By Barrientos                                          S.B. No. 980
         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.