Bill Text: TX SB972 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas Senate Bill 972 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to training academies for public school teachers who provide reading comprehension instruction to students in grades four and five.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-05-28 - Effective immediately [SB972 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB972-Enrolled.html



	S.B. No. 972




	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:
	(1) must include effective instructional practices
	that promote student development of reading comprehension and
	inferential and critical thinking;
	(2) must provide training in the use of empirically
	validated instructional methods that are appropriate for
	struggling readers;
	(3) may include material on writing instruction; and
	(4) must 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. In adopting
	selection criteria under this subsection, the commissioner shall:
	(1) require granting a priority to teachers employed
	by a school district at a campus at which 50 percent or more of the
	students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged; and
	(2) provide a process through which a teacher not
	employed at a campus described by Subdivision (1) may attend the
	academy if the academy has available space and the school district
	employing the teacher pays the costs of the teacher's attendance.
	(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. 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.
	(e) On request of the commissioner, regional education
	service centers shall assist the commissioner and agency with
	training and other activities relating to the development and
	operation of reading-to-learn academies.
	(f) This section expires September 1, 2027.
	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.





	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House

	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 972 passed the Senate on
	April 23, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.


	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate

	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 972 passed the House on
	May 23, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 103, Nays 37,
	one present not voting.


	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House



	Approved:

	______________________________
	Date


	______________________________
	Governor