HBA-MPM H.B. 491 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 491
By: Kitchen
Public Education
3/12/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Like many states, Texas is having difficulty attracting and retaining
quality teachers.  Increasing teacher compensation and advancing the
recognition of teachers as professionals is one way to address this
problem.  Other professions use certification by peers to recognize
achievement of professional standards. The National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has created a rigorous and challenging
certification program for public educators.  NBPTS certified teachers
perform better on a variety of performance measures than those who fall
short of NBPTS standards.  A few local school districts provide incentives
for teachers to obtain NBPTS certification, but there is no statewide
system of incentives.  House Bill 491 entitles a classroom teacher who is
certified by NBPTS to an annual salary increase of $7,500. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 491 amends the Education Code to entitle a classroom teacher
certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (board)
to a $7,500 award for each year the teacher holds that certification, in
addition to any other compensation received.  

The bill provides that the financial award be paid from state money
appropriated specifically for that purpose. A classroom teacher is not
entitled to the award for the time the teacher was certified by the board
prior to the effective date of this Act. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.