PREPARING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ALLOTMENT.

(a) In this section, "teacher candidate" has the meaning assigned by Section 21.901.

(b) Subject to Subsections (f) and (g), a school district is entitled to an annual allotment equal to each of the following applicable amounts:

(1) for each teacher candidate completing preservice practice hours at the district under Section 21.903, the sum of:

(A) $10,000; and

(B) the high needs and rural factor, as determined under Subsection (c), multiplied by $2,000;

(2) for each teacher candidate completing preservice practice hours at the district under Section 21.904, the sum of:

(A) $24,000; and

(B) the high needs and rural factor, as determined under Subsection (c), multiplied by $3,000;

(3) for each teacher candidate completing preservice practice hours at the district under Section 21.905, the sum of:

(A) $10,000; and

(B) the high needs and rural factor, as determined under Subsection (c), multiplied by $2,000;

(4) for each district employee participating in a partnership described by Section 21.906(b)(2), the sum of:

(A) $8,000; and

(B) the high needs and rural factor, as determined under Subsection (c), multiplied by $1,000; and

(5) for each classroom teacher being mentored under the preparing and retaining educators through partnership mentorship program established under Section 21.907, $3,000.

(c) The high needs and rural factor is the lesser of:

(1) the average of the point value assigned to each student at a district campus under Sections 48.112(e) and (f); or

(2) 4.0.

(d) In addition to the funding under Subsection (b), a district is entitled to an additional $2,000 for each teacher candidate described by Subsection (b)(1), (2), or (3) who is a candidate for certification in bilingual education or special education.

(e) The Texas School for the Deaf and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired are entitled to an allotment under this section. If the commissioner determines that assigning point values under Subsection (c) to students enrolled in the Texas School for the Deaf or the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is impractical, the commissioner may use the average point value assigned for those students' home districts for purposes of calculating the high needs and rural factor.

(f) Unless a greater number of individuals is provided for by appropriation for that school year, a school district may receive an allotment for a school year for not more than:

(1) except as provided by Subsection (g), 40 individuals under each of Subsections (b)(2), (4), and (5); and

(2) a total of 80 individuals under Subsections (b)(1) and (3).

(g) If more than 40 individuals are eligible to receive an allotment under Subsection (b)(2) for a school district, the district is entitled to an allotment under Subsection (b)(1) for those individuals, subject to the limitation under Subsection (f)(2).

(h) For purposes of offsetting tuition, fees, and administrative costs, using money to which a school district is otherwise entitled under Subsection (b), the commissioner shall provide to a teacher candidate's educator preparation program each of the following applicable amounts and reduce the district's allotment under that subsection accordingly:

(1) $5,000 for each teacher candidate who completed a partnership preservice program under Section 21.903 who obtains a standard certificate and has completed one year of employment with the district;

(2) $10,000 for each teacher candidate who completed a partnership preservice program under Section 21.904 who obtains an enhanced standard certificate and has completed one year of employment with the district; and

(3) $2,500 for each teacher candidate participating in the alternative partnership preservice program under Section 21.905 who holds an intern with preservice experience certificate, and an additional $2,500 for each teacher candidate who completes the alternative partnership preservice program and obtains a standard certificate under Section 21.0412.

(i) An institution of higher education that operates an educator preparation program that receives money under Subsection (h) must spend not less than 85 percent of the money received on the educator preparation program for which the money was received.

(j) The agency shall only provide:

(1) an initial payment of $4,000 of the money the school district is entitled to receive under Subsection (b)(1) for a teacher candidate until the teacher candidate successfully completes the requirements of a partnership preservice program under Section 21.903 by the deadline established by the agency;

(2) an initial payment of $12,000 of the money the school district is entitled to receive under Subsection (b)(2) for a teacher candidate until the teacher candidate successfully completes the requirements of a partnership preservice program under Section 21.904 by the deadline established by the agency;

(3) an initial payment of $4,000 of the money the school district is entitled to receive under Subsection (b)(3) for a teacher candidate until the teacher candidate successfully completes the requirements of an alternative partnership preservice program under Section 21.905 by the deadline established by the agency and issuance of an intern with preservice experience certificate; and

(4) 50 percent of the money the school district is entitled to receive under Subsection (b)(4) for a district employee on the employee's successful completion of a bachelor's degree by the deadline established by the agency.