S.B. No. 925
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to providing training academies for public school teachers
  who provide reading instruction to students in kindergarten through
  grade three.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.4552 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.4552.  TEACHER LITERACY ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMIES.
  (a)  The commissioner shall develop and make available literacy
  achievement academies for teachers who provide reading instruction
  to students at the kindergarten or first, second, or third grade
  level.
         (b)  A literacy achievement academy developed under this
  section:
               (1)  must include training in:
                     (A)  effective and systematic instructional
  practices in reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics,
  fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; and
                     (B)  the use of empirically validated
  instructional methods that are appropriate for struggling readers;
  and
               (2)  may include training in effective instructional
  practices in writing.
         (c)  The commissioner shall adopt criteria for selecting
  teachers who may attend a literacy achievement academy. In
  adopting selection criteria under this subsection, the
  commissioner shall:
               (1)  require granting a priority to teachers employed
  by a school district at a campus at which 50 percent or more of the
  students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged; and
               (2)  provide a process through which a teacher not
  employed at a campus described by Subdivision (1) may attend the
  academy if the academy has available space and the school district
  employing the teacher pays the costs of the teacher's attendance.
         (d)  From funds appropriated for that purpose, a teacher who
  attends a literacy achievement academy is entitled to receive a
  stipend in the amount determined by the commissioner.  A stipend
  received under this subsection is not considered in determining
  whether a school district is paying the teacher the minimum monthly
  salary under Section 21.402.
         (e)  On request of the commissioner, regional education
  service centers shall assist the commissioner and agency with
  training and other activities relating to the development and
  operation of literacy achievement academies.
         (f)  This section expires September 1, 2027.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 925 passed the Senate on
  April 23, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 925 passed the House on
  May 7, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 125, Nays 13, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor