August 25, 1948

Hon. L. A. Woods State Superintendent Department of Education Austin, Texas OpinionNo. V-670

Re: Treatment of a B.S. Degree in Library Science as equlvalent to M.A.Degree for increment purposes under Sec..2, Art. III, R. B. 295, 50th Leg., Acts 1947.

Attention:Ron. T. M. Trlmble

First Assistant

Dear Sir:

We refer to your letter request from which we quote:

"The State Departmentof Education,in the administration of the Rquallsation Law has recognizeda Bachelor of Science degree in Library Science as an appropriate degree in recognitionof five years of collegework which has the same standingas a Master's degree in some other subjectmatter field, and on this basis we are allowing an additional incrementfor this appropriate degree.*

Section 2 of Article III, B. B. 295, 50th Legislature,Acts 1947, which sets out the base salary schedules and teaching experienceIncrementsapplicableto the payment of teachers' salaries In State-aid schools of Texas, providesa further incrementas follows: I, * Twenty-fiveDollars ($25) per month &ail be added for each year of college credit over one (1) year o e e To reoeive credit for each year of college training beginningwith the fourth year, a recognized degree appropriateto each year of o$llege trainingmust have been conferred.**HOL** L, A. Woods, page 2 (V-670)

In OpinionNo. V-406, this office In construing this above quoted provision of the State-aid law, advised:

“The Act contemplates that a teacher ‘i shall receive $25 per month for each gear of college credit over one year. Therefore,
a teacher with two years of college training would receive a $24. increment,and for three years $50. Beginningwith the fourth year .a degree appropriateto each year of college, trainingmust have been conferredto be entitled to an additional increase. The teaoher upon whom’s B. A. degree, or its equivalent, Is conferredwould be eligible for $75 and an additionalyearIs work and the conferring of a Masters teacher for $100."

degree would qualify a

It is generallyknown and accepted fact that
a B. A. degree Is an appropriatedegree for the successful completionof four years of prescribedcollege work, and that a Masters degree is appropriateand conferred for the successfulcompletionof an additionalyear of prescribedcollege work after a B. **A.** degree, or its equivalent,is acquired. Our Opinion V-$06 insofar as It refers to the incrementfor'a.teacher who has a B. A. degree, or its equivalent,or who has a Masters c¶egree
was predicatedupon this premise or reasoning.

It should further be observed that the law above quoted makes no specific reference to a B. A., Masters or Ph.D. degree, It does not require that the teacher should have a Masters degree before he shall be entitled to an increme'r$lOO for .flve years of college work. It requires only that he shall have a recognized degree appropriateto each year of collegework for which the degree has been conferredbefore he shall receive increment credit for each year of college training beginningwith the fourth year.

If a teacher has a Masters degree, he is entitled to the $100 incrementas provided in the Act. Opinion V-406

e If, however, he has a degree, other thank
a Masters degree, which oould be conferredonly upon his suco'essful

completionof five years of prescribedcollege work leading u to said degree,he would likewise be entitled to the $100 increment,for the degree is appropriate to each year of collegework for which theHOIL 1;. A. Woods, page 3 (V-670)

d8gr88 has been conferred.

Accordingly,if a tea&e& has'8 B. S. degree in Library Soleace from a amognised collegewhich POquiz-es the successfulcompletionof five years of prosorlbed college work before the said dogPee may be oon- 

## r0m3d,he ia entitled to a **ooll8g8** train* laa2wneat of $100. If, howsvsr, the teacher has a: B. S. degree in Library Science from a recogniced col~egswhich Cequlres the~sucoessful completion of four years 0nXy of prescribed collegework before said degree map be oonfemad, he Is entitled to a college tralnlng inmement of $75.

SUMMARY

Where a teacherholds a B. S. degree in Library Soienae from a recognized college which requires the suocessf\iloostplotion of 5 years of prescribed college**work** before confepringsaw, he is entitled to a college train%

3 incrementof $100. Where, howev87,he ho1 8 suoh degree from a recognized college which Pequirss only four gears of presoribed collegework before conferring sa01, he 18 entitled to a college training LncMement of $75. Sec. 2, Article III, H.B. 295, 50th Legislature, Aots 1947.

Yours very tmly,

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS

CEO:mw -ti Chester E. Ollison Assistant