1-1 By: Barrientos, Madla S.B. No. 980 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 8, 1999; March 9, 1999, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 23, 1999, 1-4 reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 1; 1-5 April 23, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation and operation of a multicultural 1-9 mathematics and science education cooperative to provide math and 1-10 science training to Texas elementary school teachers and 1-11 principals. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-14 Subchapter T to read as follows: 1-15 SUBCHAPTER T. MULTICULTURAL MATHEMATICS 1-16 AND SCIENCE EDUCATION COOPERATIVE 1-17 Sec. 61.851. ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTICULTURAL MATHEMATICS AND 1-18 SCIENCE EDUCATION COOPERATIVE. (a) The board shall establish a 1-19 multicultural mathematics and science education cooperative to 1-20 benefit Texas public elementary school teachers, principals, 1-21 students, and parents of students. 1-22 (b) The board may adopt rules relating to the operation of 1-23 the education cooperative, including rules for the identification 1-24 of eligible schools and the content of any professional development 1-25 training. 1-26 Sec. 61.852. PURPOSE OF COOPERATIVE. The cooperative shall 1-27 provide a four-year cycle of systematic and intensive cognitive and 1-28 affective professional development training in mathematics and 1-29 science for classroom teachers and principals in elementary schools 1-30 in this state with a predominance of educationally disadvantaged 1-31 students. In providing professional development training, the 1-32 cooperative shall provide instruction to: 1-33 (1) increase the fundamental conceptual knowledge of 1-34 teachers and principals in mathematics, earth and life science, and 1-35 physical science; 1-36 (2) improve instructional skills, classroom practices, 1-37 and parental involvement; and 1-38 (3) improve the performance and classroom achievements 1-39 of students by training teachers and principals to recognize and 1-40 understand the special contexts and customary manners in which 1-41 children perceive and interpret scientific and mathematics 1-42 information. 1-43 Sec. 61.853. FUNDING. (a) The board may use available 1-44 appropriated funds to administer this subchapter if that use is 1-45 consistent with the purposes for which the appropriation is made. 1-46 (b) The board shall solicit and may accept gifts and grants 1-47 from any public or private source for the benefit of the 1-48 cooperative. 1-49 Sec. 61.854. CONTRACT WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. 1-50 (a) The board shall contract with The University of Texas at 1-51 Austin to assist with the establishment and operation of the 1-52 cooperative. 1-53 (b) The board, in executing a contract under this section, 1-54 may provide for the payment of a portion of the contract proceeds 1-55 based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones. 1-56 SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 1-57 shall take all necessary steps to establish the multicultural 1-58 mathematics and science education cooperative under Subchapter T, 1-59 Chapter 61, Education Code, as added by this Act, and to begin 1-60 operating the cooperative not later than the beginning of the 1-61 2000-2001 school year. 1-62 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-63 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-64 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-4 passage, and it is so enacted. 2-5 * * * * *