79S30561 ESH-D
By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 29
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to additional funding to school districts for classroom
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 placed 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 FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
(a) Each full-time classroom teacher is entitled to an annual
salary supplement in the amount of $3,000. 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.
(b) A salary supplement is not considered in determining
whether the district is paying a teacher the minimum monthly salary
under Section 21.402.
(b-1) Notwithstanding Section 21.402, for the 2006-2007
school year, a full-time classroom teacher is entitled to a monthly
salary that is at least equal to the greater of:
(1) the sum of:
(A) the monthly salary the teacher would have
received for the 2006-2007 school year under the district's salary
schedule for the 2005-2006 school year, if that schedule had been in
effect for the 2006-2007 school year, including any local
supplement and any money representing a career ladder supplement
the employee would have received in the 2006-2007 school year; and
(B) $300; or
(2) the salary to which the employee is entitled under
Section 21.402.
(b-2) Subsection (b-1) and this subsection expire September
1, 2007.
(c) A full-time or part-time classroom teacher employed by a
school district in the 2006-2007 school year is, as long as the
teacher is employed by the same district, entitled to a salary that
is at least equal to the salary the employee received for the
2006-2007 school year.
(d) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 4. Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 42.2513 to read as follows:
Sec. 42.2513. ADDITIONAL STATE AID OR CREDIT AGAINST COST
OF ATTENDANCE CREDITS FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER SALARIES. (a) A school
district, including a school district that is otherwise ineligible
for state aid under this chapter, is entitled to state aid in an
amount, as determined by the commissioner, equal to the product of
$3,000 multiplied by the number of full-time equivalent employees
employed by the district as classroom teachers.
(b) A school district that is required to take action under
Chapter 41 to reduce its wealth per student to the equalized wealth
level is entitled to a credit, in the amount of state aid to which
the district is entitled under this section, against the total
amount required under Section 41.093 for the district to purchase
attendance credits.
(c) A determination by the commissioner under this section
is final and may not be appealed.
(d) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this
section.
SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2006-2007
school year.
SECTION 6. 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.