| (a) Definitions and eligibility. The following definitions
and eligibility criteria apply to the increases in the minimum salary schedule
in accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 21.
(1) The staff positions that qualify for the salary increase
include classroom teachers and full-time librarians, counselors, and nurses
employed by public school districts and who are entitled to a minimum salary
under TEC, §21.402.
(A) A classroom teacher is an educator who teaches an average
of at least four hours per day in an academic or career and technology instructional
setting pursuant to TEC, §5.001, focusing on the delivery of the Texas
essential knowledge and skills and holds the relevant certificate issued by
the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) under the provisions of
TEC, Chapter 21, Subchapter B. Although non-instructional duties do not qualify
as teaching, necessary functions related to the educator's instructional assignment
such as instructional planning and transition between instructional periods
should be applied to creditable classroom time.
(B) A school librarian is an educator who provides full-time
library services and holds the relevant certificate issued by the SBEC under
the provisions of TEC, Chapter 21, Subchapter B.
(C) A school counselor is an educator who provides full-time
counseling and guidance services under the provisions of TEC, Chapter 33,
Subchapter A, and holds the relevant certificate issued by the SBEC pursuant
to the provisions of TEC, Chapter 21, Subchapter B.
(D) A school nurse is an educator employed to provide full-time
nursing and health care services and who meets all the requirements to practice
as a registered nurse (RN) pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act and the rules
and regulations relating to professional nurse education, licensure, and practice
and has been issued a license to practice professional nursing in Texas.
(2) An eligible educator who is employed by more
than one district in a shared service arrangement or by a single district
in more than one capacity among any of the eligible positions qualifies for
the salary increase as long as the combined functions constitute full-time
employment.
(3) Full-time means contracted employment for at least
ten months (187 days) for 100% of the school day in accordance with definitions
of school day in TEC, §25.082, employment contract in TEC, §21.002,
and school year in TEC, §25.081.
(4) A local supplement is any amount of pay above the
state minimum salary schedule for duties that are part of a teacher's classroom
instructional assignment.
(5) Current placement on the salary schedule means a placement
based on years of service recognized for salary increment purposes up to the
current year.
(6) Salary schedule means a system of providing routine
salary increases based upon an employee's total teaching experience and/or
an employee's longevity in a school district.
(b) Base pay for the 1999-2001 biennium. As long as employment
is in the same position, eligible educators may not receive a minimum salary
for each year of the biennium that is less than the salary that they would
have received in 1998-1999 at their current placement on the employing district's
1998-1999 salary schedule.
(1) An educator eligible for the salary increase is entitled
to a minimum salary in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 equal to the greater of the
salary corresponding to their current placement on the state salary schedule
pursuant to TEC, §21.402(a), or the salary corresponding to their current
placement on the employing district's 1998-1999 salary schedule, plus $300
per month. If employed by the same district, the minimum must include any
local and career ladder supplements the employee would have received in 1998-1999.
In addition to classroom teachers, this provision applies to eligible counselors,
nurses, and librarians whose salary was based on placement on a salary schedule
in 1998-1999.
(2) Eligible counselors, nurses, and librarians who were
not on a salary schedule in 1998-1999 are entitled in 1999-2000 to the greater
of the salary earned in 1998-1999 plus $300 per month or to the salary corresponding
to their current placement on the salary schedule. These educators are placed
on the state schedule according to the same criteria that applies to teachers
and librarians pursuant to §153.1021 of this title (relating to Recognition
of Creditable Years of Service). In 2000-2001, they are entitled to maintain
the salary earned in 1999-2000 or to meet the minimum corresponding to their
current placement on the salary schedule, whichever is greater.
(3) A beginning teacher who has not previously been on
the state salary schedule is entitled to any local supplement that would have
been offered to a beginning teacher on the employing district's 1998-1999
salary schedule.
(4) Educators who are eligible for the salary increase
and who are employed for more than ten months are entitled to an additional
$300 in increased pay for each full month of additional service.
(5) Teachers who are eligible for the salary increase
but who are not employed full-time (work either less than 100% of the day
or for a portion of the year) are entitled to a proportionate pay increase.
For teachers working less than 100% of the day, the increase is proportionate
to the percent of the day employed. For teachers employed less than a full
year, the increase is valid only for the months employed.
(6) Nurses, librarians, and counselors who are employed
for less than a full school year or who are placed in an eligible assignment
for less than a full school year are entitled to a pay increase in proportion
to the months employed in which they are eligible.
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