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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to teacher retention demonstration projects under the |
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awards for student achievement program in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.657(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) An eligible campus must use 25 percent of a grant award |
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received under Section 21.655 to provide for: |
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(1) incentive payments to campus employees other than |
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classroom teachers, such as principals, assistant principals, |
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teachers who are not eligible for an incentive payment under |
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Section 21.656, counselors, speech therapists, instructional |
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coaches, teacher's aides, nurses, librarians, members of the |
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custodial staff, or other campus employees who have contributed to |
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improved student achievement; |
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(2) professional development for classroom teachers |
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who: |
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(A) do not receive an incentive payment under |
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Section 21.656; and |
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(B) would benefit from professional development |
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to develop or enhance skills and behaviors described under Section |
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21.656(b); |
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(3) reimbursement or funding for a professional |
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development activity that directly contributes to improved |
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classroom instruction and student achievement; |
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(4) signing bonuses for classroom teachers new to the |
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campus who are teaching subjects that have been designated by the |
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commissioner as historically experiencing a critical shortage of |
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teachers; |
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(5) a teacher mentoring program that meets the |
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requirements of Section 21.458; |
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(6) an activity that supports new teacher induction |
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programs, including: |
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(A) common planning time and collaboration; |
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(B) a professional development activity; and |
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(C) standards-based evaluations; |
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(7) an activity that supports common planning time and |
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curriculum development; |
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(8) a program that has been proven to recruit and |
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retain highly effective teachers, including a teacher retention |
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demonstration project that employs innovative, research-based |
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practices to identify and retain highly effective teachers, such |
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as: |
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(A) a teacher recruitment and selection strategy |
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focused on attracting new and experienced teachers who have deep |
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content knowledge and a commitment to long-term participation in |
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the teaching profession; |
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(B) an alternative certification program that |
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prepares individuals who have deep content knowledge and |
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outstanding academic or professional achievement for long-term |
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participation in the teaching profession; |
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(C) a campus governance model that engages |
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teachers in leading campus management activities, including |
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student assessment data analysis, professional development |
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planning, instructional coaching, and resource allocation; |
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(D) a differentiated compensation plan that |
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addresses teaching shortages in specific subject areas, |
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instructional weaknesses at underperforming campuses, limited |
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advanced academic course offerings, or other critical needs |
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identified by the district; or |
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(E) another research-based strategy designed to |
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improve teacher retention rates; |
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(9) an activity that creates or furthers the goals of |
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an incentive system designed to improve student achievement; |
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(10) stipends for teachers who participate in an |
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after-school or Saturday program that directly contributes to |
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improved classroom instruction and student achievement; |
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(11) stipends for teachers who are certified under |
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Subchapter B in the main subject area in which they teach; |
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(12) stipends for teachers who hold a postgraduate |
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degree; |
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(13) additional funding for feeder campuses that, |
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because they are not assigned performance ratings under Chapter 39, |
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do not qualify to participate in the program, such as campuses that |
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serve kindergarten through grade two, to implement an activity |
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described by this section; and |
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(14) any other program that directly contributes to |
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improved student achievement. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |