79S30133 RMB-D

By:  Delisi                                                       H.B. No. 23 



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing mentors for certain classroom teachers.                 
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 21.458 to read as follows:
	Sec. 21.458.  MENTORS.  (a)  Each school district may assign 
a mentor teacher to each classroom teacher who has less than two 
years of teaching experience.  A teacher assigned as a mentor must:
		(1)  teach in the same school;                                         
		(2)  to the extent practicable, teach the same subject 
or grade level, as applicable; and
		(3)  meet the qualifications prescribed by 
commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (b).
	(b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to 
administer this section, including rules concerning the duties and 
qualifications of a teacher who serves as a mentor.  The rules 
concerning qualifications must require that to serve as a mentor a 
teacher must:
		(1)  complete a research-based mentor and induction 
training program approved by the commissioner;
		(2)  complete a mentor training program provided by the 
district; and
		(3)  have at least three complete years of teaching 
experience with a superior record of assisting students, as a 
whole, in achieving growth in student performance.
	(c)  From the funds appropriated to the agency for purposes 
of this section, the commissioner shall adopt rules and provide 
funding to school districts that assign mentor teachers under this 
section.  Funding provided to districts under this section may be 
used only for providing:
		(1)  mentor teacher stipends;                                          
		(2)  scheduled time for mentor teachers to provide 
mentoring to assigned classroom teachers; and
		(3)  mentoring support through providers of mentor 
training.         
	(d)  In adopting rules under Subsection (c), the 
commissioner shall rely on research-based mentoring programs that, 
through external evaluation, have demonstrated success.
	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 on the 91st day after the last day of the 
legislative session.