84R9002 KKA-D
By: King of Hemphill H.B. No. 1599
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to grants for school districts and campuses providing
blended and individualized learning staff development activities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.4542 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.4542. BLENDED AND INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING STAFF
DEVELOPMENT GRANTS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Blended learning" means learning in an
environment in which classroom instruction is supplemented with
lectures, exercises, and tutorials that students view online at
their own pace, either in the classroom or at home.
(2) "Individualized learning" is a mastery-based
system of learning in which students advance in their lessons based
on demonstrated proficiency instead of amount of time spent in the
classroom.
(b) From funds appropriated for that purpose, the
commissioner by rule shall establish a program under which
participating school districts and campuses receive grants to
provide staff development activities to prepare educators to
implement blended learning and individualized learning
initiatives.
(c) The commissioner's rules adopted under this section
must:
(1) require a school district or campus to obtain
advance approval from the commissioner for the specific staff
development activity to be provided using grant funds; and
(2) permit grant funds to be used to pay incidental
costs related to travel and lodging associated with an educator's
participation in an approved staff development activity.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.