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.

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 55 (S.B. 925), Sec. 1, eff. May 21, 2015.

For expiration of this section, see Subsection (f).