86R5938 GCB-D
By: Shaheen H.B. No. 1947
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to state funding for the implementation of teacher
excellence initiative programs by school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.358 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.358. TEACHER EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE PROGRAM. (a)
In this section, "teacher excellence initiative program" means a
program implemented by a school district for:
(1) evaluating the effectiveness of classroom
teachers under a multi-measure system;
(2) encouraging highly effective classroom teachers
to remain at or seek transfer to campuses with poor overall or
domain performance ratings under Section 39.054; and
(3) awarding merit salary increases to classroom
teachers based on the evaluation described by Subdivision (1) who
are assigned to campuses described by Subdivision (2).
(b) A school district may submit a request to the
commissioner for state funding under this section to assist the
district in providing the merit salary increases.
(c) From funds appropriated for that purpose, the
commissioner shall provide funding under this section in accordance
with rules adopted by the commissioner for that purpose. If funds
are not available to provide funding to each school district that
submits a request under Subsection (b), the commissioner shall give
priority to school districts with the highest proportion of
educationally disadvantaged students.
(d) Funding received under this section may only be used by
a school district to provide and sustain merit salary increases
provided to classroom teachers under a teacher excellence
initiative program.
(e) Rules adopted under Subsection (c) must require that a
school district demonstrate improved campus performance in order to
continue receiving merit salary increase funding for classroom
teachers assigned to that campus.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable, the commissioner of
education shall adopt rules under Section 21.358, Education Code,
as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2019.