AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Texas lawmakers are advancing a plan to create a residency training program for school teachers.
In a 28-2 vote on Friday, the Senate approved a program similar to medical residencies for doctors. The bill goes to the House, which has passed a similar version.
Arlington Republican Representative Diane Patrick has said her proposal would help prepare teachers to work in poor urban schools. It’s modeled on programs in Boston, Memphis and Chicago.
The program would be run through a public university in partnership with a nearby school district. Residents would work with university faculty members and serve as apprentice teachers. They would get stipends and job placement assistance. They would earn master’s degrees and certification.
A budget analysis projects the program would cost the state about $1.3 million annually.
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Texas will keep testing public high school athletes for another two years under the state budget deal agreed to on Friday.
The 5-year-old program began as one of the largest testing programs in the country, but has been gradually scaled down as testing of tens of thousands of athletes has resulted in only a handful of cheaters being caught.
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, who has championed the program, said lawmakers will spend $1 million over the next two years on testing. The program is run by the University Interscholastic League.
The program initially tested athletes in all sports. It has been scaled down to focus only on a few sports, including football, baseball and track.