Texas House Bill HB4176

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to participation by certain educational aides in a school district's mentoring program.

Impact

The bill amends Section 21.458 of the Education Code, which governs mentoring in school districts. The enactment of HB4176 would enable the commissioner of education to provide funding to districts for mentor assignments, supporting stipends, scheduled mentorship time, and training provided to mentors. This financial support is a crucial element of the bill, as it ensures that mentoring programs can be adequately funded, thus fostering an environment that promotes the professional growth of educational aides.

Summary

House Bill 4176 focuses on enhancing the participation of educational aides in school districts' mentoring programs. The bill allows each school district to assign a mentor to educational aides who have less than one year of classroom experience. Importantly, the mentor does not need to be a certified teacher, which broadens the pool of potential mentors while still ensuring that aides receive support as they begin their careers in education. This change is designed to improve the professional development of educational aides and ultimately enhance the quality of education in Texas schools.

Contention

While the bill is generally aimed at improving support for educational aides, there may be discussion around the implications of not requiring mentors to be certified teachers. Some stakeholders might raise concerns about the qualifications of mentors who are assigned to educational aides, suggesting that a non-certified mentor might lack the expertise necessary to provide effective support. Nonetheless, the bill reflects a trend toward creating more accessible mentoring opportunities within the educational system and acknowledges the valuable role that educational aides play in classrooms.