88R1688 CXP-D
By: Vasut H.B. No. 1982
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to teacher literacy achievement academies and the
requirement for certain public school teachers and principals to
attend a teacher literacy achievement academy.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 21.4552, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:
(d-1) The commissioner is required to implement a provision
of this section only if the legislature appropriates money
specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner
may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this section
using other appropriations available for that purpose.
SECTION 2. Section 28.006(g-1), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(g-1) A school district shall provide additional reading
instruction and intervention to each student in seventh grade
assessed under Subsection (c-1), as appropriate to improve the
student's reading skills in the relevant areas identified through
the assessment instrument. Training and support for activities
required by this subsection shall be provided by regional education
service centers and any teacher literacy achievement academies made
available [established] under Section 21.4552, and may be provided
by other public and private providers.
SECTION 3. Section 28.0062(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school
shall:
(1) provide for the use of a phonics curriculum that
uses systematic direct instruction in kindergarten through third
grade to ensure all students obtain necessary early literacy
skills;
(2) if the commissioner has made available teacher
literacy achievement academies under Section 21.4552, ensure that:
(A) [not later than the 2022-2023 school year,]
each classroom teacher in kindergarten or first, second, or third
grade and each principal at a campus with kindergarten or first,
second, or third grade has attended a teacher literacy achievement
academy [developed under Section 21.4552]; and
(B) each classroom teacher and each principal
initially employed in a grade level or at a campus described by
Paragraph (A) [for the 2022-2023 school year or a subsequent school
year] has attended a teacher literacy achievement academy
[developed under Section 21.4552] by the end of the teacher's or
principal's first year of placement in that grade level or campus;
and
(3) certify to the agency that the district or school:
(A) prioritizes placement of highly effective
teachers in kindergarten through second grade; and
(B) has integrated reading instruments used to
diagnose reading development and comprehension to support each
student in prekindergarten through third grade.
SECTION 4. 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, 2023.