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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain eligibility requirements of the Teach for Texas |
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Loan Repayment Assistance Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 56.353, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Teach for Texas repayment assistance is available only |
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to a person who applies for the assistance and who: |
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(1) is certified in a teaching field identified by the |
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commissioner of education as experiencing a critical shortage of |
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teachers in this state in the year in which the person receives the |
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assistance and has for at least one year taught full-time at, and is |
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currently teaching full-time at, the preschool, primary, or |
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secondary level in a public school in this state in that teaching |
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field; [or] |
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(2) is a certified educator who has for at least one |
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year taught full-time at, and is currently teaching full-time at, |
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the preschool, primary, or secondary level in a public school in |
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this state at which it is difficult to attract or retain educators, |
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as [in a community] identified by the commissioner of education for |
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[as experiencing a critical shortage of teachers in] the year in |
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which the person receives the assistance; or |
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(3) is a certified educator who has for at least one |
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year taught full-time at, and is currently teaching full-time at, |
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the preschool, primary, or secondary level in a public school in |
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this state in which more than 50 percent of the students enrolled |
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are economically disadvantaged, as identified by the commissioner |
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of education for the year in which the person receives the |
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assistance. |
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(a-1) The commissioner of education each year shall |
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identify: |
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(1) for purposes of Subsections (a)(2) and (3), public |
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schools in this state at which it is difficult to attract or retain |
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educators; and |
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(2) for purposes of Subsection (a)(3), public schools |
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in this state in which more than 50 percent of the students enrolled |
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are economically disadvantaged. |
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(b) The coordinating board in awarding repayment assistance |
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shall give priority to applicants who are described by Subsection |
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(a)(2) or (3) or who demonstrate financial need. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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56.353, Education Code, applies only to eligibility for loan |
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repayment assistance under Subchapter O, Chapter 56, Education |
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Code, on the basis of an application submitted on or after September |
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1, 2011. Eligibility on the basis of an application submitted |
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before September 1, 2011, is covered by the law in effect at the |
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time the application was submitted, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |