Education Code § 21.903

Sec. 21.903. PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP TRADITIONAL PRESERVICE PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall establish the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership Traditional Preservice Program as a partnership preservice program to enable qualified educator preparation programs, as determined by the commissioner, that meet the traditional teacher preparation requirements under Section 21.04421 to form partnerships with school districts or open-enrollment charter schools to help prepare candidates for a standard certificate. (b) The program must be designed to: (1) meet the requirements of a partnership preservice program under Section 21.902; and (2) allow a teacher candidate to satisfy the traditional teacher preparation requirements under Section 21.04421. (c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school participating in the traditional partnership preservice program shall use money received under Section 48.157(b)(1) to provide compensation to: (1) teacher candidates for preservice practice hours at the district or school in an amount of at least $3,000 for salary; and (2) cooperating teachers who are paired with teacher candidates at the district or school in an amount of at least $1,000. (d) In addition to the amount provided by Subsection (c)(1), a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall provide compensation to teacher candidates in any amount above the amount provided by that subdivision for salary using money received under Section 48.157 or from any other available source. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1065 (H.B. 2), Sec. 2.17, eff. June 20, 2025.