants], the taxpayer shall
24-16 include the amount of the reimbursement contribution with the tax
24-17 payment. The comptroller shall transfer money contributed under
24-18 this section for grants under Subchapter M, Chapter 56, Education
24-19 Code, [student grants] to the appropriate fund.
24-20 SECTION 15. Section 54.216, Education Code, is repealed.
24-21 SECTION 16. Subchapter F, Chapter 56, Education Code, is
24-22 repealed effective June 1, 1999.
24-23 SECTION 17. Any money appropriated to or collected for a
24-24 program abolished under Section 15 or 16 of this Act or that exists
24-25 in any account to support a program abolished under Section 15 or
24-26 16 of this Act, including the Texas New Horizons Scholarship Trust
24-27 Fund, is transferred to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
25-1 Board for use in the Texas Gateway to the Future Grant Program.
25-2 SECTION 18. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
25-3 Board shall review and study the laws relating to student financial
25-4 aid, grant, and scholarship programs or tuition and fee waivers or
25-5 exemptions. The study shall describe improvements that may be made
25-6 to existing programs to maximize the benefit of the programs to the
25-7 state and its students and shall include recommendations for
25-8 legislative or administrative action that may be taken to
25-9 consolidate, expand, or otherwise modify existing programs or
25-10 create new programs.
25-11 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
25-12 report its activities and findings to the governor, the lieutenant
25-13 governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives not later
25-14 than December 1, 2000.
25-15 SECTION 19. A person receiving a scholarship under Section
25-16 54.216, Education Code, on the effective date of this Act may
25-17 continue to receive a scholarship under Section 54.216 until the
25-18 person is no longer eligible for the scholarship under Section
25-19 54.216, as the section exists on January 1, 1999. The costs of the
25-20 scholarships authorized under this section shall be covered by the
25-21 Texas Gateway to the Future Grant Program.
25-22 SECTION 20. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
25-23 Board, in conjunction with the commissioner of education, shall
25-24 conduct a study relating to the performance of students at
25-25 institutions of higher education as that performance relates to
25-26 whether a student completed the recommended or advanced high school
25-27 curriculum.
26-1 (b) The board shall include in the study consideration of:
26-2 (1) the number of schools that offered all or part of
26-3 the recommended or advanced high school curriculum;
26-4 (2) the types and number of students who completed the
26-5 recommended or advanced high school curriculum; and
26-6 (3) the effect, if any, of the method that a school
26-7 district uses to present or deliver any portion of the recommended
26-8 or advanced high school curriculum to its students.
26-9 (c) Not later than January 1, 2003, the board shall issue a
26-10 final report describing the findings of the study conducted under
26-11 this section and any recommendations for legislation or
26-12 administrative action to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker
26-13 of the house, and the presiding officer of each legislative
26-14 committee charged with the oversight of primary and secondary
26-15 education or higher education. The board may issue preliminary
26-16 reports related to the study at any time.
26-17 (d) This section expires January 2, 2003.
26-18 SECTION 21. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
26-19 Board and the eligible institutions of higher education shall award
26-20 scholarships under the Texas Gateway to the Future Grant Program
26-21 beginning with the 1999 fall semester.
26-22 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
26-23 adopt the rules for awarding scholarships under the Texas Gateway
26-24 to the Future Grant Program not later than July 25, 1999.
26-25 SECTION 22. The commissioner of education shall certify to
26-26 the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board a list of all of the
26-27 public high schools that do not offer all the courses necessary to
27-1 complete all parts of the recommended or advanced curriculum or its
27-2 equivalent as required by Sections 56.304(e)(1) and (f), Education
27-3 Code, as added by this Act, not later than July 31, 1999.
27-4 SECTION 23. Not later than August 15, 2000, the Texas Higher
27-5 Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules in accordance with
27-6 Section 61.0514, Education Code, as added by this Act, and shall
27-7 distribute the rules to public and private institutions of higher
27-8 education in this state. Public junior colleges and public senior
27-9 colleges and universities shall offer courses in accordance with
27-10 those rules beginning with the fall semester of the 2002-2003
27-11 academic year.
27-12 SECTION 24. The importance of this legislation and the
27-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
27-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
27-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
27-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
27-17 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
27-18 passage, and it is so enacted.