By: Strama H.B. No. 2935
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to assigning a mentor teacher to a first year classroom
teacher.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding
Section 21.458 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.458. MENTORS. (a) Each school district shall
assign a mentor teacher to each first year classroom teacher.
(b) Each school district shall receive $1,000 from the Texas
Education Agency for each first year classroom teacher. The money
received for this purpose shall be used to pay for mentor training
and to pay a stipend to the mentor teacher.
(c) The district may use local money to pay additional
stipends beyond the amounts provided by the agency under Subsection
(b) in amounts determined by the district.
(d) A stipend a teacher receives under subsection (b):
(1) is in addition to the regular salary to which a
teacher is otherwise entitled under the district's salary schedule;
and
(2) is not considered in determining whether the
district is paying the teacher the minimum monthly salary under
Section 21.402.
(e) The mentor teacher shall, to the extent practicable,
(1) teach in the same school;
(2) teach the same subject or grade level, as
applicable; and
(3) meet the qualifications prescribed by
commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (i).
(f) Each mentor teacher shall complete a research-based
mentor training program approved by the commissioner.
(g) A school district that assigns a mentor teacher to a
first year classroom teacher shall provide at least one day of
training on a research-based teacher mentoring program before the
start of the school year for both the mentor teacher and the first
year classroom teacher.
(h) A school district that assigns a mentor teacher to a
first year classroom teacher shall provide for the mentor teacher
and the first year classroom teacher at least one day of authorized
absence for mentor program training during the school year.
(i) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
administer this section, including rules concerning the duties and
qualification of a teacher who serves as a mentor. The rules
concerning qualifications shall require that to serve as a mentor a
teacher shall have at least three complete years of teaching
experience. The commissioner shall develop rules, under this
subsection, by negotiated rule making as described in Government
Code Section 2008.001.
(j) Each school district shall develop local plans approved
by the commissioner for the teacher mentorship program in the
district.
(k) the commissioner shall implement this section not later
than September 1, 2006.
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, 2005.