BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 79
79R840 KEL-F By: Shapleigh
Education
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The primary cause for teacher shortages in Texas is the failure to retain professional educators in the field of education. According to the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education, nearly 50 percent of teachers who leave the profession, leave within the first five years of teaching. Current trends in teacher demographics suggest that the increase in the teacher attrition rate will likely continue to increase. As older, more experienced teachers retire; new, less experienced teachers fill their spots. These new teachers have the highest attrition rate in the field of education. The state needs to establish incentives for teachers to stay in schools until retirement.
As proposed, S.B. 79 requires that the governing board of an institution of higher education exempt a state resident enrolled as an undergraduate student at an institution of higher education from the payment of tuition, if they are a child of certain classroom teachers. Tuition exemptions apply only when the parents has National Board Certification and has 10 or more years of experience as a classroom teacher in a critical teaching shortage field in one or more school districts in the state.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking Authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 54.220, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, by adding Section 54.220, as follows:
Sec. 54.220. CHILDREN OF CLASSROOM TEACHERS. (a) Requires the governing board of an institution of higher education (IHE) to exempt from tuition payment an undergraduate student who is a resident of this state at the institution, who is a child of a person who at the beginning of the semester or other academic session holds a National Board Certification, as defined by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, and has 10 or more years of experience as a classroom teacher in a critical teaching shortage field in one or more school districts in this states, not including certain educational facilities employees.
(b) Prohibits a person from being eligible for an exemption if the person has previously received exemption for 10 semesters or summer sessions at any IHE or has received a baccalaureate degree.
(c) Provides that a summer session that is less than nine weeks in duration is considered a one-half summer session.
(d) Provides that a person attending an IHE who becomes eligible to receive an exemption from tuition is eligible for a refund of the amount of money that the person paid to any IHE for tuition as a resident student in the three-year period preceding the beginning of the first semester or session for which the person receives exemption.
(e) Requires the person to apply to the institution before the expiration of one year after the person becomes eligible for the refund. Requires the institution to pay the refund from any available funds.
(f) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (board) to adopt rules governing the granting or denial of an exemption, including rules relating to the determination of eligibility for an exemption or for a refund of a previously paid tuition and a uniform application form for exemption.
(g) Requires the board, in the funding formulas established under Section 61.059 (Appropriations) for a biennium, to take into account any tuition exempted or any refund of tuition made in the preceding biennium.
(h) Defines "child," "classroom," and "critical teaching shortage field."
SECTION 2. (a) Provides that this Act takes effect beginning with 2006 fall semester.
(b) Requires the board to adopt rules and forms relating to the exemption of the children of classrooms teachers, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2006.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.