Texas Register
.
The new section is proposed under the Texas Education Code, §21.413,
which authorizes the commissioner of education to adopt rules as necessary
to implement the master science teacher grant program.
The new section implements the Texas Education Code, §21.413.
§102.1015.Master Science Teacher Grant Program.
(a)
Under Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.413, a school
district may apply to the commissioner of education for grants for high-need
campuses identified by the commissioner to be used to pay stipends to certified
master science teachers, in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b)
The following terms apply to each school district applicant
seeking stipends under the Master Science Teacher Grant Program:
(1)
Identified high-need campus. An identified high-need campus
is a campus where the percentage of students reported passing the statewide
assessment in science averages less than or equal to a percentage designated
by the commissioner in the years specified by the commissioner or the percentage
of students on a Personal Graduation Plan (PGP) for science averages more
than or equal to a percentage designated by the commissioner in the years
specified by the commissioner. An identified campus remains eligible for state
stipend funds for three years, if sufficient funds are available.
(A)
An identified high-need campus does not include:
(i)
a discipline alternative education program operated under
TEC, §37.008;
(ii)
a juvenile justice alternative education program; and
(iii)
a campus where fewer than 30 students per year took the
statewide assessment in science over the period of time in which data are
considered.
(B)
For the 2005-2006 school year, identification of high-need
campuses will be based on:
(i)
the average scores on the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 spring
administration of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) science
test for Grade 10 and exit level for campuses consisting of Grades 9-12;
(ii)
the percentage of students in the 2005-2006 school year
on a PGP for campuses consisting of Grades 6-8; and
(iii)
the average scores on the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 spring
administration of the TAKS science test for Grade 5 for campuses consisting
of early childhood (EC)- Grade 5.
(C)
For subsequent school years, the TAKS science test score
averages for the past three school years for which data are available, not
including the school year in which the state stipend is to be paid, will be
used to identify a high-need campus.
(2)
Primary duties. The primary duties of a master science
teacher are:
(A)
teaching science; and
(B)
serving as a science teacher mentor to other teachers.
(3)
Teaching science. Teaching science is performed when a
teacher:
(A)
applies knowledge of the interrelated components of science,
including scientific principles, such as systems and models, properties and
patterns, constancy and change; scientific processes, such as inquiry in the
laboratory and field, critical thinking and problem-solving; and science concepts,
such as relationship between force and motion and interdependence among living
systems. The master science teacher understands ethics in science investigation
and laboratory and field safety techniques and employs appropriate pedagogy
and assessment techniques;
(B)
selects, constructs, and administers appropriate science
assessments on an ongoing basis and uses the results to design, inform, and
adjust science instruction to promote student achievement;
(C)
applies knowledge of a range of scientific achievement
(e.g., advanced learners, students demonstrating science difficulties) and
effective instructional approaches to facilitate and promote science achievement;
and
(D)
creates a positive learning environment that promotes positive
student attitudes toward science and provides equitable opportunities for
all students to achieve at a high level.
(4)
Science teacher mentor. A science teacher mentor:
(A)
provides mentoring and leadership that facilitate appropriate
standards-based and research-based science instruction;
(B)
communicates and collaborates with educational professionals,
parents, and others;
(C)
coaches and consults with colleagues;
(D)
provides professional development opportunities for faculty;
and
(E)
makes instructional decisions based on data and supported
by evidence from research.
(5)
Certified master science teacher. A certified master science
teacher is a person who:
(A)
has at least three years of teaching experience;
(B)
completes satisfactorily a course of instruction approved
by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) for the purpose of becoming
a master science teacher for Grades EC-4, 4-8, or 8-12;
(C)
performs satisfactorily on the master science teacher certification
examination for Grades EC-4, 4-8, or 8-12 prescribed by the SBEC; and
(D)
has master science teacher certification for the specific
grade levels on the campus to which assigned.
(c)
A school district may apply to the commissioner for grants
for each identified high-need campus as defined in subsection (b)(1) of this
section to be used to pay state stipends at the end of the school year to
the designated certified master science teachers.
(1)
The primary duties of the master science teacher are to
teach science and to serve as a science teacher mentor to other teachers for
the amount of time and in the manner established by the school district in
conformance with the definitions and requirements set forth in subsection
(b) of this section.
(2)
The application must contain a certification by the school
superintendent that the grants will be used only for the purpose set forth
in TEC, §21.413.
(3)
Applications and reports must be filed with the commissioner
during the school year in which a stipend is to be paid in accordance with
the application instructions.
(d)
The commissioner shall determine, based upon student enrollment,
whether a district may receive grants to pay one or two state stipends to
certified master science teachers per identified high-need campus.
(1)
School districts may receive grants to pay state stipends
to two certified master science teachers per identified high-need campus having
a large student population as determined annually by the commissioner in the
application.
(2)
School districts may receive grants to pay state stipends
to one certified master science teacher per identified high-need campus having
a small student population as determined annually by the commissioner in the
application.
(e)
An identified high-need campus within a district continues
to be eligible for two additional years following the initial year of the
grant even if the campus is no longer a high-need campus. The district must
continue to pay the stipend to a designated master science teacher who is
eligible as defined in subsection (b) of this section and whose primary duties
include teaching science and serving as a science teacher mentor as defined
in subsection (b)(2) of this section.
(f)
Following the initial year of the grant, a district is
not required to reapply for a grant for two consecutive years if the district:
(1)
notifies the commissioner, in accordance with the application
instructions, that the circumstances on which the grant was based have not
changed;
(2)
notifies the commissioner of eligible teachers continuing
to receive state stipends; and
(3)
notifies the commissioner of changes in the circumstances
on which the grant was based, including:
(A)
number of months of the teacher's service under master
science teacher certification;
(B)
new designated master science teachers on previously unserved
identified high-need campuses, as defined in subsection (d) of this section;
(C)
changes in designated master science teachers on already
served identified high-need campuses; and
(D)
additional changes affecting the Master Science Teacher
Grant Program, including any information required by the commissioner.
(g)
The commissioner shall reduce payments to a school district
proportionately to the extent an eligible teacher does not meet the requirements
under subsection (b) of this section for the entire school year. In the event
a teacher qualifies as a master science teacher for a partial month, the district's
written policy will determine how the district counts the partial month (e.g.,
as no month served or as an entire month served). Only whole months shall
be entered on the application by the district on the teacher's behalf.
(h)
A district that employs more certified master science teachers
than the number of grants available under this section shall designate which
certified master science teacher(s) to assign the duties required to receive
the state stipend(s).
(1)
The designation is based on a written policy adopted by
the board of trustees of the district.
(2)
The district shall pay a state stipend for only one designated
master science teacher per designated slot on an identified high-need campus.
(3)
In unforeseen circumstances (e.g., teacher becomes seriously
ill and cannot continue), the district may request from the commissioner that
another teacher be designated as the new master teacher as an exception to
the provisions in this subsection to be considered on a case-by-case basis
and only under extreme circumstances.
(4)
A decision of the district under this subsection is final
and may not be appealed.
(5)
The district may use local money to pay additional stipends
in amounts determined by the district.
(i)
State stipends to certified master science teachers must
be paid by local school districts no later than 30 days after receipt of the
state grant funds by the school district.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on March 7, 2005.
TRD-200501007
Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez
Director, Policy Coordination
Texas Education Agency
Earliest possible date of adoption: April 17, 2005
For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497