85R5885 PAM-F

By: Guillen H.B. No. 1918

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to providing grants for professional development training for certain public school teachers.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.0542 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.0542. GRANT PROGRAM FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES FOR CERTAIN TEACHERS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Authorized provider" means an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education as those terms are defined by Section 61.003 that:

(A) is approved to offer an educator preparation program; and

(B) offers online through an Internet portal at least 100 subject-specific professional development courses that comply with the requirements of Subsection (c) at levels prekindergarten through grade 12.

(2) "Eligible teacher" means a classroom teacher who is providing instruction at any level of prekindergarten through grade 12:

(A) during the teacher's first year of teaching;

(B) in a subject for which the teacher does not possess a bachelor's degree with an academic major or minor in that subject; or

(C) at a campus assigned an overall performance rating of D or F under Section 39.054.

(b) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commissioner shall make available to an authorized provider grants as provided by this section to pay the tuition and any required fees for eligible teachers who enroll in an online professional development course that complies with the requirements of Subsection (c) and is provided through the authorized provider.

(c) To qualify for a grant under this section, a professional development course offered by an authorized provider must:

(1) cover the subject and level of student instruction for which the eligible teacher enrolled provides instruction;

(2) require enrollment for the fall and spring semesters;

(3) require the teacher to be administered a preliminary assessment instrument and, on completion of the course, a final assessment instrument;

(4) provide a printed and electronic version of a teacher manual for student instruction that includes:

(A) a course syllabus;

(B) a daily pacing guide;

(C) detailed daily lesson plans;

(D) editable class notes;

(E) a student activity book or lab manual, as appropriate; and

(F) editable student assessment instruments; and

(5) be provided in conjunction with the assignment as a mentor a teacher who has experience in:

(A) teaching the subject and grade level of the course in which the eligible teacher is enrolled; and

(B) using the same student instruction materials provided by the course.

(d) An authorized provider shall determine when a teacher applies for enrollment in a course described by Subsection (c) whether the teacher is an eligible teacher. The authorized provider may enroll each teacher the authorized provider determines is an eligible teacher and submit a request for grant money to the commissioner in the amount of the tuition and any required fees for both semesters of the course.

(e) The commissioner shall distribute grant money to authorized providers based on the date on which each individual request is received by the commissioner. If the commissioner receives more requests for grant money than the amount of money appropriated, the commissioner shall select the requests to be paid on the last date for which grant money is available based on a policy adopted by rule by the commissioner. A decision of the commissioner under this subsection is final and may not be appealed. The commissioner may not apportion among the requests grant money distributed under this section.

(f) The commissioner may audit the records of an authorized provider to ensure compliance with this section. On request by the commissioner, an authorized provider shall provide the commissioner with all relevant records necessary to conduct a compliance audit.

(g) A teacher who successfully completes a professional development course under this section, including performing satisfactorily on the final assessment instrument under Subsection (c)(3), earns the equivalent of one-half of the continuing education credit hours required for certification renewal of the class of certificate the teacher holds.

(h) The commissioner and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement and administer this section.

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, 2017.