A school district may let qualified individuals teach instead of paying certain school taxes, but the district sets limits, requires a contract, and the individual must meet qualification rules.
Sec. 31.036. PERFORMANCE OF TEACHING SERVICES IN LIEU OF PAYMENT OF SCHOOL TAXES ON HOMESTEAD. (a) The governing body of a school district by resolution may permit qualified individuals to perform teaching services for the school district at a junior high school or high school of the district in lieu of paying taxes imposed by the district on property owned and occupied by the individual as a residence homestead. (b) The governing body of the school district shall determine: (1) the number of qualified individuals who will be permitted to perform teaching services for the district under this section; (2) the courses that a qualified individual may teach for the district under this section; and (3) the amount of the tax credit that a qualified individual may earn. (c) The governing body shall require that each qualified individual permitted to perform teaching services for the district under this section execute a contract with the district. The contract must be executed before the delinquency date and must: (1) specify: (A) the course or courses that the qualified individual will teach for the district; (B) the high school or junior high school of the district where the qualified individual will perform the teaching services; (C) the semester in which the qualified individual will perform the teaching services; and (D) the amount of the tax credit that the qualified individual will receive on successful completion of the individual's contractual obligations; and (2) set out or describe the provisions of Subsections (d)-(g). (d) A qualified individual who teaches a course for an entire school semester is entitled to a maximum credit of $500 against the taxes imposed, except that if the qualified individual teaches a course for which a student receives a full year's credit for one semester, the qualified individual is entitled to a maximum credit of $1,000 for each such course taught for one semester by the qualified individual. A qualified individual may not receive credits for teaching more than two courses in any school year. (e) The district shall terminate the contract if: (1) the qualified individual fails to perform the teaching services; or (2) the district determines that the teaching services of the qualified individual are unsatisfactory. (f) If the contract is terminated under Subsection (e), on the termination date the district may grant the individual a portion of the tax credit based on the portion of the teaching services performed. (g) While performing teaching services for a school district, the qualified individual: (1) is not an employee of the district; and (2) is not entitled to any benefit, including workers' compensation coverage, that the district provides to an employee of the district. (h) An individual is qualified to perform teaching services for a school district under this section only if the individual holds a baccalaureate or more advanced degree in a field related to each course to be taught and: (1) is certified as a classroom teacher under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code; or (2) obtains a school district teaching permit under Section 21.055, Education Code. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 637, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.