Section 21.801 - Establishment of Program(a) Not later than March 1, 2014, the commissioner of higher education shall, through a competitive selection process, establish a Texas Teacher Residency Program at a public institution of higher education that has developed a commitment to investing in teacher education.(b) The public institution of higher education shall form a partnership with an area school district or open-enrollment charter school to provide employment to residents in the program.(c) The program must be designed to:(1) award teaching residents participating in the program a master's degree; and(2) lead to certification under Subchapter B for participating teaching residents who are not already certified teachers.(d) The public institution of higher education shall:(1) reward faculty instructing in the teacher residency program;(2) identify faculty who can prepare teachers to impact student achievement in high-need schools;(3) provide institutional support of faculty who work with the teacher residency program by providing time to teach the courses and valuing the faculty's contributions with rewards in the university tenure process; and(4) develop and implement a program that acknowledges and elevates the significance and professional nature of teaching at the primary and secondary levels.Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg. - Regular Session, ch. 949,Sec. 1, eff. 9/1/2013.