Sec. 21.456. SCIENCE TRAINING. (a) The commissioner shall develop and have approved by the board training materials and other teacher training resources for a school district to use in assisting science teachers in developing:

(1) expertise in the appropriate science curriculum; and

(2) comprehension of the instructional approaches that, through scientific testing, have been proven effective in improving student science skills.

(b) To the extent practicable, the training materials and other teacher training resources required under Subsection (a) shall address instructional approaches designed to reduce any identified disparities in student science performance between groups of students.

(c) The commissioner shall develop materials and resources under this section in consultation with appropriate faculty members at institutions of higher education.

(d) The commissioner shall make the training materials and other teacher training resources required under Subsection (a) available to science teachers through a variety of mechanisms, including distance learning, mentoring programs, small group inquiries, computer-assisted training, and mechanisms based on trainer-of-trainer models.

(e) The commissioner shall use funds appropriated for the purpose to administer this section.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 430, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.