78S41235 ESH-D

By:  Shapleigh                                                    S.B. No. 17 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to additional funding to school districts for teacher 
salaries.    
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  SHORT TITLE.  This Act may be cited as the Texas 
Teacher Pay Raise for Excellence Act.
	SECTION 2.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.  (a)  The legislature 
finds that in 1999, researchers with the Texas Education Excellence 
Project (TEEP) at Texas A&M University conducted a study, using a 
multiple regression analysis, and found a strong relationship 
between higher salaries for public school teachers and improved 
student performance on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills 
(TAAS).  The results showed this relationship was especially true 
in connection with students from low-income backgrounds.  The 
researchers predicted that a one-time $1,000 increase in average 
annual teacher salaries would produce significant results on 
average TAAS scores over a five-year period.
	(b)  The legislature also finds that if annual teacher 
salaries were increased more than $1,000, there would likely be an 
even larger impact on standardized test performance than that found 
by the research described by Subsection (a) of this section. The 
average salaries of Texas teachers, however, still rank below the 
national averages, especially when employee benefits are included. 
In 2001, Texas' average teacher salary was approximately $5,000 
less than the national average.  Comparing average teacher salaries 
to earnings in the private sector places Texas near the bottom at 
49th in the nation for 2001-2002.  Many Texas school districts face 
competition with the private sector in their efforts to attract 
educated and talented people to the teaching profession.
	(c)  The legislature also finds that in order to attract and 
retain high-quality teachers, Texas must establish a competitive 
salary scale for public school teachers.  The purpose of this Act is 
to raise teacher salaries in order to attract better-qualified 
teachers to help our children succeed academically.
	SECTION 3.  TEACHER SALARY SUPPLEMENT.  Subchapter I, 
Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.4031 to 
read as follows:
	Sec. 21.4031.  SALARY SUPPLEMENT.  (a)  From funds 
appropriated for the purpose, each school district is entitled to  
an annual allotment equal to $1,000 for each full-time equivalent 
classroom teacher.
	(b)  Each full-time classroom teacher is entitled to a salary 
supplement from the allotment in the amount of $800.  A part-time 
classroom teacher is entitled to a salary supplement proportionate 
to the percentage of full time worked by the teacher, as determined 
by the district in accordance with the rules of the commissioner.
	(c)  The balance of the district's annual allotment may be 
used by the district to pay:
		(1)  an additional salary supplement for all classroom 
teachers; or  
		(2)  an additional salary supplement for only those 
teachers who teach in the areas of math, science, reading, or 
bilingual education and in which the district has identified a 
critical shortage of qualified teachers.
	(d)  A salary supplement is not considered in determining 
whether the district is paying a teacher the minimum monthly salary 
under Section 21.402.
	(e)  The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to 
implement this section.
	SECTION 4.  APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies beginning with 
the 2004-2005 school year.
	SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect 
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members 
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas 
Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for 
immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the 
last day of the legislative session.