By: Patrick, Pitts, Allen, Branch, Aycock, H.B. No. 1752

et al.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creating the Texas Teacher Residency Program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Q to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER Q. TEXAS TEACHER RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Sec. 21.801. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. (a) Not later than March 1, 2014, the commissioner of higher education shall, through a competitive selection process, establish a Texas Teacher Residency Program at a public institution of higher education that has developed a commitment to investing in teacher education.

(b) The public institution of higher education shall form a partnership with an area school district or open-enrollment charter school to provide employment to residents in the program.

(c) The program must be designed to:

(1) award teaching residents participating in the program a master's degree; and

(2) lead to certification under Subchapter B for participating teaching residents who are not already certified teachers.

(d) The public institution of higher education shall:

(1) reward faculty instructing in the teacher residency program;

(2) identify faculty who can prepare teachers to impact student achievement in high-need schools;

(3) provide institutional support of faculty who work with the teacher residency program by providing time to teach the courses and valuing the faculty's contributions with rewards in the university tenure process; and

(4) develop and implement a program that acknowledges and elevates the significance and professional nature of teaching at the primary and secondary levels.

Sec. 21.802. PROGRAM COMPONENTS. The teacher residency program shall include:

(1) competitive admission requirements with multiple criteria;

(2) integration of pedagogy and classroom practice;

(3) rigorous master's level course work, while undertaking a guided apprenticeship at the partner area school district or open-enrollment charter school;

(4) a team mentorship approach to expose teaching residents to a variety of teaching methods, philosophies, and classroom environments;

(5) clear criteria for the selection of mentor teachers based on measures of teacher effectiveness and the appropriate subject area knowledge;

(6) measures of appropriate progress through the program;

(7) the collaboration with one or more regional education service centers or local nonprofit education organizations to provide professional development or other structured learning experiences for teaching residents;

(8) a livable stipend for teaching residents;

(9) a post-completion commitment by teaching residents to serve four years at schools that are difficult to staff;

(10) job placement assistance for teaching residents;

(11) support for teaching residents for not less than one year following the resident's completion of the program through the provision of mentoring, professional development, and networking opportunities;

(12) demonstration of the integral role and responsibilities of the partner area school district or open-enrollment charter school in fulfilling the purpose of the program; and

(13) monetary or in-kind contributions provided by the public institution of higher education, partner area school district, or open-enrollment charter school to demonstrate that the program may be sustained in the absence of grant funds or state appropriations.

Sec. 21.803. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to be admitted and hired as a teaching resident under the program, an individual must:

(1) have received the individual's initial teaching certificate not more than two years before applying for a residency and must have less than 18 months of full-time equivalency teaching experience as a certified teacher; or

(2) hold a bachelor's degree and:

(A) be a mid-career professional from outside the field of education, and have strong content knowledge or a record of achievement; or

(B) be a noncertified educator such as a substitute teacher or teaching assistant.

Sec. 21.804. SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS. The teaching residency program shall establish criteria for selection of individuals to participate in the program. The selection criteria must include:

(1) a demonstration of comprehensive subject area knowledge or a record of accomplishment in the field or subject area to be taught;

(2) strong verbal and written communication skills, which may be demonstrated by performance on appropriate tests; and

(3) attributes linked to effective teaching, which may be determined by interviews or performance assessments.

Sec. 21.805. RULES. The commissioner of higher education shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.

Sec. 21.806. AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CERTAIN FUNDS. (a) The commissioner of higher education may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public and private entities to use for the purposes of this subchapter.

(b) The commissioner of higher education, applicable institutions of higher education, partner area school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools may use state funds for the purpose of the program, other than appropriations made specifically for that purpose.

(c) The Texas Teacher Residency Program under this subchapter may be established and maintained only if sufficient funds are available under this section for that purpose.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.