By: Shapiro S.B. No. 1460
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to professional development academies designed for public
school teachers who provide instruction to certain students of
limited English proficiency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.4553 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.4553. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMIES FOR
TEACHERS OF CERTAIN STUDENTS OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
(a) The commissioner shall design, establish, and make available
professional development academies for teachers who provide
instruction to students of limited English proficiency at the
seventh grade level or above.
(b) A professional development academy established under
this section must be designed to include training for teachers in
research-based practices for:
(1) improving general English language development in
students of limited English proficiency;
(2) teaching students of limited English proficiency
at the seventh grade level or above the English language, including
specific vocabulary, as necessary for the students to understand
and succeed academically in reading and other English language
arts, mathematics, science, and social studies; and
(3) improving access to learning by students of
limited English proficiency.
(c) The commissioner by rule shall require a teacher for
whom an area of deficiency related to the instruction of students of
limited English proficiency has been identified under the
recommended or locally developed appraisal system under Section
21.352(c) to attend a professional development academy established
under this section if the teacher provides instruction:
(1) at the seventh grade level or above;
(2) at a campus at which, as determined by the
commissioner in accordance with commissioner rule, the academic
performance of students of limited English proficiency needs
improvement; and
(3) in a bilingual education or special language
program or to students of limited English proficiency in reading,
English language arts, mathematics, science, or social studies.
(d) The commissioner by rule shall adopt criteria for the
selection of teachers, other than teachers described by Subsection
(c), who may attend a professional development academy established
under this section, giving priority to teachers providing
instruction at the seventh grade level or above in a bilingual
education or special language program or to students of limited
English proficiency in reading, English language arts,
mathematics, science, or social studies at campuses described by
Subsection (c)(2).
(e) From funds appropriated for the purpose, a teacher who
attends a professional development academy established under this
section is entitled to receive a stipend in the amount determined by
the commissioner. A stipend received under this subsection is not
considered in determining whether a district is paying the teacher
the minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402.
(f) On request of the commissioner, regional education
service centers shall assist the commissioner and agency with
activities related to the design, establishment, and operation of
professional development academies under this section. The
commissioner may seek additional assistance from other public and
private providers.
(g) From funds appropriated for purposes of this section,
the commissioner shall conduct or contract with a public or private
entity to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the professional
development academies established under this section. The
evaluation must:
(1) use qualitative, quantitative, and expert review
methodologies, including:
(A) direct observations;
(B) follow-up interviews and surveys with
participating teachers and administrators; and
(C) analysis of student data submitted through
the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) and
student assessment results to measure academic progress achieved by
students receiving instruction from teachers who have attended a
professional development academy established under this section in
comparison to:
(i) academic progress achieved by those
students in preceding years; and
(ii) academic progress achieved by students
of limited English proficiency receiving instruction from teachers
who have not attended a professional development academy; and
(2) include an analysis of financial data to assess
the cost-effectiveness of the professional development academies.
(h) Not later than December 1, 2012, the commissioner shall
prepare and deliver to each member of the legislature a report
describing the results of the evaluation required by Subsection
(g). Subsection (g) and this subsection expire September 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. This Act does not make an appropriation. This
Act takes effect only if a specific appropriation for the
implementation of the Act is provided in a general appropriations
act of the 81st Legislature.
SECTION 3. Except as provided by Section 2 of this Act, 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, 2009, except as provided by Section 2 of this Act.