By: Bivins, Lucio S.B. No. 1595
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to financial assistance for certain persons seeking
1-3 certification as public school teachers, including revisions to the
1-4 Teach for Texas grant program, and to loan repayment assistance for
1-5 certain classroom teachers.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. Section 56.309, Education Code, is redesignated
1-8 as Subchapter O, Chapter 56, Education Code, and amended to read as
1-9 follows:
1-10 SUBCHAPTER O. TEACH FOR TEXAS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
1-11 Sec. 56.351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-12 (1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher
1-13 Education Coordinating Board.
1-14 (2) "Eligible institution of higher education" means:
1-15 (A) an institution of higher education; or
1-16 (B) a private or independent institution of
1-17 higher education as defined by Section 61.003.
1-18 Sec. 56.352 [56.309]. PURPOSE OF [TEACH FOR TEXAS GRANT]
1-19 PROGRAM. [(a)] The purpose of this subchapter [the Teach for
1-20 Texas grant program] is to attract to the teaching profession
1-21 persons who have expressed interest in teaching and to support the
1-22 certification of those persons as classroom teachers by providing a
1-23 grant on the condition that the recipient serve as a classroom
1-24 teacher in the public schools of this state for a specified period.
1-25 Sec. 56.353. ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT; TEACHING AGREEMENT. (a)
2-1 [(b)] A Teach for Texas [tuition] grant is available only to a
2-2 person who [receives a TEXAS grant under Section 56.304 or 56.305,]
2-3 applies for a [Teach for Texas tuition] grant[,] and:
2-4 (1) is seeking educator certification;
2-5 (2) is enrolled in an eligible institution of higher
2-6 education in this state:
2-7 (A) as a junior or senior in a baccalaureate
2-8 degree program; or
2-9 (B) in the person's first academic year in an
2-10 educator certification program after receiving a baccalaureate
2-11 degree;
2-12 (3) makes satisfactory progress toward completion of
2-13 the person's educator certification program; and
2-14 (4) satisfies one of the following [if]:
2-15 (A) the person is seeking educator certification
2-16 [(1) the degree program is] in a teaching field certified by the
2-17 commissioner of education as experiencing a critical shortage of
2-18 teachers in this state in the year in which the person receives the
2-19 grant and agrees to teach full-time for five years at the
2-20 preschool, primary, or secondary level in a public school in this
2-21 state in that teaching field [begins the degree program]; or
2-22 (B) [(2)] the person agrees to teach full-time
2-23 for five years at the preschool, primary, or secondary level in a
2-24 public school in this state in a community, which is not required
2-25 to be specifically designated at the time the person receives the
2-26 grant, certified by the commissioner of education as experiencing a
3-1 critical shortage of teachers in any year in which the person
3-2 receives a grant under this subchapter [section] or in any
3-3 subsequent year in which the person fulfills the teaching
3-4 obligation.
3-5 (b) The coordinating board in awarding Teach for Texas
3-6 grants shall give priority to applicants whose expected family
3-7 contribution and demonstrated financial need, as determined by the
3-8 financial aid office of the institution the applicant attends, does
3-9 not exceed the applicant's cost of attendance.
3-10 (c) If the money available for grants in a period for which
3-11 grants are awarded exceeds the amount needed to provide grants to
3-12 all eligible applicants described by Subsection (b), the
3-13 coordinating board shall award grants from the remaining money to
3-14 additional eligible applicants. The coordinating board shall
3-15 prescribe by rule the eligibility requirements for these applicants
3-16 based on the factors that the coordinating board considers
3-17 appropriate to further the purposes of this subchapter.
3-18 (d) If the money available for grants in a period for which
3-19 grants are awarded is insufficient to provide grants to all
3-20 eligible applicants described by Subsection (b), the coordinating
3-21 board shall award grants among those applicants according to
3-22 financial need.
3-23 (e) A person may not receive a Teach for Texas tuition grant
3-24 for more than three academic years or the equivalent.
3-25 (f) A person is not eligible to receive a Teach for Texas
3-26 grant if the person has been convicted of a felony or an offense
4-1 under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code (Texas Controlled
4-2 Substances Act), or under the law of another jurisdiction involving
4-3 a controlled substance, as defined by Chapter 481, Health and
4-4 Safety Code, unless the person has met the other applicable
4-5 eligibility requirements under this subchapter and has:
4-6 (1) received a certificate of discharge by the Texas
4-7 Department of Criminal Justice or a correctional facility or
4-8 completed a period of probation ordered by a court, and at least
4-9 two years have elapsed from the date of the receipt or completion;
4-10 or
4-11 (2) been pardoned, had the record of the offense
4-12 expunged from the person's record, or otherwise has been released
4-13 from the resulting ineligibility to receive a grant under this
4-14 subchapter.
4-15 (g) For the purpose of this section, a person makes
4-16 satisfactory academic progress toward completion of an educator
4-17 certification program if the person:
4-18 (1) completes at least 75 percent of the semester
4-19 credit hours attempted in the student's most recent academic year;
4-20 and
4-21 (2) earns an overall grade point average of at least
4-22 2.5 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on coursework
4-23 previously attempted at institutions of higher education.
4-24 Sec. 56.354. AMOUNT OF GRANT; PAYMENT OF GRANT. (a) The
4-25 amount of a Teach for Texas grant is equal to four times the
4-26 current amount of a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M for a student
5-1 enrolled in a general academic teaching institution [To receive a
5-2 Teach for Texas tuition grant, a person must agree to teach
5-3 full-time for five years at the preschool, primary, or secondary
5-4 level in a public school in this state in the person's chosen
5-5 critical field or in a community experiencing a critical teacher
5-6 shortage, as applicable].
5-7 (b) [(d)] The coordinating board shall pay the amount of a
5-8 Teach for Texas [tuition] grant in installments, with a
5-9 substantially equal amount paid in each semester or term based on
5-10 the number of semesters in which a typical full-time student would
5-11 complete the recipient's educator certification program. The
5-12 coordinating board may adjust the amount of a grant for a semester
5-13 or term, or award a supplemental grant, to ensure that a grant
5-14 recipient who completes the educator certification program receives
5-15 the total amount of the recipient's grant [under this section is
5-16 equal to two times the amount of a TEXAS grant authorized under
5-17 Section 56.307(b) for the same semester or term].
5-18 Sec. 56.355. ELIGIBILITY FOR TEXAS GRANT NOT AFFECTED. A
5-19 person may receive both a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M [Section
5-20 56.304 or 56.305] and a Teach for Texas grant under this subchapter
5-21 [section] for the same semester or term.
5-22 Sec. 56.356. SATISFYING TEACHING OBLIGATION; REPAYMENT.
5-23 (a) A person who receives a Teach for Texas grant [(e) The person]
5-24 must begin fulfilling the teaching obligation of the person's grant
5-25 [this section] not later than the 18th month after the person
5-26 completes the educator certification program for which the person
6-1 received the grant [degree program and any related courses required
6-2 for teacher certification], unless the coordinating board grants
6-3 the person additional time to begin fulfilling the teaching
6-4 obligation.
6-5 (b) The person must complete the teaching obligation not
6-6 later than the sixth year after the date the person begins to
6-7 fulfill the teaching obligation. The coordinating board shall
6-8 grant a person additional time to complete the teaching obligation
6-9 for good cause.
6-10 (c) [(f)] The coordinating board shall cancel a person's
6-11 teaching obligation if the board determines that the person:
6-12 (1) has become permanently disabled so that the person
6-13 is not able to teach; or
6-14 (2) has died.
6-15 (d) [(g)] The coordinating board shall require a person who
6-16 receives a Teach for Texas grant [under this section] to sign a
6-17 promissory note acknowledging the conditional nature of the grant
6-18 and promising to repay the outstanding amount of the grant plus
6-19 applicable interest and reasonable collection costs if the person
6-20 does not satisfy the applicable conditions. The board shall
6-21 determine the terms of the promissory note.
6-22 (e) [(h)] The amount required to be repaid by a person who
6-23 fails to complete the teaching obligation of the person's grant
6-24 shall be determined in proportion to the portion of the total
6-25 teaching obligation that the person has not satisfied.
6-26 (f) [(i)] A person receiving a Teach for Texas [tuition]
7-1 grant is considered to have failed to satisfy the conditions of the
7-2 grant, and the grant automatically becomes a loan, if the person
7-3 fails to remain enrolled in or to make steady progress in the
7-4 person's educator certification program and, if applicable, the
7-5 person's baccalaureate degree program for which the grant was made
7-6 without good cause as determined by the coordinating board or if
7-7 the person fails to become certified as a teacher not later than
7-8 the 18th month after the date the person completes the educator
7-9 certification program [receives a degree].
7-10 Sec. 56.357. TEACH FOR TEXAS ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION
7-11 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) The coordinating board shall establish a
7-12 program under which the coordinating board awards grants to assist
7-13 persons seeking educator certification through alternative educator
7-14 certification programs as provided by this section.
7-15 (b) To be eligible for a grant under the program, a person
7-16 must apply for a grant and:
7-17 (1) have received a baccalaureate degree from an
7-18 eligible institution of higher education or an accredited
7-19 out-of-state institution of higher education; and
7-20 (2) enroll in an alternative educator certification
7-21 program described by Section 21.049 and satisfy either of the
7-22 following conditions:
7-23 (A) be seeking educator certification in a
7-24 teaching field certified by the commissioner of education as
7-25 experiencing a critical shortage of teachers in this state in the
7-26 year in which the person receives the grant and agree to teach for
8-1 five years in a public school in this state in that teaching field;
8-2 or
8-3 (B) agree to teach for five years in a public
8-4 school in this state in a community, which is not required to be
8-5 specifically designated at the time the person receives the grant,
8-6 certified by the commissioner of education as experiencing a
8-7 critical shortage of teachers in any year in which the person
8-8 receives a grant under this section or in any subsequent year in
8-9 which the person fulfills the teaching obligation.
8-10 (c) A person is not eligible to receive a grant under the
8-11 program if the person has been convicted of a felony or an offense
8-12 under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code (Texas Controlled
8-13 Substances Act), or under the law of another jurisdiction involving
8-14 a controlled substance, as defined by Chapter 481, Health and
8-15 Safety Code, unless the person has met the other applicable
8-16 eligibility requirements under this section and has:
8-17 (1) received a certificate of discharge by the Texas
8-18 Department of Criminal Justice or a correctional facility or
8-19 completed a period of probation ordered by a court, and at least
8-20 two years have elapsed from the date of the receipt or completion;
8-21 or
8-22 (2) been pardoned, had the record of the offense
8-23 expunged from the person's record, or otherwise has been released
8-24 from the resulting ineligibility to receive a grant under the
8-25 program.
8-26 (d) In selecting applicants to receive grants under the
9-1 program, the coordinating board shall consider:
9-2 (1) the financial resources of an applicant;
9-3 (2) the efficient use of the money available for
9-4 grants;
9-5 (3) the opportunity of applicants from all regions of
9-6 this state to receive grants; and
9-7 (4) any other factor the coordinating board considers
9-8 appropriate to further the purposes of this subchapter.
9-9 (e) The amount of a grant under the program is equal to two
9-10 times the current amount of a TEXAS grant under Subchapter M for a
9-11 student enrolled in a general academic teaching institution. The
9-12 coordinating board may pay the amount of the grant in installments
9-13 during the period in which the person is enrolled in the person's
9-14 alternative educator certification program.
9-15 (f) The person must begin fulfilling the person's teaching
9-16 obligation not later than the 18th month after the person completes
9-17 the alternative educator certification program, unless the
9-18 coordinating board for good cause grants the person additional time
9-19 to begin fulfilling the teaching obligation. The person must
9-20 complete the teaching obligation not later than the sixth year
9-21 after the date the person begins to fulfill the teaching
9-22 obligation. The coordinating board shall grant a person additional
9-23 time to complete the teaching obligation for good cause.
9-24 (g) The coordinating board shall cancel a person's teaching
9-25 obligation if the coordinating board determines that the person:
9-26 (1) has become permanently disabled so that the person
10-1 is not able to teach; or
10-2 (2) has died.
10-3 (h) The coordinating board shall require a person who
10-4 receives a grant to sign a promissory note acknowledging the
10-5 conditional nature of the grant and promising to repay the amount
10-6 of the grant plus applicable interest and reasonable collection
10-7 costs if the person does not satisfy the applicable conditions of
10-8 the grant. The coordinating board shall determine the terms of the
10-9 promissory note.
10-10 (i) The amount required to be repaid by a person who fails
10-11 to complete the teaching obligation of the person's grant shall be
10-12 determined in proportion to the portion of the teaching obligation
10-13 that the person has not satisfied.
10-14 (j) A person receiving a grant is considered to have failed
10-15 to satisfy the conditions of the grant, and the grant automatically
10-16 becomes a loan, if the person, without good cause as determined by
10-17 the coordinating board, fails to:
10-18 (1) remain enrolled in or to make steady progress in
10-19 the alternative educator certification program for which the grant
10-20 was made or, with the approval of the coordinating board, in
10-21 another alternative educator certification program; or
10-22 (2) become certified as a classroom teacher not later
10-23 than the 18th month after the date the person completes the
10-24 alternative educator certification program.
10-25 Sec. 56.358. FUNDING; ALLOCATION OF FUNDING. (a) The
10-26 coordinating board may solicit and accept gifts and grants from any
11-1 public or private source for the purposes of this subchapter.
11-2 (b) The legislature may appropriate money for the purposes
11-3 of this subchapter.
11-4 SECTION 2. The heading to Subchapter M, Chapter 56,
11-5 Education Code, as added by Chapter 1590, Acts of the 76th
11-6 Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, is amended to read as follows:
11-7 SUBCHAPTER M. TOWARD EXCELLENCE, ACCESS, & SUCCESS (TEXAS)
11-8 GRANT PROGRAM [AND TEACH FOR TEXAS GRANT PROGRAM]
11-9 SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 56.308, Education Code,
11-10 is amended to read as follows:
11-11 (b) Each school district shall:
11-12 (1) notify its middle school students, junior high
11-13 school students, and high school students, those students' teachers
11-14 and counselors, and those students' parents of the TEXAS grant and
11-15 Teach for Texas grant programs [established under this subchapter],
11-16 the eligibility requirements of each program, the need for students
11-17 to make informed curriculum choices to be prepared for success
11-18 beyond high school, and sources of information on higher education
11-19 admissions and financial aid in a manner that assists the district
11-20 in implementing a strategy adopted by the district under Section
11-21 11.252(a)(4); and
11-22 (2) ensure that each student's official transcript or
11-23 diploma indicates whether the student has completed or is on
11-24 schedule to complete:
11-25 (A) the recommended or advanced high school
11-26 curriculum required for grant eligibility under Section 28.002 or
12-1 28.025; or
12-2 (B) for a school district covered by Section
12-3 56.304(f)(1), the required portion of the recommended or advanced
12-4 high school curriculum in the manner described by Section
12-5 56.304(f)(2).
12-6 SECTION 4. Section 56.311, Education Code, is amended to
12-7 read as follows:
12-8 Sec. 56.311. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. (a) The
12-9 Legislative Oversight Committee on the TEXAS grant program and
12-10 Teach for Texas grant program [programs established by this
12-11 subchapter] is composed of six members as follows:
12-12 (1) three members of the senate appointed by the
12-13 lieutenant governor; and
12-14 (2) three members of the house of representatives
12-15 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
12-16 (b) The committee shall:
12-17 (1) meet at least twice a year with the coordinating
12-18 board; and
12-19 (2) receive information regarding rules relating to
12-20 the TEXAS grant program and Teach for Texas grant program [programs
12-21 established by this subchapter] that have been adopted by the
12-22 coordinating board or proposed for adoption by the coordinating
12-23 board.
12-24 (c) The committee may request reports and other information
12-25 from the coordinating board relating to the operation of the TEXAS
12-26 grant program and Teach for Texas grant program [programs under
13-1 this subchapter] by the coordinating board.
13-2 (d) The committee shall review the specific recommendations
13-3 for legislation related to this subchapter that are proposed by the
13-4 coordinating board.
13-5 (e) The committee shall monitor the operation of the TEXAS
13-6 grant program and Teach for Texas grant program [programs
13-7 established under this subchapter], with emphasis on the manner of
13-8 the award of grants, the number of grants awarded, and the
13-9 educational progress made by persons who have received grants under
13-10 those programs [this subchapter].
13-11 (f) The committee shall file a report with the governor,
13-12 lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives
13-13 not later than December 31 of each even-numbered year.
13-14 (g) The report shall include identification of any problems
13-15 in the TEXAS grant program and Teach for Texas grant program
13-16 [programs operated under this subchapter] with recommended
13-17 solutions for the coordinating board and for legislative action.
13-18 SECTION 5. Subsection (a), Section 11.252, Education Code,
13-19 is amended to read as follows:
13-20 (a) Each school district shall have a district improvement
13-21 plan that is developed, evaluated, and revised annually, in
13-22 accordance with district policy, by the superintendent with the
13-23 assistance of the district-level committee established under
13-24 Section 11.251. The purpose of the district improvement plan is to
13-25 guide district and campus staff in the improvement of student
13-26 performance for all student groups in order to attain state
14-1 standards in respect to the academic excellence indicators adopted
14-2 under Section 39.051. The district improvement plan must include
14-3 provisions for:
14-4 (1) a comprehensive needs assessment addressing
14-5 district student performance on the academic excellence indicators,
14-6 and other appropriate measures of performance, that are
14-7 disaggregated by all student groups served by the district,
14-8 including categories of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, and
14-9 populations served by special programs, including students in
14-10 special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29;
14-11 (2) measurable district performance objectives for all
14-12 appropriate academic excellence indicators for all student
14-13 populations, including students in special education programs under
14-14 Subchapter A, Chapter 29, and other measures of student performance
14-15 that may be identified through the comprehensive needs assessment;
14-16 (3) strategies for improvement of student performance
14-17 that include:
14-18 (A) instructional methods for addressing the
14-19 needs of student groups not achieving their full potential;
14-20 (B) methods for addressing the needs of students
14-21 for special programs, such as suicide prevention, conflict
14-22 resolution, violence prevention, or dyslexia treatment programs;
14-23 (C) dropout reduction;
14-24 (D) integration of technology in instructional
14-25 and administrative programs;
14-26 (E) discipline management;
15-1 (F) staff development for professional staff of
15-2 the district;
15-3 (G) career education to assist students in
15-4 developing the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for a
15-5 broad range of career opportunities; and
15-6 (H) accelerated education;
15-7 (4) strategies for providing to middle school, junior
15-8 high school, and high school students, those students' teachers and
15-9 counselors, and those students' parents information about:
15-10 (A) higher education admissions and financial
15-11 aid opportunities;
15-12 (B) the TEXAS grant program and the Teach for
15-13 Texas grant program established under [Subchapter M,] Chapter 56;
15-14 (C) the need for students to make informed
15-15 curriculum choices to be prepared for success beyond high school;
15-16 and
15-17 (D) sources of information on higher education
15-18 admissions and financial aid;
15-19 (5) resources needed to implement identified
15-20 strategies;
15-21 (6) staff responsible for ensuring the accomplishment
15-22 of each strategy;
15-23 (7) timelines for ongoing monitoring of the
15-24 implementation of each improvement strategy; and
15-25 (8) formative evaluation criteria for determining
15-26 periodically whether strategies are resulting in intended
16-1 improvement of student performance.
16-2 SECTION 6. Subchapter M, Chapter 61, Education Code, is
16-3 amended by amending Section 61.702 and adding Section 61.7021 to
16-4 read as follows:
16-5 Sec. 61.702. ELIGIBILITY FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER REPAYMENT
16-6 ASSISTANCE. (a) To be eligible to receive repayment assistance
16-7 for classroom teachers, a person must apply to the board and must
16-8 [have]:
16-9 (1) have completed at least one year of employment as
16-10 [and be employed as] a full-time classroom teacher at the
16-11 preschool, primary, or secondary level in a public school in [the
16-12 elementary or secondary schools of] this state in an area or field
16-13 of acute teacher shortage as designated by the commissioner of
16-14 education [State Board of Education]; and
16-15 (2) be employed as a full-time classroom teacher at
16-16 the preschool, primary, or secondary level in a public school in
16-17 this state in an area or field described by Subdivision (1).
16-18 (b) A person is not eligible for repayment assistance for
16-19 classroom teachers under this subchapter if the person has received
16-20 a Teach for Texas grant or other financial assistance under
16-21 Subchapter O, Chapter 56, or under former Section 56.309.
16-22 (c) The board shall give priority in granting repayment
16-23 assistance for classroom teachers to a person who received
16-24 repayment assistance for classroom teachers for the preceding
16-25 school year. The priority terminates if the person does not apply
16-26 for or is not eligible for that assistance. In extraordinary
17-1 circumstances, the board may allow a person to maintain the
17-2 priority after one or more years in which the person is unable to
17-3 teach as a classroom teacher.
17-4 Sec. 61.7021. ELIGIBILITY FOR BORDER INSTITUTION FACULTY
17-5 REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE. To be eligible to receive repayment
17-6 assistance for border institution faculty, a person must apply to
17-7 the board and must:
17-8 (1) have [or]
17-9 [(2)] received a doctoral degree not earlier than
17-10 September 1, 1994, from a public or private institution of higher
17-11 education accredited as required by the board; and
17-12 (2) be employed as a full-time faculty member with
17-13 instructional duties in an institution of higher education located
17-14 in a county that borders the United Mexican States.
17-15 SECTION 7. Section 61.705, Education Code, is amended by
17-16 amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read
17-17 as follows:
17-18 (c) The minimum amount of repayment assistance that may be
17-19 awarded in one year to a person who qualifies for the assistance
17-20 under Section 61.702 is the lesser of:
17-21 (1) $1,000; or
17-22 (2) the amount of principal and accrued interest that
17-23 is due on eligible loans in that year.
17-24 (d) A person may not receive repayment assistance for
17-25 classroom teachers under this subchapter in a total amount that
17-26 exceeds $5,000, and may not receive that repayment assistance for
18-1 more than five years.
18-2 (e) The minimum amount of repayment assistance that may be
18-3 awarded [received] in one year to [by] a person who qualifies for
18-4 the assistance under [described by] Section 61.7021 [61.702(2)] is
18-5 50 percent of the amount of principal and accrued interest that is
18-6 due on eligible loans that year.
18-7 SECTION 8. Subsection (a), Section 61.708, Education Code,
18-8 is amended to read as follows:
18-9 (a) The board shall adopt rules necessary for the
18-10 administration of this subchapter, including[:]
18-11 [(1) a rule that sets a minimum or maximum amount of
18-12 repayment assistance that may be received in one year by a person
18-13 described by Section 61.702(1); and]
18-14 [(2)] a rule that sets a maximum amount of repayment
18-15 assistance that may be received in one year by a person who
18-16 qualifies for the assistance under Section 61.7021 [described by
18-17 Section 61.702(2)].
18-18 SECTION 9. (a) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating
18-19 Board shall implement the changes made by this Act to the Teach for
18-20 Texas grant program and to the classroom teacher loan repayment
18-21 assistance program under Subchapter M, Chapter 61, Education Code,
18-22 as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, but
18-23 not later than the 2002-2003 academic year.
18-24 (b) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
18-25 adopt initial rules for awarding grants and shall award grants
18-26 under the Teach for Texas alternative certification assistance
19-1 program established under Section 56.357, Education Code, as added
19-2 by this Act, as soon as practicable.
19-3 SECTION 10. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
19-4 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
19-5 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
19-6 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
19-7 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.