By: Barrientos, Madla S.B. No. 980
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the creation and operation of a multicultural
1-2 mathematics and science education cooperative to provide math and
1-3 science training to Texas elementary school teachers and
1-4 principals.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-7 Subchapter T to read as follows:
1-8 SUBCHAPTER T. MULTICULTURAL MATHEMATICS
1-9 AND SCIENCE EDUCATION COOPERATIVE
1-10 Sec. 61.851. ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTICULTURAL MATHEMATICS AND
1-11 SCIENCE EDUCATION COOPERATIVE. (a) The board shall establish a
1-12 multicultural mathematics and science education cooperative to
1-13 benefit Texas public elementary school teachers, principals,
1-14 students, and parents of students.
1-15 (b) The board may adopt rules relating to the operation of
1-16 the education cooperative, including rules for the identification
1-17 of eligible schools and the content of any professional development
1-18 training.
1-19 Sec. 61.852. PURPOSE OF COOPERATIVE. The cooperative shall
1-20 provide a four-year cycle of systematic and intensive cognitive and
1-21 affective professional development training in mathematics and
1-22 science for classroom teachers and principals in elementary schools
1-23 in this state with a predominance of educationally disadvantaged
1-24 students. In providing professional development training, the
2-1 cooperative shall provide instruction to:
2-2 (1) increase the fundamental conceptual knowledge of
2-3 teachers and principals in mathematics, earth and life science, and
2-4 physical science;
2-5 (2) improve instructional skills, classroom practices,
2-6 and parental involvement; and
2-7 (3) improve the performance and classroom achievements
2-8 of students by training teachers and principals to recognize and
2-9 understand the special contexts and customary manners in which
2-10 children perceive and interpret scientific and mathematics
2-11 information.
2-12 Sec. 61.853. FUNDING. (a) The board may use available
2-13 appropriated funds to administer this subchapter if that use is
2-14 consistent with the purposes for which the appropriation is made.
2-15 (b) The board shall solicit and may accept gifts and grants
2-16 from any public or private source for the benefit of the
2-17 cooperative.
2-18 Sec. 61.854. CONTRACT WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
2-19 (a) The board shall contract with The University of Texas at
2-20 Austin to assist with the establishment and operation of the
2-21 cooperative.
2-22 (b) The board, in executing a contract under this section,
2-23 may provide for the payment of a portion of the contract proceeds
2-24 based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones.
2-25 SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
2-26 shall take all necessary steps to establish the multicultural
3-1 mathematics and science education cooperative under Subchapter T,
3-2 Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, and to begin
3-3 operating the cooperative not later than the beginning of the
3-4 2000-2001 school year.
3-5 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect only if a specific
3-6 appropriation for the implementation of this Act is provided in
3-7 H.B. No. 1 (General Appropriations Act), Acts of the 76th
3-8 Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. If no specific appropriation
3-9 is provided in H.B. No. 1, the General Appropriations Act, this Act
3-10 has no effect.
3-11 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-16 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-17 passage, and it is so enacted.