By: Shapiro S.B. No. 578
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to awards granted under the Texas Advanced Placement
Incentive Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.053, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 28.053. TYPES OF AWARDS. (a) A school participating
in the program may be awarded:
(1) a one-time $3,000 equipment grant for providing a
college advanced placement course or international baccalaureate
course to be paid to a school based on need as determined by the
commissioner; and
(2) $100 for each student who scores a three or better
on a college advanced placement test or four or better on an
international baccalaureate examination.
(b) Funds awarded under Subsection (a) shall be used in the
manner determined by the campus team established, by the principal,
under Subsection (c).
(c) The principal of each school participating in the
program shall convene, at least annually, a team composed of not
more than five members, with not fewer than three teachers, to
include at least one teacher participating in the program and at
least one teacher who teaches students in preparation for their
participation in the program, for the purpose of determining the
use of funds awarded under Subsection (a). Nothing in this section
limits the authority of the team to direct expenditure of funds
awarded under Subsection (a)(2) for awards to individual teachers
participating in the program.
(d) A teacher participating in the program may be awarded:
(1) subsidized teacher training, not to exceed $450
for each teacher, for a college advanced placement course or an
international baccalaureate course;
(2) a one-time award of $250 for teaching a college
advanced placement course or an international baccalaureate course
for the first time; and
(3) a share of the teacher bonus pool, which shall be
distributed by the teacher's school in shares proportional to the
number of courses taught.
(e) [(c)] To be eligible for an award under Subsection (d)
[(b)], a teacher must teach a college advanced placement course or
an international baccalaureate course.
(f) [(d)] Fifty dollars may be deposited in the teacher
bonus pool for each student enrolled in the school that scores a
three or better on a college advanced placement test or four or
better on an international baccalaureate examination.
(g) [(e)] A student receiving a score of three or better on
a college advanced placement test or four or better on an
international baccalaureate examination may receive reimbursement,
not to exceed $65, for the testing fee. The reimbursement shall be
reduced by the amount of any subsidy awarded by the college board or
the International Baccalaureate Organization or under Section
28.054.
(h) [(f)] The commissioner may enter into agreements with
the college board and the International Baccalaureate Organization
to pay for all examinations taken by eligible public school
students. An eligible student is one who takes a college advanced
placement or international baccalaureate course at a public school
or who is recommended by the student's principal or teacher to take
the test.
(i) [(g)] The commissioner shall analyze and adjust, as
needed, the sum of and number of awards to ensure that the purpose
of the program is realized.
SECTION 2. 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 September 1, 2003.