BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3700

By: Jackson, Jim

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A pilot program in Austin called Classroom Coaching by Partners in Education has proven to be an excellent asset for teachers, mentors and students. Classroom Coaching is a structured, fun, and rewarding way to ensure that all students succeed academically. Each "Classroom Coach" is a volunteer who spends 45 to 50 minutes, once a week during the school day, to serve as both a mentor and a tutor to a small group of students. Each volunteer works with the same group of three to four students, with the students' teacher remaining in the classroom to provide support. Topics that are taught range from regular curriculum subjects like math, reading, and literature, to other topics such as technology and college readiness.

H.B. 3700 authorizes the establishment of a Texas Classroom Coaching program and authorizes the granting of a leave of absence without a deduction in salary or loss of vacation time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state compensatory time to a state employee continuously engaged in weekly classroom visits of 45 minutes in duration as a volunteer in the Texas Classroom Coaching Program.

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. 3700 amends the Education Code to authorize a school district improvement plan to establish a Texas Classroom Coaching program with the objective of improving student academic performance and reducing dropout rates.

H.B. 3700 amends the Government Code to authorize the granting of a leave of absence without a deduction in salary or loss of vacation time, sick leave, earned overtime credit, or state compensatory time to state employee continuously engaged in weekly classroom visits of 45 minutes in duration as a volunteer in the Texas Classroom Coaching Program. The bill prohibits the leave of absence from exceeding 80 hours per fiscal year and two hours per week and requires visits to be validated by school staff.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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