HBA-MPM H.B. 2776 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2776
By: Dukes
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there are no guidelines for induction-year mentor programs, nor
does the law provide additional funding to mentor teachers or their
districts.  H.B. 2776 requires the State Board for Educator Certification
(board) to propose rules establishing guidelines for induction-year mentor
programs (programs) for beginning teachers.  The bill further entitles a
mentor teacher to a stipend, as set by the board, and entitles a district
to receive state assistance in an amount equal to the stipends received by
all mentor teachers in the district. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the State Board for Educator
Certification in SECTION 2 (Section 21.0501, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 21.044, Education Code, to delete entering an
induction year program from those processes for which the State Board for
Educator Certification (board) is required to propose rules establishing
training requirements before a person may begin the process.  Makes a
nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding
Section 21.0501, as follows: 

Sec. 21.0501.  INDUCTION-YEAR MENTOR PROGRAM.  (a)  Requires the board to
propose rules establishing guidelines for induction-year mentor programs
(programs) for beginning teachers.  Requires the guidelines to include: 

_minimum qualifications for selection of mentor teachers that include
certain requirements;  
_training for mentor teachers, including training related to the
demonstration of effective strategies, observation and guidance of
beginning teachers; 
_a requirement that a beginning teacher and the teacher's mentor meet for a
minimum of 20 hours in the classroom and 50 hours outside the classroom
each school year;  
_recommended support structures; and
_a method for including information from mentor teachers about the
beginning teacher's performance in the evaluation of educator preparation
programs under Section 21.045 (Accountability System for Educator
Preparation Programs), Education Code. 

(b)  Entitles a mentor teacher to a stipend in an amount not to exceed 10
percent of the teacher's salary as determined by the board of trustees of
the school district (district). 

(c)  Entitles a district to receive, each school year and subject to
availability of appropriated funds, assistance from the state in an amount
equal to the stipends received by all mentor teachers in the district.
Requires the board to reduce each district's  entitlement proportionately
if the appropriated amount is not sufficient. 

SECTION 3.  Makes this Act applicable beginning with the 1999-2000 school
year. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.