TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
Subject: Master Reading Teacher Grant Program
House Bill 2307, 76th Texas Legislature, 1999, created the new Master Reading Teacher Grant Program. This program is intended to increase the reading ability of Texas school children, particularly those on identified high-need campuses, by encouraging teachers to become certified as master reading teachers and to work with other teachers and with students to improve student reading performance. School districts may apply for grants to pay stipends for school year 2000-2001 to selected certified master reading teachers who teach at high-need campuses.
High-Need Campuses
Enclosed is the preliminary list of campuses identified as high need for purposes of the Master Reading Teacher Grant Program. This list is sorted by education service center region and
county-district-campus number. Campuses were identified based on student performance on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in reading for the school years 1996-97, 1997-98, and
1998-99. Commissioner's rules for the grant program specify certain types of campuses that are not eligible to be considered high-need campuses.
Number and Amount of Stipends
The enclosed list indicates the number of stipends each high-need campus is eligible to receive. The number of stipends that school districts may receive per identified high-need campuses
is based on Fall 1999 student enrollment. Elementary schools with enrollment of at least 750 students, middle schools with at least 1000 students, and high schools with at least 1500
students may apply for up to two stipends. All other high-need campuses may receive stipends for one master reading teacher. Each stipend is in the amount of $5000. This stipend must be
prorated if the teacher does not meet the requirements for a master reading teacher for the entire school year. The teacher will continue to receive the stipend for school year 2001-2002
and 2002-2003 if circumstances remain the same.
Eligibility for Master Reading Teacher Certification
There are two ways in which an individual can become certified as a master reading teacher:
- An individual who holds a reading specialist certificate must complete a Master Reading Teacher preparation program approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). This teacher is not required to take the Master Reading Teacher certification exam. The master reading teacher preparation programs were considered at the May 5, 2000, board meeting of SBEC. The list of approved preparation programs is enclosed, and additional information on these programs may be obtained from SBEC.
- An individual must have a teaching certificate, at least three years of teaching experience, and pass the Master Reading Teacher Certification exam. This exam will be administered for the first time January 27, 2001.
The enclosed statutory citations and commissioner's rules for the Master Reading Teacher Grant Program provide additional detail on this new program. The commissioner's rules will be effective around May 31 or 20 days after filed as adopted with the Texas Register. It is not anticipated that there will be any changes to the list of high-need campuses. Over the summer agency staff will develop the application for the Master Reading Teacher Grant Program, which will be issued in the fall.
If you need additional information or have questions about the new Master Reading Teacher Grant Program, please contact Lisa Chandler at (512) 463-9087. Questions about Master Reading Teacher certification and training programs should be directed to Pat Porter, SBEC, at (512) 469-3008.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Nelson
Commissioner of Education
Enclosures
Preliminary list of high-need campuses eligible to apply for grants
Statutory citations for the Master Reading Teacher Grant Program
Commissioner's rules for the Master Reading Teacher Grant Program
List of Master Reading Teacher Certificate programs
For further information on this topic, contact contact Lisa Chandler at (512) 463-9087