LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 26, 2001
TO: Honorable Paul Sadler, Chair, House Committee on Public
Education
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1310 by Salinas (Relating to the Texas Teachers'
Excellence Program.), Committee Report 1st House,
Substituted
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB1310, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: negative impact *
* of $(1,498,162) through the biennium ending August 31, 2003. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
****************************************************
* Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) *
* Impact to General Revenue Related *
* Funds *
* 2002 $(699,556) *
* 2003 (798,606) *
* 2004 (919,247) *
* 2005 (1,039,247) *
* 2006 (1,159,247) *
****************************************************
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State *
* Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2001 *
* 0001 *
* 2002 $(699,556) 0.5 *
* 2003 (798,606) 0.5 *
* 2004 (919,247) 0.5 *
* 2005 (1,039,247) 0.5 *
* 2006 (1,159,247) 0.5 *
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Technology Impact
The State Board for Educator Certification would implement a web-based
tracking system of national-board certification applicants in order to
administer certain provisions of the bill.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill creates the Texas Teachers Excellence Program (TTEP) which would
provide financial awards for teachers who receive and maintain
certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
(NBPTS).
The bill directs the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) to
establish the program and to provide teachers with financial assistance
and training to meet certification requirements, up to a limit of 100
teachers each year.
The bill require school districts to pay stipends beyond the minimum
salary level. The stipends levels would be $4,000 annually to each
classroom teacher certified by the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards, and an additional stipend of $2,000 to each teacher
who works at least 40 hours during a school year as a mentor providing
assistance to other public school teachers attempting to earn
certification. Teachers earning national certification during a school
year would become eligible for the stipends in the following school
year. Teachers holding national certification before the effective date
of the act would not be entitled to receive stipends for school years
occurring before the effective date of the act.
Methodology
As substituted, the bill requires that the program, including salary
stipends, be funded with state appropriations to the State Board of
Educator Certification, federal grant funds provided to SBEC, or from
gifts, grants, and donations received for that purpose. The estimated
costs are expected to increase over time with more certifications by the
national board.
As of December 2000, the NBPTS had certified a total of 36 Texas
teachers, with approximately half (19) certified in the 1999-2000 school
year. Costs to provide the maximum stipend for all teachers currently
holding certification would be $216,000, based on an annual stipend of
$6,000. Presuming an increase of 20 teachers per year, and that all
previously certified teacher maintain their status, the cost of the award
would increase by $120,000 per year.
The bill would require SBEC to provide financial aid to up to 100
eligible teachers a year to help them obtain national-board
certification. For each teacher selected to participate, SBEC would pay
the national-board certification fee, which SBEC projects to be $2,500,
or $250,000 per year. From state funds, SBEC could provide each program
participant a scholarship of up to $1,500, or $150,000 per year, to
defray other expenses related to applying for national-board
certification. SBEC could enhance the scholarship for each participant by
$1,000 from federal funds granted for that purpose.
The SBEC would be responsible for administering the Texas Teacher's
Excellence Program and assisting the selection committee. Agency
operating expenses are estimated to be $83,556 in 2002, $62,606 in 2003
and about the same amount in each year thereafter.
Local Government Impact
Some school districts are currently providing stipends to nationally
certified teachers. This bill would presumably alleviate some of that
burden. State revenue provided by the bill should cover the expense of
these stipends.
One element of local cost not offset by state funding would be the extra
leave time awarded local district teachers. Three days of extra leave
for application preparation will mean three days of substitute teacher
pay. With up to 500 teachers eligible to be in the program, there could
be a need to provide up to 1,500 days of substitute teacher service each
year. At a presumed rate of $150 per day, there could be a cost of
about $225,000 to school districts not be funded by the state.
Source Agencies: 701 Texas Education Agency, 705 State Board for
Educator Certification
LBB Staff: JK, CT, RN