FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
s.B.1331 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, 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 government must expend efforts to address the existing and impending 
teacher shortage in the country. Bringing talented individuals into the teaching 
profession will greatly enhance the quality of our education, achieving success in aiding 
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. 
MAN 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. 1331 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING NATIONAL TEACHER ACADEMIES IN ORDER TO 
ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE ENTRY INTO THE TEACHING PROFESSION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Act." 
SECTION I. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Teaching Profession 
SEC. 2. Program Established.- The following is hereby established: 
(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary is authorized, in accordance with the provisions 
of this Act, to make grants to eligible recipients to establish and operate 
national teacher academies. 
(b) SUBJECT AREAS AND STAFF- One (1) national teacher academy shall be 
established in each of the following subject areas commonly taught in 
elementary and secondary schools: 
(A) 
Basic skills and literacy instruction; 
(B) 
Civics and government; 
(C) 
National Writing Project; 
(D) 
Mathematics; 
(E) 
Foreign languages; 
(F) 
History, geography and sociology; 
(G) 
Economics; 
(H) 
Life sciences; 
(I) 
Physical sciences, and 
(J) 
The arts, including art, music, and the performing arts. 
(c) Academy staff shall be selected from the most accomplished and prominent 
scholars in the relevant fields of study and in the methodologies which 
prepare persons to teach in such fields of study. 
(d) DURATION OF GRANT- Each grant to establish and operate a national 
. teacher academy shall be for a period of 5 years, and is renewable. 
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(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. 
SEC. 3 . Eligible Recipients. The following are 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 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph. 
(b) EXPERTISE REQUIREMENTS- The Secretary shall only award grants to 
eligible applicants which have demonstrated expertise in the--
(1) 
Subject area of the national teaching academy to be established 
and operated and 
(2). 
In-service training of teachers. 
SEC. 4. Use of Funds -
(a) IN GENERAL- Funds provided pursuant to this part shall be used to --
(1) 
Provide 
in-service 
training 
programs 
for 
teachers 
and 
administrators including --
(A) The study of subject· matter, methodology, and teacher 
education, including effective strategies for teaching all 
students in mixed-ability classrooms; 
(8) The use of the most recent applied research findings 
concerning education and the classroom; and 
(C) Integrating materials from different disciplines into classroom 
instruction, especially for elementary schoolteachers; 
(2) 
Conduct at least one 3-week summer institute each year; 
(3) 
Train the leadership teams to provide in-service training for 
teachers in the professional development schools established 
pursuant to part B of this title; and 
(4) 
Provide support services to such professional development schools 
including-
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(A) The establishment of a national network of individuals to assist 
in teacher education programs in professional development 
schools; 
(6) Consulting assistance in the design and implementation of 
teacher education; and 
(C) Monthly newsletters or other methods of communicating useful 
information 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS- Not more than 10 percent of the amount of finds 
received under this part may be used by grant recipients for administrative 
costs. 
SEC. 5. Summer Institute Participants -
Each year a national academy conducts a summer institute to provide teacher 
training programs to teachers and school administrators, participants from each 
congressional district shall include the leadership team described in Section 13. 
SEC. 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 subsection (a) shall --
(1) 
Describe the activities, services, and programs for which assistance 
is sought, 
(2) 
Describe how at . least 70 percent of the institute's time will be 
devoted to basic course content relevant to the particular subject 
field and necessary for improving the quality of teaching in public 
and private elementary and secondary schools; 
(3) 
Describe how not more than 30 percent 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 academies established in this Act; and 
(4) 
Provide such additional assurances or information as the Secretary 
may reasonably require. 
SEC. 7. Special Rule: National Writing Project.· 
, 
(a) AUTHORIZATION-
(1) 
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 in this section referred to as the 
'grantee'), a nonprofit educational organization which has as its 
primary purpose the improvement of the quality of student writing 
and learning, and the teaching of writing as a I.earning process in 
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the classrooms, to establish and operate such national teacher 
academy. 
(2) 
The National Writing Project shall use the grant awarded pursuant 
to paragraph (1) to-
(A) 
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; 
(B) Support classroom research on effective teaching practice and 
to document student performance; and 
(C) Pay the share of the cost of such programs. 
(b) GRANT REQUIREMENTS- The grant awarded pursuant to subsection (a) 
shall require that-
(1) 
The grantee enter into contracts with institutions of higher 
education or other nonprofit 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 
as provided in paragraph (1); and these funds which shall be 
appropriated in behalf of the state college or university concerned 
shall be primarily used for carrying out the programs specified and 
designed under this Act. 
(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 provisionsof this 
section. 
(c) TEACHER, TRAINING PROGRAMS-
The teacher training programs 
authorized in subsection (a) shall -
(1) 
Be conducted during the school year and during the summer 
months; 
(2) 
Train teachers who teach grades kindergarten through college; 
(3) 
Select teachers to become members of a National Writing Project 
teacher network whose members will conduct writing workshops for 
other teachers in the area served by each National Writing Project 
site; and 
(4) 
Encourage teachers from all disciplines to participate in such 
Teacher Training Programs. 
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(d) CLASSROOM TEACHER GRANTS-
(1 ) 
The National Writing Project may reserve an amount not to exceed 
5 percent 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: 
(A) 
Conduct classroom research; 
(B) 
Publish models of student writing; 
(C) 
Conduct research regarding effective practices to improve 
the teaching of writing; and 
(D) 
Conduct other activities to improve the teaching and uses of 
writing. 
(e) NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD-
(1) 
The National Writing Project shall establish and operate a National 
AdviSOry Board. 
(2) 
The National Advisory Board established pursuant to paragraph (1) 
shall-
(A) 
Advise the National Writing Project on national issues 
related to student writing and the teaching of writing; 
(B) 
Review the activities and programs of the National Writing 
Project; and 
(C) 
Support the continued development of the National Writing 
Project. 
SEC. 8. Authorization of Appropriations - There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year to carry out the 
provisions of this part. 
SEC. 9. Professional Development Schools - From amounts appropriated 
under this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Commission of Higher Education 
(hereinafter referred to as the "commission"), shall allot necessary funds to selected 
State colleges or universities, in order to establish and operate' professional 
development schools. 
SEC. 10. Program Authorized.-
(a) DURATION OF GRANT-- Each grant provided pursuant to this part to 
establish and operate a professional development school shall be for a period 
of five (5) years, and is renewable. 
(b) GRANT 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. 
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SEC. 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. 
(b) CONTENTS- Each application submitted pursuant to subsection (a) shall: 
(1) 
Describe the activities, services, and programs for which assistance 
is sought; 
(2) 
Provide assurances that all public and private elementary and 
secondary school teachers in, the area served by the professional 
development school will be eligible to participate in the training 
programs; 
(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 educatipn or private nonprofit organizations of 
demonstrated effectiveness, and will be conducted in both 
academic course content and methods of instruction and with the 
participation of the schools' teachers and administrators; 
(6) 
Contain a description of how the professional development school's 
activities will be coordinated with other current in-service training 
activities in the region; 
(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. 
SEC. 12. Use of Funds.-
(a) IN GENERAL- Grants awarded to eligible reCipients pursuant to this part shall 
be used in a school or schools best able to provide services to teachers and 
administrators of at risk stUdents to-
(1) 
Provide professional development programs for teachers which--
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(A) Upgrade and strengthen knowledge of academic course 
content, particularly in the following subject areas: 
(i) Mathematics; 
(ii) English, reading, and language arts; 
(iii) Civics and government; 
(iv) Basic skills and-literacy instruction; 
(v) The arts, including art, music, and the performing arts; 
(vi) History, geography, and sociology; 
(vii) Economics; 
(viii) Life sciences; and 
(ix) Physical sciences 
(8) 
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 
classrooms of such- teachers; 
(ii) Improve teaching and classroom management skills; 
(iii)provide training in new instructional techniques, methods, 
and 
practices 
supported 
by 
educational 
research 
findings, including instructional techniques, methods and 
practices; and 
(iv) 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; 
(0) 
Encourage teacher collaboration, especially among teachers 
of different subjects, including vocational education, physical 
education, 
and 
other 
specialties 
not 
described 
in 
subparagraph (A); 
(E) 
Involve experienced teachers in the training and assessment 
of novice teachers; 
(F) 
Encourage participation in activities of a network of 
professional development schools; and 
(G) 
Provide outreach to parents and greater involvement of 
parents in the education of their children: and 
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(2) 
Pay the costs of release time, stipends, college or university credit, 
curricular materials, and other necessary expenditures. 
SEC. 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 areas for which teachers receive training at such national academy. 
Such program shall--
(1) 
Include individuals who have participated in the activities, programs 
and services of the appropriate national academy; 
(2) 
Contain both the academic course content and methods of 
instruction learned at such national academy; 
(3) 
Be available to all elementary and secondary teachers in the 
congressional district who teach the relevant subject matter; and 
(4) 
Provide at least 50 teachers at least 30 hours of high quality 
instruction per year. 
SEC. 14. Leadership Teams -
(a) IN GENERAL - Each steering committee established pursuant to section 14 
shall select a 3- person leadership team for each national teacher academy 
assisted under part A of this title. 
(b) COMPOSITION- Each leadership team shall be composed of--
(1) 
1 administrator with authority to design and conduct in-service 
training programs; 
(2) 
1 elementary school teacher; and 
(3) 
1 secondary school teacher 
(c) DUTIES - Each leadership team shall--
(1) 
Attend the appropriate subject area summer institute at the 
appropriate national teacher academy; and 
(2) 
Assist 
in 
the 
development 
and 
operation 
of 
professional 
development schools. 
(d) INFORMATION AND COORDINATION- Each leadership team serving a 
professional development school shall exchange information and coordinate 
efforts on the establishment of the professional development programs. 
SEC. 15. Steering Committee-
(a) ESTABLISHMENT- Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under this part 
. shall also establish a 1 O-member steering committee. 
(b) COMPOSITION AND REPRESENTATION-
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I 
• 
(1) 
At least 50 percent of the membership of each steering committee 
shall be classroom teachers, selected by, and representative of, 
teacher organizations, if any. 
(2) 
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 committee shall be to annually select the 
leadership teams in accordance with Section 13. 
SEC. 16. Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 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 provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general cirCUlation. 
Approved, 
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