HBA-MSH S.B. 1327 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1327 By: Bivins Public Education 4/26/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas suffers from a widely recognized teacher shortage, which is especially acute in the areas of math and science. Teachers could be recruited and the performance of Texas students on assessment exams could be improved with increased resources for mathematics instruction and continuing education of mathematics teachers. Senate Bill 1327 creates mathematics training programs for teachers, tutoring programs for students, and a grant program for master mathematics teachers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of education in SECTION 2 (Section 21.411, Education Code) and SECTION 6 (Section 29.087, Education Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 1327 amends the Education Code to require the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to establish a master mathematics teacher certificate rules (certificate) and sets forth eligibility requirements for a teacher to receive a certificate (Sec. 21.0482). The bill requires SBEC to propose rules establishing requirements and prescribing an examination for certification no later than January 1, 2003 (SECTION 8). The bill requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to establish a master mathematics teacher grant program to encourage teachers to become certified as master mathematics teachers and to work with students and other teachers to improve student mathematics performance. From funds appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner is required to make grants in the amount of $5,000 to school districts to pay stipends to selected certified master mathematics teachers who teach at high-need campuses beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. The bill requires the commissioner, by rule, to annually identify and rank in order of greatest need each high-need campus. The bill authorizes a school district to apply to the commissioner for grants to pay stipends to certified master mathematics teachers. The bill sets forth the criteria for evaluating and approving applications. The bill also sets forth provisions regarding the application of districts for the grants, and the distribution, funding, use, and auditing of the grants (Sec. 21.411 and SECTION 8). The bill requires the commissioner to develop and make available training material and resources for school districts to use in assisting mathematics teachers in developing expertise in teaching mathematics (Sec. 21.454). The bill requires the commissioner to develop and make available professional development institutes for teachers who provide instruction in mathematics to students at the fifth through eighth grade levels. The bill sets forth provisions relating to the curriculum of the institutes, criteria for the selection of teachers to attend the institute, and the payment of stipends to teachers who complete an institute (Sec. 21.455). The bill requires the commissioner to award from funds appropriated for that purpose to one or more institutions that have demonstrated an ability to conduct science-based research on effective instructional strategies that improve student performance in mathematics a grant to be used for research on mathematics skills acquisition and program effectiveness (Sec. 7.058). The bill requires the commissioner to develop and make available or contract for the development and dissemination of assessment instruments that a school district may use to diagnose student mathematics skills (Sec. 28.007). The bill authorizes a school district to provide an intensive after-school or summer program to provide mathematics instruction to students who are performing poorly in mathematics. The bill sets forth provisions regulating the manner in which a district must administer such a program. The bill requires the commissioner to by rule establish procedures regarding the application of school districts for funding, adopt guidelines for the selection of districts to receive funding, require the administration of assessment exams by the districts, and disseminate information regarding successful instructional methods. The bill provides that an afterschool or summer program shall be paid with funds appropriated for that purpose (Sec. 29.087). The bill amends the Government Code to include stipends issued through the program in the definition of "salary and wages" for the purpose of calculating member contributions and benefits under the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (Sec. 822.201). EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.