College, Career and Military Readiness Outcomes Bonus can be spent on teacher training costs

TEA released information this week identifying the allowable use of funds that districts will receive for preparing students for college, a career, or the military, as well as for students taking the next step in their career planning by enrolling in postsecondary institutions, completing a credential, and/or enlisting in the military.

As provided by House Bill 3, the CCMR outcomes bonus is paid annually to districts for the accomplishments of graduates above a certain percentage threshold, including $5,000 per economically disadvantaged students, $3,000 for non-economically disadvantaged students, and an additional $2,000 for special education students falling in either of the previous categories.

According to TEA, CCMR outcomes bonus funding for 2019-2020 will be generated from each district’s 2017-2018 annual graduates’ data, using thresholds set with 2016-2017 annual graduates’ data.

HB 3 requires 55% of the outcomes bonus funds to be spent on students in grades 8–12 and for activities related to college, career, or military readiness. According to TEA, allowable use of CCMR outcomes bonus funds fall within categories related to teacher training and professional development on CCMR content, student preparation for CCMR content, counseling and advising services, work-based learning, advanced academics, and College and Career Readiness School Models. Funds may be used for expenses that include equipment, supplies, salaries, stipends, tutors, software/subscriptions, rentals, transportation, or any expense incurred to prepare students for an opportunity to meet the measures tied to the CCMR outcomes bonus.

TEA provided examples of how funds may be used in each category, including for teacher training costs:

• Teacher training and professional development for CCMR content may include:
  • Presenting at or traveling to and from training related to AP, IB, dual credit, ACT, SAT, TSIA, early college school models, CTE, AVID, ASVAB, NJROTC, WBL, as well as counseling and advising students for college and careers.
  • Equipment and supplies associated with providing teacher training and professional development for CCMR content.
  • Extra-duty pay provided for teachers while writing curriculum to integrate college and career readiness standards.
  • Substitutes to provide teachers time for collaborative planning with colleagues, college staff, business partners or administering mock assessments.

See more examples