84R9601 KKA-D
By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 972
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to training academies for public school teachers who
provide reading comprehension instruction to students in grades
four and five.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.4554 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.4554. READING-TO-LEARN ACADEMIES. (a) The
commissioner shall develop and make available reading-to-learn
academies for teachers who provide reading comprehension
instruction to students at the fourth or fifth grade level.
(b) A reading-to-learn academy developed under this section
must:
(1) include effective instructional practices that
promote student development of reading comprehension and
inferential and critical thinking; and
(2) provide participating teachers with access to the
academy training materials through the Internet after the teachers
attend the academy.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt criteria for selecting
teachers who may attend a reading-to-learn academy.
(d) From funds appropriated for that purpose, a teacher who
attends a reading-to-learn academy is entitled to receive a stipend
in the amount determined by the commissioner to cover expenses of
attending the academy. 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.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.