BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 709

By: Rose

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The No Child Left Behind Act requires that every classroom be taught by a highly qualified teacher. According to the Southern Regional Education Board, one indicator of progress in this area is when licensure and certification focus on performance, leading to ample numbers of teachers with content knowledge and proven teaching skills to improve student achievement.  Another measure is the number of teachers who have obtained national certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which sets rigorous standards for teachers' knowledge and skills.

Nationwide, approximately 74,000 teachers have achieved this status, but currently only 472 of these teachers are working in Texas. One reason may be that Texas offers no financial incentive for teachers to seek this rigorous and expensive credential. In states such as North Carolina and Florida that award salary stipends to teachers who obtain this certification, hundreds of teachers, if not thousands, opt to seek the credential.

In June 2008, the National Research Council of the National Academies released a report finding that students taught by national board-certified teachers make higher gains on achievement tests than those taught by teachers who have not applied for and achieved certification. This research also found that national board certification has a positive impact on teacher retention.

H.B. 709 authorizes a school district to use educator excellence program funds to provide stipends for teachers who obtain national certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 709 amends the Education Code requirement that funds received under the educator excellence awards program remaining after a school district awards grants to classroom teachers who effectively improve student achievement be spent only on certain enumerated programs and stipends.  The bill adds, as an additional option, the provision of stipends to classroom teachers who have obtained national board certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

H.B. 709 makes its provisions applicable beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.