Part 7.
STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
Chapter 227.
PROVISIONS FOR EDUCATOR PREPARATION STUDENTS
Subchapter B. TEACH FOR TEXAS PILOT PROGRAM
19 TAC §§227.30, 227.32, 227.34, 227.36, 227.38, 227.40, 227.42, 227.44, 227.46, 227.48, 227.50, 227.52, 227.54, 227.56, 227.58
The State Board for Educator Certification adopts new §§227.30,
227.32, 227.34, 227.36, 227.38, 227.40, 227.42, 227.44, 227.46, 227.48, 227.50,
227.52, 227.54, 227.56 and 227.58, concerning the Teach for Texas Pilot Program,
without changes to the proposed text as published in the February 4, 2000,
issue of the
Texas Register
(25 TexReg 656)
and will not be republished.
The purpose of the rules are to provide postbaccalaureate individuals in
alternative certification programs with financial aid opportunities. The adopted
rules implement statutory requirements contained in House Bill 713 creating
the Teach for Texas Pilot Program. The rules provide a mechanism for individuals
who otherwise might not have access to financial aid with opportunities for
financial assistance to become teachers in Texas. These individuals would
apply for the financial aid through the approved teacher preparation program's
financial aid official for these funds. The financial aid contributes to the
individual's ability to pay costs associated with obtaining the Standard Certificate.
The recipient of the financial aid must teach in a Texas public school for
three years after completing certification requirements or repay the financial
aid as a loan. In formulating the rules, the agency considered the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board's rule for its Teach for Texas Conditional Grant
Program to encourage undergraduate university students to become teachers
and to serve in subject fields or in communities having a critical shortage
of teachers. Similarly, SBC's rules will encourage persons who already have
a college degree to become certified teachers and to teach subjects or to
serve communities in which a critical shortage of teacher exists. The program
must offer to participants financial incentives, which may include tuition
assistance and loan forgiveness. The Board was not appropriated public funds
for the incentive program for this biennium, but may solicit federal and private
funding sources. In practice, the new rules will work as follows: The funding
officer at the authorized entity will recommend the applicant to the Board
for the financial incentive. The applicant must be admitted to the approved
educator preparation program. In awarding financial incentives through the
pilot program, preference will be given to participants who agree to teach
either in a subject or field certified by the commissioner of education as
experiencing a critical shortage of teachers or to teach in a school district
or on a campus certified by the executive director as experiencing a critical
shortage of teachers. The maximum amount of a basic financial incentive shall
equal the average annual cost of required tuition, books, and fees at approved
educator preparation programs as determined by the executive director. Each
participant who accepts a financial incentive and the executive director must
execute a contract between them under which the participant is obligated to
teach full time for three years in a Texas public school. To avoid repayment
of the financial incentive as a loan, the participant must complete all requirements
to obtain standard teacher certification and teach full time for three years
within the designated time limits. The shortage areas in teaching subjects
and communities will be determined by the commissioner of education, who already
makes such determinations for purposes related to the employment of retired
teachers in the public schools and federal funding.
No comments were received regarding adoption of the new rules.
The new rules are adopted under Texas Education Code, §§21.502
- 21.503, which authorize the State Board for Educator Certification to adopt
rules concerning the Teach for Texas Pilot Program.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on April 10, 2000.
TRD-200002544
Pamela B. Tackett
Executive Director
State Board for Educator Certification
Effective date: April 30, 2000
Proposal publication date: February 4, 2000
For further information, please call: (512) 469-3011
Chapter 229.
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR EDUCATOR PREPARATION