By: Creighton S.B. No. 2253
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the preparation and certification of public school
educators, and certain allotments under the Foundation School
Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 01. Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) A local innovation plan may not provide for the
exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from
the following provisions of this title:
(1) a state or federal requirement applicable to an
open-enrollment charter school operating under Subchapter D,
Chapter 12;
(2) Subchapters A, C, D, and E, Chapter 11, except that
a district may be exempt from Sections 11.1511(b)(5) and (14) and
Section 11.162;
(3) the employment of uncertified classroom teachers
under Section 21.0032;
(4) parental notification requirements under Section
21.057;
(5) state curriculum and graduation requirements
adopted under Chapter 28; and
(6) [(4)] academic and financial accountability and
sanctions under Chapters 39 and 39A.
SECTION 2. Section 19.007(g), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(g) In addition to other amounts received by the district
under this section, the district is entitled to:
(1) state aid in the amount necessary to fund the
salary increases required by Section 19.009(d-2); and
(2) the preparing and retaining educators through
partnership program allotment under Section 48.157.
SECTION 3. Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (3-b) to read as follows:
(3-b) "Teacher of record" means a person employed by a
school district who teaches the majority of the instructional day
in an academic instructional setting and is responsible for
evaluating student achievement and assigning grades.
SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.0032 and 21.0033 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.0032. EMPLOYMENT OF UNCERTIFIED CLASSROOM TEACHERS.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) and (d), a school
district may not employ as a classroom teacher for a course in the
foundation curriculum under Section 28.002 a person who does not
hold an appropriate certificate or permit issued by the State Board
for Educator Certification under Subchapter B.
(b) If the commissioner approves a plan submitted by the
school district, the commissioner may delay the application of
Subsection (a) if the plan provides a reasonable timeline and
strategy to come into compliance with Subsection (a) no later than
the 2029-2030 school year.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for the 2026-2027
school year, a school district may employ as a teacher of record for
a course other than a reading language arts or mathematics course in
a grade level at or below grade five a person who does not hold an
appropriate certificate or permit issued by the State Board for
Educator Certification under Subchapter B.
(d) The requirements of this section do not supersede
waivers under Section 7.056 or authorizations under 21.055.
Sec. 21.0033. INCENTIVE TO CERTIFY TEACHERS. (a) From
money appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the
agency shall provide to each school district a one-time payment of
$1,000 for each classroom teacher employed by the district who:
(1) was hired for the 2022-2023 or 2023-2024 school
year as a first-year teacher;
(2) was uncertified on January 1, 2025;
(3) earned a standard certificate under Subchapter B
by the end of the 2025-2026 school year; and
(4) was continuously employed by the district since
the school year described by Subdivision (1).
(b) This section expires September 1, 2027.
SECTION 5. Section 21.041, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) A rule proposed by the board under this section relating
to educator preparation is not subject to Section 2001.0045,
Government Code.
SECTION 6. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 21.0412, 21.04421, 21.04422, and
21.04423 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.0412. TYPES OF TEACHING CERTIFICATES. (a) In
proposing rules specifying the types of teaching certificates to be
issued under this subchapter, the board shall provide for a
candidate to be issued:
(1) a standard certificate if the candidate satisfies
all traditional teacher preparation requirements under Section
21.04421 or all alternative teacher preparation requirements under
Section 21.04423;
(2) an enhanced standard certificate if the candidate
satisfies all requirements of the teacher residency standard
preparation route established under Section 21.04422;
(3) an intern with preservice experience certificate,
which expires one year after issuance unless modified by the board,
if the candidate has yet to satisfy all requirements for
certification for a preservice alternative teacher preparation
route established under Section 21.04423(1) but has completed a
sufficient number of preservice practice hours to serve as a
teacher of record; and
(4) an intern certificate, which expires two years
after issuance unless modified by the board, if the candidate has
yet to satisfy all requirements for certification for an
alternative teacher preparation route established under Section
21.04423(2) but has met all board requirements to serve as a teacher
of record.
(b) Rules proposed under Subsection (a)(2) may not require
a candidate to pass a pedagogy examination unless the examination
tests subject-specific content appropriate for the grade level and
subject area for which the candidate seeks certification.
(c) A candidate for a certification described by Subsection
(a) must meet all other requirements imposed under this subchapter
or board rule applicable to the candidate's certification.
(d) This section does not prohibit the board from proposing
rules that provide for certifications other than the certifications
described by Subsection (a), including specialized certifications
and other types and classes of certifications.
Sec. 21.04421. TRADITIONAL TEACHER PREPARATION. (a) In
proposing rules under this subchapter regarding training
requirements for a candidate seeking certification through a
traditional teacher preparation route in which a candidate may
concurrently receive an undergraduate or master's degree and a
certification to teach a subject area at a particular grade level,
the board shall:
(1) require preservice practice be provided through a
formal partnership between the educator preparation program and a
school district or open-enrollment charter school; and
(2) require the candidate to complete substantial
preservice practice in a prekindergarten through grade 12 classroom
that includes practicing the skills learned from the instruction
described by Sections 21.0443(b)(3) and (4).
(b) The rules proposed under Subsection (a) must require
training to be provided synchronously. The board may approve
components of the training to be delivered asynchronously on
application by an educator preparation program.
Sec. 21.04422. TEACHER RESIDENCY PREPARATION. (a) The
board shall propose rules under this subchapter to create a teacher
residency standard preparation route.
(b) In proposing rules for a teacher residency preparation
route under this section, the board must require that the program:
(1) use research-based best practices for recruiting
and admitting candidates into the program;
(2) integrate course work, classroom practice, formal
observation, and feedback;
(3) meet the traditional teacher preparation
requirements under Section 21.04421 (a)(1), (a)(2), and (b);
(4) require a candidate to receive preservice
practice, including practice in the skills learned from the
instruction described by Sections 21.0443(b)(3) and (4), in a
prekindergarten through grade 12 classroom for at least one full
school year; and
(5) use multiple assessments to measure a candidate's
progress.
Sec. 21.04423. ALTERNATIVE TEACHER PREPARATION. In
proposing rules under this subchapter regarding training
requirements for a candidate who has previously earned a degree and
is seeking certification through an alternative teacher
preparation route, the board shall establish:
(1) a preservice alternative teacher preparation
route that meets:
(A) the traditional teacher preparation
requirements under Section 21.04421 (a)(1) and (a)(2) which
includes time spent as a paraprofessional as pre-service practice
hours; and
(B) the traditional teacher preparation
requirements under Section 21.04421(b); and
(2) an alternative teacher preparation route that
allows for flexibility in how a candidate may demonstrate
proficiency for certification.
SECTION 7. Section 21.0443, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 21.0443. EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM APPROVAL AND
RENEWAL. (a) The board shall propose rules to establish standards
to govern the approval or renewal of approval of:
(1) educator preparation programs; [and]
(2) the teacher preparation routes established under
Sections 21.04421, 21.04422, and 21.04423; and
(3) certification fields authorized to be offered by
an educator preparation program.
(a-1) The board may review an educator preparation
program's curriculum:
(1) before the approval or renewal of approval of the
program; and
(2) at any time after the approval or renewal of the
approval of the program to ensure that any changes to curriculum
requirements proposed by the board since the most recent review
have been incorporated into the curriculum to maintain approval.
(b) To be eligible for approval or renewal of approval, an
educator preparation program must:
(1) incorporate proactive instructional planning
techniques throughout course work and across content areas using a
framework that:
(A) provides flexibility in the ways:
(i) information is presented;
(ii) students respond or demonstrate
knowledge and skills; and
(iii) students are engaged;
(B) reduces barriers in instruction;
(C) provides appropriate accommodations,
supports, and challenges; and
(D) maintains high achievement expectations for
all students, including students with disabilities and students of
limited English proficiency;
(2) integrate inclusive practices for all students,
including students with disabilities, and evidence-based
instruction and intervention strategies throughout course work,
clinical experience, and student teaching;
(3) incorporate the instructional materials and
training developed under Section 21.067;
(4) if applicable and approved by the agency for the
grade and subject area for which the program provides instruction,
incorporate the literacy achievement academies and mathematics
achievement academies under Sections 21.4552 and 21.4553;
(5) ensure that instruction described by Subdivisions
(3) and (4) is delivered by a person approved by the agency to
provide the instruction;
(6) ensure that the program and the program's
administrators, instructors, and other employees comply with
Section 28.0022 as if:
(A) the program were a school district;
(B) the program's administrators, instructors,
and other employees are administrators, teachers, or other
employees of a school district, as applicable; and
(C) candidates in the program were students of a
school district;
(7) adequately prepare candidates for educator
certification; and
(8)[(4)] meet the standards and requirements of the
board.
(b-1) The board by rule shall designate the components of a
literacy achievement academy or mathematics achievement academy
under Section 21.4552 or 21.4553, as applicable, that may be
completed after receiving an intern with preservice experience
certificate under Section 21.0412.
(c) The board shall require that each educator preparation
program be reviewed for renewal of approval at least every five
years. The board may require each educator preparation program to
be reviewed for renewal of approval at least annually. The board
shall adopt an evaluation process to be used in reviewing an
educator preparation program for renewal of approval.
(d) In adopting the evaluation process under Subsection
(c), the board shall consider including:
(1) quality indicators that reflect effective program
practices; and
(2) measures that provide for the observation of
program practices to ensure program quality.
SECTION 8. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.0456 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.0456. SANCTIONS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE. (a) The board
may impose a sanction against an educator preparation program for
noncompliance with a provision of this subchapter or a rule adopted
under this subchapter, including a rule proposed under Section
21.0443, or to address a complaint received under Section 21.0455.
A sanction under this subsection may be one or more of the actions
described by Section 21.0451(a)(2), regardless of whether a program
has been rated as accredited-probation under the Accountability
System for Educator Preparation for a period of at least one year.
(b) Any action authorized to be taken against an educator
preparation program under Subsection (a) may also be taken with
regard to a particular route or field of certification authorized
to be offered by an educator preparation program.
(c) A revocation must be effective for a period of at least
two years. After two years, the program may seek renewed approval to
prepare educators for state certification.
(d) The costs of technical assistance or the costs
associated with the appointment of a monitor shall be paid by the
educator preparation program.
SECTION 9. Section 21.049, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 21.049. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS
[CERTIFICATION]. (a) To provide a continuing additional source of
qualified educators, the board shall propose rules providing that
[for] educator certification programs may be provided by an
institution of higher education or another entity [as an alterative
to traditional educator preparation programs]. The rules may not
provide that a person may be certified under this section only if
there is a demonstrated shortage of educators in a school district
or subject area.
(b) The board may not require a person employed as a teacher
in an alternative education program under Section 37.008 or a
juvenile justice alternative education program under Section
37.011 for at least three years to complete an alternative educator
preparation [certification] program adopted under this section
before taking the appropriate certification examination.
SECTION 10. Section 21.057, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:
(f) If the agency has developed a model notice for purposes
of this section, the superintendent must use that model to provide
the notice required under this section.
(g) A notice provided under this section, including a notice
provided in accordance with Subsection (e), must include
information regarding eligibility to participate in the public
education grant program under Section 29.202.
SECTION 11. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 21.066 and 21.067 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.066. TEMPORARY COMMISSIONER RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may
adopt rules or amend, repeal, or otherwise modify a rule proposed by
the board under this subchapter to ensure the expedited
implementation of new teacher preparation routes, requirements,
and certificates.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner shall
adopt initial rules relating to the implementation of Sections
21.0412, 21.04421, 21.04422, and 21.04423 not later than December
31, 2025.
(c) Section 21.041(e) applies to rules adopted, amended,
repealed, or otherwise modified under this section.
(d) This section expires September 1, 2028.
Sec. 21.067. EDUCATOR PREPARATION MATERIALS AND TRAINING.
(a) The commissioner shall develop and make available:
(1) instructional materials for use in educator
preparation programs under this subchapter; and
(2) training for faculty responsible for preparing
educator candidates.
(b) The materials and training developed under Subsection
(a) must:
(1) be research-based;
(2) support the development of proficiency in the
knowledge and skills specified by rules proposed under Section
21.044(a)(1); and
(3) allow for an educator candidate to demonstrate the
candidate's proficiency, including proficiency in the knowledge
and skills described by Subdivision (2).
(c) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 12. Section 21.402, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (f-1), (f-2), (f-3), and (f-4) to read as
follows:
(f-1) A school district must pay to a classroom teacher with
zero years of experience who holds a certificate under Section
21.0412(a) (1), (2), or (3) a minimum salary that is greater than
the minimum salary paid to a classroom teacher with zero years of
experience who does not hold a certificate under Section 21.0412(a)
(1), (2), or (3).
(f-2) The board of trustees of a school district may adopt
minimum salaries to satisfy the requirements of Subsection (f-1) as
follows:
(1) for a classroom teacher who holds a standard
certificate or intern with preservice experience certificate under
Section 21.0412(a)(1) or (3), $3,000; and
(2) for a classroom teacher who holds a residency
standard certificate under Section 21.0412(a)(2), $6,000.
(f-3) Subsection (f-1) does not apply to a stipend or other
form of compensation not included in a classroom teacher's minimum
salary under this section.
(f-4) A school district may not adopt a salary schedule that
differentiates classroom teacher salaries based solely on a
teacher's certification for teachers who have five or more years of
teaching experience.
SECTION 13. Section 21.4552(f), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(f) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the
purpose, including an allotment under Section 48.108, a school
district shall provide to the educator preparation program for each
classroom teacher who holds an intern with preservice experience
certificate under Section 21.0412(a)(3) and completes a literacy
achievement academy under this section while employed by the
district a one-time payment of $1,000 or another amount set by the
agency [This section expires September 1, 2027].
SECTION 14. Section 21.4553(f), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(f) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the
purpose, including an allotment under Section 48.108, a school
district shall provide to the educator preparation program for each
classroom teacher who holds an intern with preservice experience
certificate under Section 21.0412(a)(3) and completes a
mathematics achievement academy under this section while employed
by the district a one-time payment of $500 or another amount set by
the agency [This section expires September 1, 2027].
SECTION 15. Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER R. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Sec. 21.901. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Alternative preservice partnership program"
means the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership
Alternative Preservice Program established under Section 21.905.
(2) "Board" means the State Board for Educator
Certification.
(3) "Cooperating teacher" means a classroom teacher
who:
(A) has at least three full school years of
teaching experience with a superior record of assisting students in
achieving improvement in student performance;
(B) is employed as a teacher of record by a school
district or open-enrollment charter school participating in a
preservice partnership program or grow your own partnership program
under this subchapter and paired with one or more preservice
teacher candidates or grow your own participants at the district or
school; and
(C) provides coaching to one or more teacher
candidates who participate in grow your own or preservice
preparation in the teacher's classroom.
(4) "Grow your own partnership program" means the
Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership Grow Your Own
Program established under Section 21.906.
(5) "Mentor teacher" means a mentor teacher as
described by Section 21.458.
(6) "Preservice partnership programs" means the
Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership Preservice
Programs established under Section 21.902.
(7) "Residency preservice partnership program" means
the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership
Residency Preservice Program established under Section 21.904.
(8) "Teacher candidate" means a person enrolled in an
educator preparation program participating in a program under the
preservice partnership program.
(9) "Traditional preservice partnership program"
means the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership
Traditional Preservice Program established under Section 21.903.
Sec. 21.902. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP PRESERVICE PROGRAMS. (a) The commissioner shall
establish the Preparing and Retaining Educators through
Partnership Preservice Programs to enable qualified educator
preparation programs to form partnerships with school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools to provide preservice practice
opportunities in a prekindergarten through grade 12 classroom for
teacher candidates at the district or school through the
traditional partnership program, the residency partnership
program, or the alternative partnership program.
(b) A preservice partnership program must be designed to:
(1) allow teacher candidates to receive field-based
experience working with cooperating teachers in prekindergarten
through grade 12 classrooms; and
(2) gradually increase the amount of time a teacher
candidate spends engaging in instructional responsibilities,
including observation, co-teaching, and lead-teaching
responsibilities.
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
participating in a preservice partnership program shall:
(1) enter into a written agreement with an approved
educator preparation program to:
(A) provide a teacher candidate with clinical
teaching opportunities at the district or school in the subject
area and grade level for which the candidate seeks certification;
and
(B) pair the teacher candidate with a cooperating
teacher who has successfully completed a training program for
cooperating teachers that, if required by the agency, must be
established or adopted by the agency;
(2) use money received under Section 48.157 only to
implement the preservice partnership program;
(3) ensure that a teacher candidate is mentored by a
mentor teacher who has completed mentorship training under Section
21.907 for the candidate's first two years as a teacher of record
after completing a preservice partnership program; and
(4) provide any information required by the agency
regarding the district's or school's implementation of a preservice
partnership program.
(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
only pair a teacher candidate with a cooperating teacher who agrees
to participate in that role in a preservice partnership program at
the district or school.
(e) While completing preservice practice hours, a teacher
candidate may not be employed or assigned by a school district or
open-enrollment charter school as:
(1) a teacher; or
(2) in a position that has primary or sole
responsibility for student instruction or supervision, except for
limited purposes to gain experience which may not exceed the time
the teacher of record for those students has primary or sole
responsibility for the instruction or supervision.
Sec. 21.903. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP TRADITIONAL PRESERVICE PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner
shall establish the Preparing and Retaining Educators through
Partnership Traditional Preservice Program as a preservice
partnership program to enable qualified educator preparation
programs that meet the traditional teacher preparation
requirements under Section 21.04421 to form partnerships with
school districts or open-enrollment charter schools to help prepare
candidates for a standard certificate.
(b) The program must be designed to:
(1) meet the requirements of a preservice partnership
program under Section 21.902; and
(2) allow a teacher candidate to satisfy the
traditional teacher preparation requirements under Section
21.04421.
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
participating in the traditional partnership program shall use
money received under Section 48.157(b)(1) to provide compensation
to:
(1) teacher candidates for preservice practice hours
at the district or school in an amount of at least $3,000 for
salary; and
(2) cooperating teachers who are paired with teacher
candidates at the district or school in an amount of at least
$1,000.
(d) In addition to the amount provided by Subsection (c)(1),
a school district shall provide compensation to teacher candidates
in any amount above the amount provided by that subdivision for
salary using money received under Section 48.157 or from any other
available source.
Sec. 21.904. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP RESIDENCY PRESERVICE PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner
shall establish the Preparing and Retaining Educators through
Partnership Residency Preservice Program as a preservice
partnership program to enable qualified educator preparation
programs that meet the teacher residency standard preparation
requirements under Section 21.04422 to form partnerships with
school districts or open-enrollment charter schools to help prepare
candidates for a residency standard certificate.
(b) The program must be designed to:
(1) meet the requirements of a preservice partnership
program under Section 21.902; and
(2) allow a teacher candidate to satisfy the teacher
residency standard preparation requirements under Section
21.04422.
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
participating in the residency partnership program shall use money
received under Section 48.157(b) (2) to provide compensation to:
(1) teacher candidates for preservice practice hours
at the district or school in an amount of at least $10,000 for
salary; and
(2) cooperating teachers who are paired with teacher
candidates at the district or school in an amount of at least
$2,000.
(d) In addition to the amount provided by Subsection (c)(1),
a school district shall provide compensation to teacher candidates
in an amount of at least $10,000 for salary using money received
under Section 48.157 or from any other available source.
(e) For the 2025-2026 school year, an educator preparation
program is not required to incorporate the instruction described by
Sections 21.0443(b) (3) and (4) to be eligible to participate in a
residency partnership program. This subsection expires September
1, 2026.
Sec. 21.905. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP ALTERNATIVE PRESERVICE PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner
shall establish the Preparing and Retaining Educators through
Partnership Alternative Preservice Program as a preservice
partnership program to enable qualified educator preparation
programs that meet the preservice alternative teacher preparation
requirements under Section 21.04423 to form partnerships with
school districts or open-enrollment charter schools to help prepare
candidates for an intern with preservice experience certificate or
standard certificate.
(b) The program must be designed to:
(1) meet the requirements of a preservice partnership
program under Section 21.902; and
(2) allow a teacher candidate to satisfy the
preservice alternative teacher preparation requirements under
Section 21.04423(1).
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
participating in the alternative partnership program shall use
money received under Section 48.157(b)(3) to provide compensation
to:
(1) teacher candidates for preservice practice hours
at the district or school in an amount of at least $3,000 for
salary; and
(2) cooperating teachers who are paired with teacher
candidates at the district or school in an amount of at least
$1,000.
(d) In addition to the amount provided by Subsection (c)(1),
a school district shall provide compensation to teacher candidates
in any amount above the amount provided by that subdivision for
salary using money received under Section 48.157 or from any other
available source.
Sec. 21.906. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall
establish the Preparing and Retaining Educators through
Partnership Grow Your Own Program to enable qualified institutions
of higher education and educator preparation programs, as
determined by the commissioner, to form partnerships with school
districts or open-enrollment charter schools to establish
innovative staffing pipelines to ensure the availability of
high-quality educators to benefit future district or school
students.
(b) The grow your own partnership program must be designed
to form partnerships that support:
(1) high school students in completing career and
technical education courses that help prepare the students to
become classroom teachers; or
(2) district or school employees who do not hold a
teaching certificate in completing a bachelor's degree to enable
the person to become a classroom teacher while employed by the
district or school.
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
participate in a grow your own partnership program only if the
district or school has been approved to participate in a preservice
partnership program.
(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
participating in the grow your own partnership program shall:
(1) for a partnership described by Subsection (b)(1),
provide:
(A) authentic opportunities, which may be paid or
unpaid, for students to practice teaching under the supervision of
one or more cooperating teachers; and
(B) guidance and other transition supports as a
student begins an undergraduate degree program that offers a route
to teacher preparation;
(2) for a partnership described by Subsection (b)(2),
provide for a district or school employee:
(A) scheduled release time to support completion
of a bachelor's degree;
(B) authentic opportunities to practice teaching
under the supervision of one or more cooperating teachers;
(C) on-the-job training aligned with the
standards for educator certification established by the board;
(D) a job assignment that includes instructional
support for students enrolled in the district or school;
(E) guidance and other transition supports as the
employee begins a program to satisfy the teacher preparation
requirements under Section 21.04421, 21.04422, or 21.04423; and
(3) enter into a written agreement with an institution
of higher education;
(4) require an employee participating in a partnership
described by Subsection (b)(2) to, as a condition for
participation, earn a bachelor's degree and enroll in an educator
preparation program within three years; and
(5) provide any information required by the agency
regarding the district's or school's implementation of the grow
your own partnership program.
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
use money received under Section 48.157 to implement the grow your
own partnership program and pay tuition and fees for students or
employees participating in the program.
(f) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
only pair a student or employee participating in the program with a
cooperating teacher who agrees to participate in that role in a grow
your own partnership program at the district or school.
(g) A student or employee participating in the program may
not serve:
(1) as a teacher of record; or
(2) in a position that has primary or sole
responsibility for student instruction or supervision except for
limited purposes to gain experience which may not exceed the time
the teacher of record for those students has primary or sole
responsibility for the instruction or supervision.
Sec. 21.907. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall
establish a preparing and retaining educators through partnership
mentorship program through which participating school districts or
open-enrollment charter schools implement a mentoring program that
meets the requirements of Section 21.458 for classroom teachers who
have less than two years of teaching experience.
(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
participating in the program must require a classroom teacher who
serves as a mentor teacher to annually complete a training program
for mentor teachers established or adopted by the agency.
(c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school
shall use money received under Section 48.157(b)(5) only to provide
stipends for mentor teachers in an amount of at least $1,000.
(d) If any money remains after providing a stipend to mentor
teachers in accordance with Subsection (c), the district may use
that money to provide:
(1) scheduled release time for mentor teachers and
classroom teachers being mentored to meet and engage in mentoring
activities; and
(2) support for mentor teachers through mentor
training and strategic staffing training.
Sec. 21.908. AGENCY SUPPORT. The agency shall provide
technical assistance, planning, and support to school districts,
open-enrollment charter schools, and educator preparation
programs, which must include:
(1) providing model forms and agreements a district,
school, or educator preparation program may use to comply with the
requirements of this subchapter;
(2) support for district and school strategic staffing
and compensation models to incentivize participation in a
partnership program;
(3) support for district, school, and educator
preparation program partners in implementing strong partnership
practices, including through participation in the grow your own
partnership program, and providing high-quality mentorship as
required under this subchapter; and
(4) support for educator preparation programs in
implementing the partnership programs under this subchapter.
Sec. 21.909. AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CERTAIN MONEY. The
commissioner may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
from public and private entities to use for the purposes of this
subchapter.
Sec. 21.910. APPROVAL AND ACCOUNTABILITY. (a) The
commissioner shall establish standards for partnership programs
under this section, including identifying qualifying preparation
programs.
(b) The commissioner shall establish performance goals for
partnership programs under this Subchapter.
(c) The commissioner shall periodically review the
performance of partnership programs in meeting the standards and
performance goals.
(d) If the commissioner determines that a partnership
program fails to meet the performance goals, the commissioner shall
remove authorization of the partnership program under this
Subchapter for a period not to exceed five years.
Sec. 21.911. RULES; POLICIES. (a) The commissioner shall
adopt rules as necessary to implement this subchapter.
(b) The agency, board, a school district, or an open
enrollment charter may not adopt a rule, policy, practice, or goal
intended to recruit participants based on race, sex, color, or
ethnicity.
SECTION 16. Section 29.202(a), Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) A student is eligible to receive a public education
grant or to attend another public school in the district in which
the student resides under this subchapter if the student is
assigned to:
(1) attend a public school campus assigned an
unacceptable performance rating that is made publicly available
under Section 39.054; or
(2) a classroom teacher or substitute teacher who does
not hold an appropriate certification under Subchapter B, Chapter
21, as a teacher of record in a course in the foundation curriculum
under Section 28.002(a)(1) for more than 30 instructional days.
SECTION 17. Section 29.204, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 29.204. NOTIFICATION. (a) Not later than January 1 of
each year the commissioner shall, based on the most recent
information available, provide notice to each school district in
which a campus described by Section 29.202(a)(1)[29.202] is located
that:
(1) identifies each campus in the district that meets
the description in Section 29.202(a)(1) [29.202]; and
(2) informs the district that the district must comply
with Subsection (b).
(b) Not later than February 1 of each year, a school
district shall notify the parent of each student in the district
assigned to attend a campus described by Section 29.202(a)(1)
[29.202] that the student is eligible for a public education grant.
The notice must contain a clear, concise explanation of the public
education grant program and of the manner in which the parent may
obtain further information about the program.
SECTION 18. Subchapter D, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 48.157 to read as follows:
Sec. 48.157. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ALLOTMENT. (a) In this section, "teacher
candidate" has the meaning assigned by Section 21.901.
(b) Subject to Subsections (f) and (g), a school district is
entitled to an annual allotment equal to each of the following
applicable amounts:
(1) for each teacher candidate completing preservice
practice hours at the district under Section 21.903, the sum of:
(A) $10,000; and
(B) the high needs and rural factor, as
determined under Subsection (c), multiplied by $2,000;
(2) for each teacher candidate completing preservice
practice hours at the district under Section 21.904, the sum of:
(A) $24,000; and
(B) the high needs and rural factor, as
determined under Subsection (c), multiplied by $3,000;
(3) for each teacher candidate completing preservice
practice hours at the district under Section 21.905, the sum of:
(A) $10,000; and
(B) the high needs and rural factor, as
determined under Subsection (c), multiplied by $2,000;
(4) for each district employee participating in a
partnership described by Section 21.906(b)(2), the sum of:
(A) $8,000; and
(B) the high needs and rural factor, as
determined under Subsection (c), multiplied by $1,000; and
(5) for each classroom teacher being mentored under
the preparing and retaining educators through partnership
mentorship program established under Section 21.907, $3,000.
(c) The high needs and rural factor is the lesser of:
(1) the average of the point value assigned to each
student at a district campus under Sections 48.112(e) and (f); or
(2) 4.0.
(d) In addition to the funding under Subsection (b), a
district is entitled to an additional $2,000 for each teacher
candidate described by Subsection (b)(1), (2), or (3) who is a
candidate for certification in bilingual education or special
education.
(e) The Texas School for the Deaf and the Texas School for
the Blind and Visually Impaired are entitled to an allotment under
this section. If the commissioner determines that assigning point
values under Subsection (c) to students enrolled in the Texas
School for the Deaf or the Texas School for the Blind and Visually
Impaired is impractical, the commissioner may use the average point
value assigned for those students' home districts for purposes of
calculating the high needs and rural factor.
(f) Unless a greater number of individuals is provided for
by appropriation for that school year, a school district may
receive an allotment for a school year for not more than:
(1) 40 individuals under each of Subsections (b)(2),
(4), and (5); and
(2) a total of 80 individuals under Subsections (b)(1)
and (3).
(f-1) If a school district has individuals that otherwise
qualify for funding under (b)(2) in excess of the cap under (f)(1),
the school district may receive funding under (b)(1) for those
individuals up to the cap under (f)(2).
(g) For purposes of offsetting tuition, fees, and
administrative costs, using money to which a school district is
otherwise entitled under Subsection (b), the commissioner shall
provide to a teacher candidate's educator preparation program each
of the following applicable amounts and reduce the district's
allotment under that subsection accordingly:
(1) $5,000 for each teacher candidate who completed a
partnership program under Section 21.903 who obtains a standard
certificate and has completed one year of employment with the
district;
(2) $10,000 for each teacher candidate who completed a
partnership program under Section 21.904 who obtains an enhanced
standard certificate and has completed one year of employment with
the district; and
(3) $2,500 for each teacher candidate participating in
the alternative preservice partnership program under Section
21.905 who holds an intern with preservice experience certificate
and an additional $2,500 for each teacher candidate who
subsequently holds a standard certificate.
(g-l) Institutions of higher education that receive funds
under Subsection (g), must spend no less than 85% of those funds
within the teacher preparation program.
(h) The agency shall only provide:
(1) $4,000 of the money the school district is
entitled to receive under Subsection (b)(1) until a teacher
candidate has successfully completed the requirements of a
partnership program under Section 21.903 by the deadline
established by the agency;
(2) $12,000 of the money the school district is
entitled to receive under Subsection (b)(2) until a teacher
candidate has successfully completed the requirements of a
partnership program under Section 21.904 by the deadline
established by the agency;
(3) $4,000 of the money the school district is
entitled to receive under Subsection (b)(3) until a district
employee has been issued an intern with preservice experience
certificate and has successfully completed the applicable
requirements of a partnership program under Section 21.905 by the
deadline established by the agency; and
(4) 50 percent of the money the school district is
entitled to receive under Subsection (b)(4) until the district
employee has successfully earned a bachelor's degree by the
deadline established by the agency.
SECTION 19. Subchapter G, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 48.310 to read as follows:
Sec. 48.310. ALLOTMENT FOR COMPLETION OF TEACHER LITERACY
OR MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMIES. An educator preparation
program that offers a teacher preparation route described by
Section 21.04421, 21.04422, or 21.04423(1) is entitled to an annual
allotment for each teacher candidate who completes a literacy
achievement academy or mathematics achievement academy under
Section 21.4552 or 21.4553 approved by the agency for the purpose in
the amount of:
(1) $1,000, or a greater amount set by appropriation
for that school year, for the completion of a literacy achievement
academy; or
(2) $500, or a greater amount set by appropriation for
that school year, for the completion of a mathematics achievement
academy.
SECTION 20. (a) The following provisions of the Education
Code are repealed:
(1) Section 21.051(a);
(2) Subchapter Q, Chapter 21; and
(3) Section 48.114.
(b) Section 825.4092(f), Government Code, is repealed.
SECTION 21. Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, as amended
by this article, applies to each local innovation plan adopted
under Chapter 12A, Education Code, regardless of whether the plan
was adopted before, on, or after the effective date of this article.
A local innovation plan adopted or renewed before the effective
date of this article must comply with Section 12A.004(a), Education
Code, as amended by this article, not later than September 1, 2026.
SECTION 22. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Act
and by Subsection (b) of this section, the changes made by this Act
apply beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
(b) Section 21.0032, Education Code, as added by this Act,
and Section 21.402, Education Code, as amended by this Act, apply
beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
SECTION 23. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
this section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
(b) The changes made by this Act take effect immediately if
this Act 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, those changes take effect September 1, 2025.