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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a school district assigning a mentor teacher to a new |
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classroom teacher. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.458, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (a-1), (b-1), (f), and (g) and amending |
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Subsections (b) and (d) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) To be assigned as a mentor, a teacher must agree to |
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serve as a mentor teacher for at least two school years. The |
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assignment must begin on the first day of employment of the |
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classroom teacher to whom the mentor teacher is assigned. |
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(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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administer this section, including rules concerning the duties and |
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qualifications of a teacher who serves as a mentor and the number of |
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classroom teachers that may be assigned to a mentor. The rules |
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concerning qualifications must require that to serve as a mentor a |
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teacher must: |
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(1) complete a research-based mentor and induction |
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training program approved by the commissioner; |
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(2) complete a mentor training program provided by the |
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district; [and] |
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(3) have at least three complete years of teaching |
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experience with a superior record of assisting students, as a |
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whole, in achieving improvement in student performance; and |
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(4) demonstrate interpersonal skills, instructional |
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effectiveness, and leadership skills. |
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(b-1) A school district must provide training to mentor |
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teachers and any appropriate district and campus employees who work |
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with the classroom teacher or supervise the classroom teacher. The |
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training must be completed by the mentor teacher and the district |
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and campus employees before the beginning of the school year. The |
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district shall also provide supplemental training to mentor |
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teachers and employees during the school year. The training must |
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include content related to best mentorship practices. |
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(d) In adopting rules under this section [Subsection (c)], |
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the commissioner shall rely on research-based mentoring programs |
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that, through external evaluation, have demonstrated success. |
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(f) A mentor teacher must meet with each classroom teacher |
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assigned to the mentor at least once a week for an individual |
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mentoring session lasting at least 45 minutes, with not less than 12 |
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hours of meeting time each semester. The mentoring sessions must |
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address the following topics: |
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(1) orientation to the context, policies, and |
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practices of the school district; |
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(2) data-driven instructional practices; |
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(3) specific instructional coaching cycles, including |
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coaching regarding conferences between parents and the classroom |
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teacher; |
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(4) professional development; and |
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(5) professional expectations. |
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(g) A school district must: |
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(1) designate a specific time during the regularly |
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contracted school day for meetings between mentor teachers and |
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classroom teachers assigned to a mentor; and |
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(2) schedule release time or a reduced teaching load |
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for mentor teachers and classroom teachers under this section to |
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facilitate mentoring activities, including classroom observations |
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or participation in supportive coaching. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 42, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 42.161 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.161. MENTOR PROGRAM ALLOTMENT. (a) A school |
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district that has implemented a mentoring program for classroom |
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teachers who have less than two years of teaching experience under |
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Section 21.458 is entitled to an allotment as determined under |
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Subsection (b) to fund the mentoring program and to provide |
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stipends for mentor teachers. |
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(b) The commissioner shall adopt a formula to determine the |
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amount to which each district described by Subsection (a) is |
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entitled. |
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(c) Funding provided to districts under this section may be |
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used only for providing: |
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(1) mentor teacher stipends; |
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(2) scheduled release time for mentor teachers and the |
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classroom teachers to whom they are assigned for meeting and |
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engaging in mentoring activities; and |
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(3) mentoring support through providers of mentor |
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training. |
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SECTION 3. Section 21.458(c), Education Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |