By: Bernal, Rodriguez, González of Dallas, H.B. No. 102
      et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a school district assigning a mentor teacher to a new
  classroom teacher.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.458, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (a-1), (b-1), (f), (f-1), and (g) and amending
  Subsections (b) and (d) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  To be assigned as a mentor, a teacher must agree to
  serve as a mentor teacher for at least one school year.  The
  assignment must begin not later than the 30th day of employment of
  the classroom teacher to whom the mentor teacher is assigned.  A
  district must agree to assign a mentor to a new classroom teacher
  for at least two school years.
         (b)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
  administer this section, including rules concerning the duties and
  qualifications of a teacher who serves as a mentor and the number of
  classroom teachers that may be assigned to a mentor.  The rules
  concerning qualifications must require that to serve as a mentor a
  teacher must:
               (1)  complete a research-based mentor and induction
  training program approved by the commissioner;
               (2)  complete a mentor training program provided by the
  district; [and]
               (3)  have at least three complete years of teaching
  experience with a superior record of assisting students, as a
  whole, in achieving improvement in student performance; and
               (4)  demonstrate interpersonal skills, instructional
  effectiveness, and leadership skills.
         (b-1)  A school district must provide training to mentor
  teachers and any appropriate district and campus employees who work
  with the classroom teacher or supervise the classroom teacher.  The
  training must be completed by the mentor teacher and the district
  and campus employees before the beginning of the school year.  The
  district shall also provide supplemental training to mentor
  teachers and employees during the school year.  The training must
  include content related to best mentorship practices.
         (d)  In adopting rules under this section [Subsection (c)],
  the commissioner shall rely on research-based mentoring programs
  that, through external evaluation, have demonstrated success.
         (f)  A mentor teacher must meet with each classroom teacher
  assigned to the mentor not less than 12 hours each semester.  
  Observations of the mentor by the classroom teacher being mentored
  or of the classroom teacher being mentored by the mentor may count
  toward the 12 hours of meeting time required for the semester.
  Except as provided by Subsection (f-1), the mentoring sessions must
  address the following topics:
               (1)  orientation to the context, policies, and
  practices of the school district;
               (2)  data-driven instructional practices;
               (3)  specific instructional coaching cycles, including
  coaching regarding conferences between parents and the classroom
  teacher;
               (4)  professional development; and
               (5)  professional expectations.
         (f-1)  Subject to approval by the agency, in determining the
  topics to be addressed in the mentoring sessions, a school district
  may create an appropriate curriculum that meets the district needs.
         (g)  A school district must:
               (1)  designate a specific time during the regularly
  contracted school day for meetings between mentor teachers and
  classroom teachers assigned to a mentor; and
               (2)  schedule release time or a reduced teaching load
  for mentor teachers and classroom teachers under this section to
  facilitate mentoring activities, including classroom observations
  or participation in supportive coaching.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 42.161 to read as follows:
         Sec. 42.161.  MENTOR PROGRAM ALLOTMENT. (a) A school
  district that has implemented a mentoring program for classroom
  teachers who have less than two years of teaching experience under
  Section 21.458 is entitled to an allotment as determined under
  Subsection (b) to fund the mentoring program and to provide
  stipends for mentor teachers.
         (b)  The commissioner shall adopt a formula to determine the
  amount to which each district described by Subsection (a) is
  entitled.
         (c)  Funding provided to districts under this section may be
  used only for providing:
               (1)  mentor teacher stipends;
               (2)  scheduled release time for mentor teachers and the
  classroom teachers to whom they are assigned for meeting and
  engaging in mentoring activities; and
               (3)  mentoring support through providers of mentor
  training.
         SECTION 3.  Section 21.458(c), Education Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2019.