PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP RESIDENCY PRESERVICE PROGRAM

(a) The commissioner shall establish the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnership Residency Preservice Program as a partnership preservice program to enable qualified educator preparation programs, as determined by the commissioner, that meet the teacher residency preparation requirements under Section 21.04422 to form partnerships with school districts or open-enrollment charter schools to help prepare candidates for an enhanced 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 teacher residency preparation requirements under Section 21.04422. (c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school participating in the residency partnership preservice program shall use money received under Section 48.157(b)(2) to provide compensation to: (1) teacher candidates for preservice practice hours at the district or school in an amount of at least $10,000 for salary; and (2) cooperating teachers who are paired with teacher candidates at the district or school in an amount of at least $2,000. (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 an amount of at least $10,000 for salary using money received under Section 48.157 or from any other available source. (e) An educator preparation program is not required to incorporate the instruction described by Section 21.044(i) to be eligible to participate in a residency partnership preservice program until the date on which rules proposed by the State Board for Educator Certification to implement that subsection take effect. This subsection expires September 1, 2028.