88R9076 ANG-D
By: Lopez of Cameron H.B. No. 2485
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to mentors assigned to classroom teachers in public
schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 21.458(a), (a-1), (b), (b-1), (f), and
(g), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Each school district may assign a mentor who is an
educator [teacher] to each classroom teacher who has less than two
years of teaching experience in the subject or grade level to which
the teacher is assigned. An educator [A teacher] assigned as a
mentor must:
(1) to the extent practicable, teach in the same
school;
(2) to the extent practicable, teach the same subject
or grade level, as applicable; and
(3) meet the qualifications prescribed by
commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (b).
(a-1) To be assigned as a mentor, an educator [a teacher]
must agree to serve as a mentor [teacher] for at least one school
year. The assignment must begin not later than the 30th day of
employment of the classroom teacher to whom the mentor [teacher] is
assigned. A district must agree to assign a mentor to a new
classroom teacher for at least two school years.
(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
administer this section, including rules concerning the duties and
qualifications of an educator [a teacher] who serves as a mentor and
the number of classroom teachers that may be assigned to a mentor.
The rules concerning qualifications must require that to serve as a
mentor an educator [a teacher] must:
(1) complete a research-based mentor and induction
training program approved by the commissioner;
(2) complete a mentor training program provided by the
district, which the district may allow to be satisfied by
completing the training program described by Subdivision (1);
(3) have at least three complete years of [teaching]
experience as an educator with a superior record of assisting
students, as a whole, in achieving improvement in student
performance; and
(4) demonstrate interpersonal skills, instructional
effectiveness, and leadership skills.
(b-1) A school district must provide training as described
by Subsection (b)(2) to mentors [mentor teachers] and any
appropriate district and campus employees who work with the
classroom teacher or supervise the classroom teacher. A district
may allow a training program approved by the commissioner under
Subsection (b)(1) to qualify for the training required by this
section. The training must be completed by the mentor [teacher] and
the district and campus employees before the beginning of the
school year. The district shall also provide supplemental training
to mentors [mentor teachers] and employees during the school year.
The training must include content related to best mentorship
practices.
(f) A mentor [teacher] must meet with each classroom teacher
assigned to the mentor not less than 12 hours each semester.
Observations of the mentor by the classroom teacher being mentored,
if applicable, or of the classroom teacher being mentored by the
mentor may count toward the 12 hours of meeting time required for
the semester. Except as provided by Subsection (f-1), the
mentoring sessions must address the following topics:
(1) orientation to the context, policies, and
practices of the school district;
(2) data-driven instructional practices;
(3) specific instructional coaching cycles, including
coaching regarding conferences between parents and the classroom
teacher;
(4) professional development; and
(5) professional expectations.
(g) A school district must:
(1) designate a specific time during the regularly
contracted school day for meetings between mentors [mentor
teachers] and classroom teachers assigned to a mentor; and
(2) schedule release time or a reduced teaching load
for mentors, if applicable, [mentor teachers] and classroom
teachers under this section to facilitate mentoring activities,
including classroom observations or participation in supportive
coaching.
SECTION 2. Sections 48.114(a) and (c), Education Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) A school district that has implemented a mentoring
program for classroom teachers who have less than two years of
teaching experience under Section 21.458 is entitled to an
allotment as determined under Subsection (b) to fund the mentoring
program and to provide stipends for educators who are mentors
[mentor teachers].
(c) Funding provided to districts under this section may be
used only for providing:
(1) mentor [teacher] stipends;
(2) scheduled release time for mentors [mentor
teachers] and the classroom teachers to whom they are assigned for
meeting and engaging in mentoring activities; and
(3) mentoring support through providers of mentor
training.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
school year.
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.