Sec. 48.112. TEACHER INCENTIVE ALLOTMENT. (a) In this section, "rural campus" means a school campus that is:

(1) located in:

(A) an area that is not designated as an urbanized area or an urban cluster by the United States Census Bureau; and

(B) a school district with fewer than 5,000 enrolled students; or

(2) designated as a rural campus under rules adopted by the commissioner.

(b) To ensure classroom teachers in this state have access to a six-figure salary, the allotment provided to a school district under this section offers resources to the district to increase teacher compensation and prioritize funding for high needs and rural district campuses.

(c) For each classroom teacher with a teacher designation under Section 21.3521 employed by a school district, the school district is entitled to an allotment equal to the following applicable base amount increased by the high needs and rural factor as determined under Subsection (d):

(1) $12,000, or an increased amount not to exceed $32,000 as determined under Subsection (d), for each master teacher;

(2) $6,000, or an increased amount not to exceed $18,000 as determined under Subsection (d), for each exemplary teacher; and

(3) $3,000, or an increased amount not to exceed $9,000 as determined under Subsection (d), for each recognized teacher.

(d) The high needs and rural factor is determined by multiplying the following applicable amounts by the average of the point value assigned to each student at a district campus under Subsection (e):

(1) $5,000 for each master teacher;

(2) $3,000 for each exemplary teacher; and

(3) $1,500 for each recognized teacher.

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (f), a point value for each student at a district campus shall be assigned as follows:

(1) 0, for a student for whom the district does not receive a compensatory education allotment under Section 48.104(b) or (e); or

(2) 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0, respectively, from least to most severe economic disadvantage according to the census block group in which the student resides, for a student for whom the district receives a compensatory education allotment under Section 48.104(b) or (e).

(f) If the campus at which a student is enrolled is classified as a rural campus, a student is assigned the point value two tiers higher than the student's point value determined under Subsection (e)(1) or (2).

(g) A district is entitled to receive an increased allotment under this section in the amount necessary for reimbursement for any fees paid under Section 21.3521.

(h) The commissioner shall annually make available to the public a list of campuses with the projected allotment amounts per teacher designation at each campus.

(i) A district shall annually certify that:

(1) funds received under this section were used as follows:

(A) at least 90 percent of each allotment received under Subsection (c) was used for the compensation of teachers employed at the campus at which the teacher for whom the district received the allotment is employed; and

(B) any other funds received under this section were used for costs associated with implementing Section 21.3521, including efforts to support teachers in obtaining designations; and

(2) the district prioritized high needs campuses in the district in using funds received under this section.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 943 (H.B. 3), Sec. 1.031, eff. September 1, 2019.