79R7054 BDH-F

By:  Eissler                                                      H.B. No. 1668



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the governor's award for teaching excellence program.             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding 
Subchapter O to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER O.  GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE PROGRAM
	Sec. 21.701.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "program" 
means the Governor's Award for Teaching Excellence Program.
	Sec. 21.702.  ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.  The agency shall 
establish a program to:
		(1)  annually recognize and honor classroom teachers 
who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in 
teaching; and
		(2)  assist efforts to attract new teachers in this 
state.           
	Sec. 21.703.  ELIGIBILITY.  A person is eligible for an award 
under the program if the person is a public school classroom teacher 
who holds an appropriate certificate issued under Subchapter B.
	Sec. 21.704.  SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS.  (a)  The agency 
shall select persons to participate in the program on the basis of 
applications submitted to the agency.
	(b)  Each application must be submitted:                                
		(1)  in the form and contain the information the agency 
requires; and
		(2)  in a timely manner.                                               
	(c)  A school campus may submit the name of a nominee from the 
campus to the school district in which the campus is located.  If a 
nominee is approved by the campus principal and the superintendent 
of the district, the district may submit an application for a 
nominee to the regional education service center for the service 
center region in which the district is located.
	(d)  A regional education service center, in consultation 
with school administrators in the region, shall appoint a selection 
panel consisting of educators in the region, including 
representatives of teacher associations and other educator 
associations.  The selection panel shall:
		(1)  review applications submitted to the service 
center under Subsection (c);
		(2)  select nominees to participate in the program; and                
		(3)  forward the application of selected nominees to 
the agency.     
	Sec. 21.705.  PREFERENCES.  In selecting persons to nominate 
or select for participation in the program, a regional education 
service center and the agency shall give preference to a person who 
demonstrates:
		(1)  professional growth and development over the 
course of the person's teaching career;
		(2)  passion and commitment to teaching;                               
		(3)  innovation and creativity in the classroom; and                   
		(4)  knowledge of current teaching techniques and 
educational issues.
	Sec. 21.706.  AWARDS AND DUTIES.  (a)  From funds 
appropriated for the purpose and to the extent consistent with 
Subsection (b), the agency shall pay to each person selected to 
participate in the program a stipend equal to at least $10,000.
	(b)  To receive a stipend under this section, a program 
participant must agree to:
		(1)  share best practices with other teachers in the 
state through the use of an existing communications network or by 
traveling to conferences or other appropriate locations, as 
determined by the agency;
		(2)  provide input regarding education issues and 
policies; and      
		(3)  serve on an advisory council to the governor, as 
determined by the governor.
	(c)  A program participant is entitled to reimbursement of 
the travel expenses incurred by the participant while traveling 
under Subsection (b)(1), as provided by the General Appropriations 
Act.
	(d)  A participant in the program who fails to comply with 
the requirements of Subsection (b) shall reimburse the agency for 
the stipend as determined by the commissioner.
	(e)  A stipend a teacher receives under this section:                   
		(1)  is in addition to the regular salary to which a 
teacher is otherwise entitled under a school district's salary 
schedule; and
		(2)  is not considered in determining whether a 
district is paying the teacher the minimum monthly salary under 
Section 21.402.
	Sec. 21.707.  RULES.  The commissioner shall adopt rules to 
implement this subchapter.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.