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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the distribution of funds at the local level under the |
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awards for student achievement program and the educator excellence |
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awards program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.656(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) An eligible campus must use a portion [75 percent] of a |
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grant award received under Section 21.655 to provide incentive |
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payments to classroom teachers assigned to the campus. To the |
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extent practicable, the campus shall pay a classroom teacher an |
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incentive payment in an amount of not less than $3,000 or more than |
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$10,000. |
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SECTION 2. 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 any portion [25 percent] of |
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a grant award received under Section 21.655 that is not used to |
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provide incentive payments to classroom teachers under Section |
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21.656 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; |
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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 3. Section 21.705, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.705. AWARD PAYMENTS. A school district must use a |
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portion [at least 60 percent] of grant funds awarded to the district |
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under this subchapter to directly award classroom teachers who |
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effectively improve student achievement as determined by |
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meaningful, objective measures. The remaining funds must be used |
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only to: |
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(1) provide stipends to effective mentors or teacher |
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coaches; |
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(2) provide stipends to classroom teachers who are |
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certified in a subject that is designated by the commissioner as |
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commonly experiencing a critical shortage of teachers; |
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(3) provide stipends to classroom teachers who are |
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certified under Subchapter B in the main subject area in which they |
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teach; |
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(4) provide stipends to classroom teachers with proven |
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records of success for improving student performance who are |
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assigned to campuses at which the district has experienced |
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difficulty assigning or retaining teachers; |
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(5) provide stipends to classroom teachers who hold |
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postgraduate degrees; |
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(6) provide awards to principals who effectively |
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increase student performance as determined by objective measures; |
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(7) provide awards to other campus employees who |
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demonstrate excellence; or |
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(8) implement the components of a Teacher Advancement |
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Program (TAP), including: |
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(A) an instructionally focused accountability |
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system; and |
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(B) the adjustment of teaching schedules to |
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permit ongoing applied professional growth. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. 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. |