By Nelson S.B. No. 1463
77R3302 BDH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the establishment of a pilot program for grants for
1-3 innovative public school teacher compensation.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 21.411 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 21.411. PILOT PROGRAM FOR GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE TEACHER
1-8 COMPENSATION PLANS. (a) In this section, "charter school" means a
1-9 school authorized under Chapter 12.
1-10 (b) The commissioner shall establish a pilot program for
1-11 teacher compensation to encourage school districts and charter
1-12 schools to implement innovative teacher compensation plans designed
1-13 to attract and retain quality teachers and improve student
1-14 performance.
1-15 (c) From funds appropriated or donated for the purpose, the
1-16 commissioner shall award grants to school districts and charter
1-17 schools under this section based on criteria adopted by the
1-18 commissioner.
1-19 (d) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
1-20 school district or charter school must:
1-21 (1) apply within the period and in the manner required
1-22 by the commissioner;
1-23 (2) propose an innovative teacher compensation plan
1-24 that includes a merit-based or performance-based component;
2-1 (3) agree to match with local funds the amount
2-2 received in the grant, except that the commissioner may waive the
2-3 requirement of matching funds if the commissioner determines that
2-4 the district or school is unable to provide sufficient funds for a
2-5 pilot program; and
2-6 (4) agree to use the grant only to implement the
2-7 proposed teacher compensation plan.
2-8 (e) In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner
2-9 shall give preference to school districts and charter schools with
2-10 a high number of educationally disadvantaged students.
2-11 (f) The commissioner shall determine the amount of a grant
2-12 awarded under this section. In making that determination, the
2-13 commissioner shall ensure that the grant amount is large enough to:
2-14 (1) encourage school districts and charter schools to
2-15 apply for grants; and
2-16 (2) provide significant performance incentives for
2-17 teachers.
2-18 (g) The commissioner shall actively seek private
2-19 contributions to increase the amount of state money available to
2-20 fund grants under this section.
2-21 (h) A school district or charter school may solicit private
2-22 contributions to apply towards any local matching funds required
2-23 under this section.
2-24 (i) Section 21.402 does not apply to a teacher subject to a
2-25 teacher compensation plan funded by a grant awarded under this
2-26 section.
2-27 (j) The commissioner shall conduct an annual review of
3-1 teacher compensation plans funded with grants awarded under this
3-2 section to identify plans that are most effective in:
3-3 (1) attracting quality teachers;
3-4 (2) retaining quality teachers; and
3-5 (3) improving student performance.
3-6 (k) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
3-7 the commissioner shall report to the legislature the commissioner's
3-8 findings under Subsection (j).
3-9 SECTION 2. The commissioner of education shall adopt rules
3-10 necessary to administer a grant program under Section 21.411,
3-11 Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1,
3-12 2002.
3-13 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-14 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-15 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-16 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-17 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.