| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of a reading excellence team pilot |
|
|
program. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 28.0061 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 28.0061. READING EXCELLENCE TEAM PILOT PROGRAM. |
|
|
(a) Using funds appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner |
|
|
shall establish a reading excellence team pilot program in |
|
|
accordance with this section. |
|
|
(b) A school district is eligible to participate in the |
|
|
pilot program if, as determined by the commissioner, the district |
|
|
has low student performance on: |
|
|
(1) a reading instrument administered in accordance |
|
|
with Section 28.006(c); or |
|
|
(2) a third grade reading assessment instrument |
|
|
administered under Section 39.023(a). |
|
|
(c) The pilot program must: |
|
|
(1) establish reading excellence teams composed of |
|
|
reading instruction specialists; |
|
|
(2) allow an eligible school district to request the |
|
|
assistance of a reading excellence team; and |
|
|
(3) provide a reading excellence team to a requesting |
|
|
eligible school district to: |
|
|
(A) review with the district the results of the |
|
|
assessments described under Subsection (b) to determine campuses |
|
|
and classrooms for kindergarten through third grade with the |
|
|
greatest need of assistance; and |
|
|
(B) work with teachers on campuses and in |
|
|
classrooms identified under Paragraph (A) to provide training |
|
|
necessary to improve student reading outcomes. |
|
|
(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules to administer this |
|
|
section, including rules establishing qualifications and criteria |
|
|
for selecting reading instruction specialists for a reading |
|
|
excellence team. |
|
|
(e) This section expires September 1, 2021. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The commissioner of education shall establish |
|
|
the pilot program under Section 28.0061, Education Code, as added |
|
|
by this Act, not later than September 1, 2016. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |