By: Shapiro, West S.B. No. 1576
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an algebra instruction grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.092 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.092. ALGEBRA INSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) From
funds appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner shall
establish a program under which grants are awarded to school
districts to implement an algebra instruction program. From the
funds appropriated for use under Section 28.0211, the commissioner
may use not more than $50 million for the grant program provided by
this section.
(b) The commissioner shall develop a comprehensive
intervention plan to assist school districts with a
disproportionate number of students who fail to perform
satisfactorily on the assessment instrument administered under
Section 39.023(a)(1) in grades five through seven. The plan must be
based on high-quality research.
(c) The commissioner shall establish application criteria
for receiving a grant under this section. The criteria must require
a school district that applies for a grant to submit a local
intervention plan that meets the standards adopted by the
commissioner. In awarding grants under this section, the
commissioner shall give preference to districts with the lowest
rate of satisfactory performance on assessment instruments
administered under Section 39.023(a)(1) in grades five through
seven.
(d) A grant under this section must:
(1) support sustained improvement in the school
district's pre-algebra mathematics instruction in grades five
through eight; and
(2) target students who will be administered the
Algebra I end-of-course assessment instrument beginning in the
2011-2012 school year.
(e) A grant awarded under this section may be used for
providing:
(1) training and payment of state intervention coaches
to assist school districts in implementing the grant;
(2) training and instructional materials in
pre-algebra skills in grades five through eight;
(3) professional development of mathematics teachers
assigned to grades five through eight;
(4) flexibility in the school day for instruction;
(5) instructional services; and
(6) technology as part of instructional activities.
(f) The commissioner may condition a grant on the
implementation of the comprehensive intervention plan and may
withhold or recover any funds not spent as provided by the plan
approved under Subsection (b). A decision of the commissioner
under this subsection is final and may not be appealed.
(g) The commissioner may require a school district to make
financial and other commitments as part of a grant application.
(h) The commissioner shall:
(1) establish guidelines for implementing the grant
program; and
(2) adopt rules necessary to administer the grant
program.
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 otherwise provided by 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 otherwise provided by this Act.