By Longoria H.B. No. 3109 76R1820 CAG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation and operation of a multicultural 1-3 mathematics and science education cooperative to provide math and 1-4 science training to Texas elementary school teachers and 1-5 principals. 1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-7 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-8 Subchapter T to read as follows: 1-9 SUBCHAPTER T. MULTICULTURAL MATHEMATICS 1-10 AND SCIENCE EDUCATION COOPERATIVE 1-11 Sec. 61.851. ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTICULTURAL MATHEMATICS AND 1-12 SCIENCE EDUCATION COOPERATIVE. (a) The board shall establish a 1-13 multicultural mathematics and science education cooperative to 1-14 benefit Texas public elementary school teachers, principals, 1-15 students, and parents of students. 1-16 (b) The board may adopt rules relating to the operation of 1-17 the education cooperative, including rules for the identification 1-18 of eligible schools and the content of any professional development 1-19 training. 1-20 Sec. 61.852. PURPOSE OF COOPERATIVE. The cooperative shall 1-21 provide a four-year cycle of systematic and intensive cognitive and 1-22 affective professional development training in mathematics and 1-23 science for classroom teachers and principals in elementary schools 1-24 in this state with a predominance of educationally disadvantaged 2-1 students. In providing professional development training, the 2-2 cooperative shall provide instruction to: 2-3 (1) increase the fundamental conceptual knowledge of 2-4 teachers and principals in mathematics, earth and life science, and 2-5 physical science; 2-6 (2) improve instructional skills, classroom practices, 2-7 and parental involvement; and 2-8 (3) improve the performance and classroom achievements 2-9 of students by training teachers and principals to recognize and 2-10 understand the special contexts and customary manners in which 2-11 children perceive and interpret scientific and mathematics 2-12 information. 2-13 Sec. 61.853. FUNDING. (a) The board may use available 2-14 appropriated funds to administer this subchapter if that use is 2-15 consistent with the purposes for which the appropriation is made. 2-16 (b) The board shall solicit and may accept gifts and grants 2-17 from any public or private source for the benefit of the 2-18 cooperative. 2-19 Sec. 61.854. CONTRACT WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. 2-20 (a) The board shall contract with The University of Texas at 2-21 Austin to assist with the establishment and operation of the 2-22 cooperative. 2-23 (b) The board, in executing a contract under this section, 2-24 may provide for the payment of a portion of the contract proceeds 2-25 based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones. 2-26 SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 2-27 shall take all necessary steps to establish the multicultural 3-1 mathematics and science education cooperative under Subchapter T, 3-2 Education Code, as added by this Act, and to begin operating the 3-3 cooperative not later than the beginning of the 2000-2001 school 3-4 year. 3-5 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-10 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-11 passage, and it is so enacted.