79R5181 SLO-F

By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 656



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reducing the time management burdens imposed on 
classroom teachers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 21.4011 to read as follows:
	Sec. 21.4011.  MAXIMUM WORKDAY; MEETINGS.  (a)  A workday for 
a classroom teacher may not be more than 30 minutes longer than the 
instructional day.
	(b)  Except in the case of an emergency, a classroom teacher 
must be given at least 24 hours' notice of any meeting that is held 
outside of the teacher's regular workday as provided under 
Subsection (a).  The commissioner by rule shall define an emergency 
for purposes of this subsection.
	(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a 
classroom teacher may not be required to attend more than one 
meeting each week that is held outside of the teacher's regular 
workday as provided under Subsection (a).
	SECTION 2.  Section 21.404, Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	Sec. 21.404.  PLANNING AND PREPARATION TIME.  (a) Each 
classroom teacher is entitled to at least 450 minutes within each 
two-week period for instructional preparation, including 
parent-teacher conferences, evaluating students' work, and 
planning.  A planning and preparation period under this section may 
not be less than 45 minutes within the instructional day.  During a 
planning and preparation period, a classroom teacher may not be 
required to participate in any other activity.
	(b)  Each school district shall schedule at least one 
two-hour period each month during the regular workday for teachers 
to plan and collaborate with other teachers who teach the same 
subject or grade level.
	(c)  To allow teachers additional preparation and planning 
time, each school district and school shall establish a volunteer 
program under which volunteers perform most routine nonteaching 
duties, including performing clerical duties, monitoring students 
in the cafeteria, and performing routine before-school and 
after-school duties such as monitoring students at bus stops.
	SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2005-2006 
school year.       
	SECTION 4.  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.