FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPTNES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S. B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
- 
- 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 17, provides: 
The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, 
culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, 
and promote total human liberation and development. 
Low salaries and the declining status of the teaching profession have reduced the quantity 
and quality of individuals entering the teaching profession. 
The governnient must expend efforts to address the existing and impending teaching 
shortage in the country. Bringing talented individuals into the teaching profession will greatly 
enhance the quality of our education, achieving success in adding the traditional education of 
students. 
Hence, this bill seeks to establish national teacher academies in order to encourage and 
facilitate entry into the teaching profession.* 
* This bill was originally filed daring the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S. B. No. sET4F8 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING NATIONAL TEACHER ACADEMIES IN ORDER TO 
ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE ENTRY INTO THE TEACHING PROFESSION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Teaching Profession Act.” 
SECTION 2. Establishment of National Teacher Academies. - 
(A) Grants. - The Secretary of Education, hereafter referred to as the “Secretary”, is 
authorized, in accordance with the provisions of this part, to make grants to eligible recipients to 
establish and operate iiational leader academies. 
(B) Subject Areas. - One (1) national teacher academy shall be established in each of the 
following subject areas commonly taught in elementary and secondary schools: 
(1) Basic skills and literacy instruction; 
(2) Civics and government; 
(3) National Writing Project; 
(4) Mathematics; 
(5) Foreign languages; 
(6) History, geography and sociology; 
(7) Economics; 
(8) Life sciences; 
(9) Physical sciences, and 
(10) The arts, including art, music, and the performing arts. 
(C) Selection of Academy Stafl - Academy staff shall be selected from the most 
accomplished and prominent scholars in the relevant fields of study and in the methodologies 
that prepare persons to teach in such fields of study. 
1 


9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
(D) Duration of Grant. - Each grant to establish and operate a national teacher academy 
shall before be €or a period of five (5) years, and is renewable. 
(E) Competitive Grant Awards. - The Secretary shall award grants on the basis of a 
competitive bidding process. 
(F) Special Consideration. - In awarding grants under this part the Secretary shall give 
special consideration to eligible recipients that have demonstrated effectiveness in establishing 
and administering a national network of individuals who assist in teacher training and in-service 
programs in the subject areas listed in this section. 
SECTION 3. Eligible Recipients. - 
(A) In General. -For the purposes of this part, the term “eligible recipient” means - 
(1) An institution of higher education; 
(2) A private nonprofit educational organization of demonstrated effectiveness; or 
(3) A combination of the institutions or organizations set forth in the paragraphs 
(1) and (2) of this paragraph. 
(B) Expertise Requirements. - The Secretary shall only award grants to eligible 
applicants who have demonstrated expertise in the subject area of the national teaching academy 
to be established and operated; and in-service training of teachers. 
SECTION 4. Use of Funds. - Funds provided pursuant to this part shall be used to- 
(A) Provide in-service training programs for teachers and administrators including- 
(1) The study of subject matter, methodology, and teacher education, including 
effective strategies for teaching all students in mixed-ability classrooms; 
(2) The use of the most recent applied research findings concerning education and 
the classroom; and 
(3) Integrating materials from different disciplines into classroom instruction, 
especially for elementary school teachers; 
(B) Conduct at least one (1) 3-week summer institute each year; 
(C) Train the leadership teams to provide in-service training for teachers in the 
professional development schools established and 
(D) Provide support services to such professional development schools including- 
2 


8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
(1) The establishment of a national network of individuals to assist in teacher 
education programs in professional development schools; 
(2) Consulting assistance in the design and implementation of teacher education; 
and 
(3) Monthly newsletters or other methods of communicating useful information. 
Not more than ten per centum (10%) of the amount of finds received under this part may 
use by grant recipients for administrative costs. 
SECTION 5. Summer Institute Pauticipants. - 
Each year a national academy conducts a summer institute to provide teacher training 
prograins to teachers and school administrators, participants from each congressional district 
shall include the leadership team described in Section 13. 
SECTION 6. Application.- 
(A) Application. - Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under this part shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably 
require. 
(B) Contents. - Each application submitted pursuant to paragraph (A) shall- 
(1) Describe the activities, services, and programs for which assistance is sought; 
(2) Describe how at least seventyper centum (70%) of the institute’s time will be 
devoted to the development of methods of instruction and the planning of in- 
service training programs to be conducted by the professional development 
academics established in this Act; and 
(3) Provide such additional assurances or information as the Secretary may 
reasonably require. 
SECTION 7. Special rule: National Writing Project. - 
(A) Authorization. - From amounts appropriated pursuant to the authority of Section 7 
for the establishment and operation of the national teacher academy, the Secretary is authorized 
to award a grant to the National Writing Project, hereafter referred to as the “grantee”, a non- 
profit educational organization which has as its primary purpose the improvement of the quality 
3 


1 
2 
3 
4 
S 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
1s 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
of student writing as a learning process in the classrooms, to establish and operate such national 
teacher academy. 
(B) The National Writing Project shall use the grant awarded pursuant to paragraph (A) 
to - 
(1) Support and promote the establishment of teacher training programs, 
including the dissemination of effective practices and research findings 
regarding the teaching of writing and administrative activities; 
(2) Support classroom research on effective teaching practice and to document 
student performance; and 
(3) Pay the share of the cost of such programs. 
(C) Grant Requirements. - The grant awarded pursuant to paragraph (A) shall require 
that- 
(1) The grantee enter into contracts with institutions of higher education or other 
non-profit educational providers, hereinafter referred to as “contractors”, 
under which the contractors will agree to establish, operate, and provide share 
of the cost of teacher training programs in effective approaches and processes 
for the teaching of writing; 
(2) Funds made available by the Secretary to the grantee pursuant to the grant 
awarded under this section will be used to pay the share of the cost of 
establishing and operating teacher training programs in effective approaches 
and processes for the teaching of writing; 
( 3 )  The grantee will meet such other conditions and standards as the Secretary 
determines to be necessary to assure compliance with the provisions of this 
section and will provide such technical assistance as may be necessary to 
carry out the provisions of this section. 
(D) Teacher Traiizing Programs. - The teacher training programs authorized in paragraph 
(A) shall - 
(1) Be conducted during the school year and during the summer months; 
(2) Train teachers who teach grades kindergarten through college; 
4 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
(3) Select teachers who teach to become members of a National Writing Project 
teacher network whose members will conduct writing workshops for other 
teachers I the area served by each National Writing Project site; and 
(4) Encourage teachers from all disciplines to participate in such teacher training 
programs. 
(E) Classroom Teacher Grants. - The National Writing Project may reserve an amount 
not to exceed five per centurn (5%) of the amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of 
Section 7 for the establishment and operation of the national teacher academy to make grants, on 
a competitive basis, to elementary and secondary school teachers to enable such teachers to- 
(1) Conduct classroom research; 
(2) Publish models of student writing; 
(3) Conduct research regarding effective practices to improve the teaching of 
writing; and 
(4) Conduct other activities to improve the teaching and uses of writing. 
(F) National Advisovy Board. -The National Writing Project shall establish and operate a 
National Advisory Board. The National Advisory Board shall - 
(1) Advise the National Writing Project on national issues related to student 
writing and the teaching of writing; 
(2) Review the activities and programs of the National Writing Project; and 
(3) Support the continued development of the National Writing Project. 
SECTION 8. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as inay be necessary for each fiscal year to carry out the provisions of this part. 
SECTION 9. Professional Development Schools. - From amounts appropriated under 
this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education, hereafter 
referred to as the “Commission”, shall allot to selected State colleges or universities, in order to 
establish and operate professional development schools. 
SECTION 10. Estublislznzent and Creation of Professional Development Schools,- 
(A) Duration of Grant. - Each grant provided pursuant to this part to establish and 
operate a professional school shall be for a period of five (5) years, and is renewable 
5 


5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
I O  
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
21 
28 
(B) Grunt Awards. - Each grant provided pursuant to this section shall be awarded on the 
basis of a competitive bidding process, and to an eligible recipient selected on the basis of need, 
as evidenced by measures such as the rate of teacher attrition and the proportion of the student 
body at risk of educational failure. 
SECTION 11. Application. - 
(A) Application. - Each eligible recipient wishing to receive a grant under this part shall 
submit an application to the commission, in such manner, and containing such information, as 
the commission shall reasonably require. 
(2) Contents. - Each application submitted pursuant to paragraph (A) shall- 
(1) Describe the activities, services, and programs for which assistance is sought; 
(2) Provide assurances that all public and private eleinentary and secondary 
school teachers in the area served by the professional development school will 
be eligible to participate in the training program; 
(3) Contain a description of where the professional development programs will be 
located and a justification for selecting the geographic location for each 
program; 
(4) Provide assurances that professional development programs will be conducted 
by teachers of demonstrated excellence, including teachers who have 
participated in training programs at the National Teacher Academies; 
(5) Provide assurances that professional development programs will be developed 
and conducted with the participation of faculty from institutions of higher 
education or private non-profit organizations of demonstrated effectiveness, 
and will be conducted in both academic conrse content and methods of 
instruction and with the participation of the schools’ teachers and 
administrators; 
(6) Contain a description of how the professional development of schools’ 
activities will be coordinated with other current in-service training activities in 
the region; 


9 
IO 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
(7) Describe the provisions which will be made to allow individuals release time 
from their teaching or administrative responsibilities to participate in 
professional development school activities; 
(8) Contain a description of how the professional development school’s activities 
will help teachers teach all students in mixed-ability classrooms; and 
(9) Where applicable, describe how teachers and administrators from the 
professional development school will be involved in the teacher training 
programs at institutions of higher education. 
SECTION 12. Use of Funds. - Grants awarded to eligible recipients pursuant to this part 
shall be used in schools best able to provide services to teachers and administrators of at risk 
students to - 
(A) Provide professional development programs for teachers which upgrade and 
strengthen knowledge of academic course content, particularly in the following subject areas: 
(1) Mathematics; 
(2) English, reading, and language arts; 
(3) Civics and government; 
(4) Basic skills and literacy instruction; 
(5) The arts, including art, music and the perfonning arts; 
(6) History, geography and sociology; 
(7) Economics; 
(8) Life sciences; and 
(9) Physical sciences. 
(B) Improve methods of instruction in content areas to- 
(I) Increase the preparedness of all classroom teachers for the participation of 
particular populations of students, such as disadvantaged students, students 
with disabilities, students who are limited English proficient, and students 
from diverse cultural backgrounds, in the classroom management skills; 
(2) Improve teaching and classroom management skills; 
7 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
(3) Provide training in new instructional techniques, methods, and practices 
supported by educational research findings, including instructional techniques, 
methods and practices; and 
(4) Improve teacher training in courses of study which combine one or more 
related subject areas; 
(C) Where appropriate, provide professional development programs for participants in 
school-based management programs; 
(D) Encourage teacher collaboration, especially among teachers of different subjects, 
including vocational education, physical education, and other specialties not described in 
paragraph (A); 
(E) Involve experienced teachers in the training and assessment or novice teachers; 
(F) Encourage parlicipation in activities of a network of professional development of 
their children; 
(G) Provide outreach to parents and greater involvement of parents in the education of 
their children; and 
(H) Pay the costs of release time, stipends, college or university credit, curricular 
materials, and other necessary expenditures. 
SECTION 13. Relationship with Other Programs Funded under this Act 
If a national academy funded under this Act serves teachers within the jurisdiction of a 
professional development school assisted under this part, each such professional development 
school shall annually conduct an in-service training program in each of the course content area 
for which teachers receive training at such national academy. Such program shall- 
(A) Include individuals who have participated in the activities, programs, and services of 
lhe appropriate national academy; 
(B) Contain both the academic course and methods of instruction learned at such national 
academy; 
(C) Be available to all elementary and secondary teachers in the congressional district 
who teach the relevant subject matter; and 
(D) 
Provide at least fi€ty (50) teachers at least thirty (30) hours of high quality 
instriiclions per year. 
8 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
SECTION 14. Leadership Teams. - 
(A) Leadership Teams. -Each steering committee established pursuant to section 14 shall 
select a three-person (3) leadership team for each national teacher academy assisted under part A 
of this title. 
(B) Composition. -Each leadership team shall be composed of- 
(1) One (1) administrator with authority to design and conduct in-service training 
programs; 
(2) One (1) elementary school teacher; and 
(3) One (1) secondary school teacher. 
(C) Duties. -Each leadership shall - 
(1) Attend the appropriate subject area summer institute at the appropriate 
national teacher academy; and 
(2) Assist in the development and operation of prokssional development schools. 
(D) Znformation and Coordinatioiz. - Each leadership team serving a professional 
development school shall exchange information and coordinate efforts on the establishment of 
the professional development programs. 
SECTION 15. Steering Committee. - 
(A) Establishment. - Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under this part shall also 
establish a ten (10) member steering committee. 
(B) Composition and Representation. - At least fifty per centum (50%) of the 
membership of each steering committee shall be classroom teachers, selected by, and 
representative of, teacher organizations, if any. The composition of each steering committee shall 
be broadly representative of the elementary and secondary schools and the local educational 
agencies served by the professional development school. 
(C) Function. - Each steering commit.tee shall annually select the leadership teams in 
26 
accordance with section 3 
9 


7 
8 
9 
SECTION 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not olhenvise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions o€ this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 18. Eflecectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
10