S.B. No. 934
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to providing training academies for public school teachers
  who provide mathematics 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 21.4553 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.4553.  TEACHER MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMIES.  
  (a)  The commissioner shall develop and make available mathematics
  achievement academies for teachers who provide mathematics
  instruction to students at the kindergarten or first, second, or
  third grade level.
         (b)  A mathematics achievement academy developed under this
  section must include training in effective and systematic
  instructional practices in mathematics, including problem solving,
  the place value system, whole number operations, and fractions.
         (c)  The commissioner shall adopt criteria for selecting
  teachers who may attend a mathematics 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 mathematics 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 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 mathematics 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. 934 passed the Senate on
  April 23, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 22, 2015, by the
  following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 934 passed the House, with
  amendment, on May 18, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 130,
  Nays 11, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor