Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
In Texas, local districts are encouraged to compensate teachers for related prior subject-area work experience. "For each year of work experience...up to a maximum of two years, a certified career or technology education teacher is entitled to a salary step credit as if the work experience were teaching experience."
Expand policy to encourage local districts to compensate all new teachers with relevant prior work experience.
Texas should not limit this policy to certified career or technology education teachers. Such compensation would be attractive to career changers in other fields, such as in the STEM subjects.
Texas noted that state policy offers certified career or technology education teachers the opportunity to teach "CTE-STEM" (Career Technology Education - Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects. In Texas, the fourth credit toward meeting the math and science graduation requirement allows students to take "CTE-STEM" course. Science CTE STEM courses include: Engineering Mathematics, Statistics and Risk Management, Scientific Research and Design, Anatomy and Physiology, Engineering Design and Problem Solving, Medical Microbiology, Pathophysiology, Advanced Animal Science, Advanced Biotechnology, Advanced Plant and Soil Science, Food Science, Forensic Science and Engineering Mathematics. Mathematics CTE (STEM) courses include: Engineering Mathematics, Statistics and Risk Management.
Texas also pointed out that the Commissioner's Rules on Creditable Years of Service compensate teachers for United States military service, provided certain criteria are met. Years of services with the Texas Department of Corrections, agricultural extension service agents' experience, as well as years of service with the Texas Department of State Health Services—formerly known as MHMR—are recognized for salary increment purposes.