(a) Purpose. In accordance with the Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.4551, the Texas adolescent literacy academies shall provide instruction to English language arts and reading and content area teachers in successful, research-based strategies for improving students' academic literacy. The literacy academies shall be framed within a school-wide approach to address the needs of struggling adolescent readers.

(1) The English Language Arts Academy training, which addresses requirements in the TEC, §21.4551(b)(1) and (2), for teachers of English language arts and reading, may be completed through participation in either a three-day face-to-face training or an 18-hour online training.

(2) The Content Area Academy training, which addresses requirements in the TEC, §21.4551(b)(3), for teachers of mathematics, science, and social studies, may be completed through participation in either a nine-hour face-to-face training or a nine-hour online training.

(b) Applicability. The requirements of this section apply to the following teachers in general education, special education, or English as a second language of students in Grade 6, 7, or 8 at a campus that receives a rating that reflects unacceptable performance and that fails to meet the state system safeguard performance target in reading for one or more student groups:

(1) a certified, full-time English language arts and reading teacher who instructs English language arts and/or reading for at least 50% of the teacher's instructional duties;

(2) a certified, full-time content area teacher who instructs mathematics, science, and/or social studies for at least 50% of the teacher's instructional duties; and

(3) a noncertified, full-time teacher at an open-enrollment charter school who meets the subject area and instructional duties criteria specified in paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection.

(1) A teacher described in subsection (b) of this section is required to complete the training not later than December 31 of the calendar year in which the rating that reflects unacceptable performance is assigned.

(2) Each education service center (ESC) providing face-to-face training will determine attendance requirements and the process for the makeup of any days missed due to emergencies on an individual basis.

(3) Completion of face-to-face training is determined by the ESC providing the training. Completion of online training is accomplished through successful completion of assessments embedded in the training.

(d) Eligibility for teacher stipends. A teacher whose attendance is required in subsection (b) of this section is eligible for a teacher stipend upon completion of the face-to-face training if funds have been appropriated and are available for that purpose. A teacher who completes the online training is not eligible for a stipend.

(e) Record retention. Each school district with teachers required to attend and complete Texas adolescent reading academies according to this section must maintain records to verify teacher attendance and completion in accordance with the school district's record retention policy.

Source Note: The provisions of this §102.1101 adopted to be effective July 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 5007; amended to be effective December 27, 2015, 40 TexReg 9639