84R9601 KKA-D
 
  By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 972
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to training academies for public school teachers who
  provide reading comprehension instruction to students in grades
  four and five.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.4554 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.4554.  READING-TO-LEARN ACADEMIES. (a) The
  commissioner shall develop and make available reading-to-learn
  academies for teachers who provide reading comprehension
  instruction to students at the fourth or fifth grade level.
         (b)  A reading-to-learn academy developed under this section
  must:
               (1)  include effective instructional practices that
  promote student development of reading comprehension and
  inferential and critical thinking; and
               (2)  provide participating teachers with access to the
  academy training materials through the Internet after the teachers
  attend the academy.
         (c)  The commissioner shall adopt criteria for selecting
  teachers who may attend a reading-to-learn academy.
         (d)  From funds appropriated for that purpose, a teacher who
  attends a reading-to-learn academy is entitled to receive a stipend
  in the amount determined by the commissioner to cover expenses of
  attending the academy. A stipend received under this subsection is
  not considered in determining whether a district is paying the
  teacher the minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402.
         SECTION 2.  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.