By: Meyer H.B. No. 4615
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain performance-based incentives and teacher
  education and development initiatives administered by the Texas
  Higher Education Coordinating Board.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 62, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter I to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER I.  PERFORMANCE-BASED INCENTIVES AND TEACHER
  EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
         Sec. 62.181.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "institution
  of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
         Sec. 62.182.  FUNDING.  The legislature may appropriate
  funding for programs established under this subchapter from any
  available source.
         Sec. 62.183.  PERFORMANCE-BASED INCENTIVES.  (a)  From
  funds appropriated for the purpose, the coordinating board shall
  provide performance-based incentives to institutions of higher
  education based on the achievement of progress toward the goals
  established under the state's master plan for higher education
  developed under Section 61.051.  The coordinating board shall
  include adult education, including vocational education, provided
  by the Windham School District in the incentive measures developed
  under this section.
         (b)  The coordinating board shall determine eligibility
  criteria for and the amount of a performance-based incentive
  provided under this section.
         Sec. 62.184.  TEACHER EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
  INITIATIVES.  (a)  The coordinating board shall provide grants or
  other funding to support teacher education and development
  initiatives.
         (b)  The initiatives may include:
               (1)  development of or support for high quality
  professional development for teachers to increase teacher quality
  and student outcomes;
               (2)  student loan forgiveness programs for
  high-performing students who graduate from an institution of higher
  education and who commit to teaching in the public schools in this
  state for at least eight years immediately following graduation;
               (3)  the development of a teaching associate degree
  program at institutions of higher education that incorporates a
  two-year intensive teaching mentorship under a high-performing
  teacher and that leads to a teacher certification under Subchapter
  B, Chapter 21; or
               (4)  a competitive grant program for high-performing
  teachers at public schools in this state to support grant
  recipients' proposals for innovative or promising projects to
  improve teacher quality or effectiveness, including projects to
  improve or develop best instructional practices, dual language
  instruction, professional development curricula for career and
  technical education teachers, and conferences or other measures to
  promote best pedagogical practices.
         (c)  The coordinating board shall determine eligibility
  criteria for and the amount of funding provided for each initiative
  under this section.
         Sec. 62.185.  RULES.  The coordinating board shall adopt
  rules for the administration of this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2020.