Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion ( 1948 )

August 25, 1948 Hon. L. A. Woods Opinion No. V-670 State Superintendent Department of Education Re: Treatment of a B.S. Austin, Texas Degree in Library Science as equlva- lent to M.A.Degree for increment pur- poses 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 Department of Education, in the administrationof the RquallsationLaw has recognized a Bachelor of Science degree in Library Science as an appropriatedegree in recognitionof five years of college work which has the same standing as a Master's degree in some other subject matter field, and on this basis we are allowing an addi- tional incrementfor this appropriatedegree.* Section 2 of Article III, B. B. 295, 50th Leg- islature,Acts 1947, which sets out the base salary sched- ules and teaching experience Incrementsapplicable to the payment of teachers' salaries In State-aid schools of Texas, provides a further increment as follows: I, * Twenty-fiveDollars ($25) per month &ail be added for each year of college credit over one (1) year o e e To reoeive credit for each year of college training beginning with the fourthyear, a recogniz- ed degree appropriateto each year of o$l- lege training must have been conferred. HOL L, A. Woods, page 2 (V-670) In Opinion No. V-406, this office In constru- ing this above quoted provision of the State-aid law, advised: “The Act contemplatesthat 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. Beginning with the fourth year .adegree appropriateto each year of college, training must have been conferred to be en- titled to an additional increase. The teaoh- er upon whom’s B. A. degree, or its equiva- lent, Is conferredwould be eligible for $75 and an additional yearIs work and the confer- ring of a Masters degree would qualify a teacher for $100." It is generally known and accepted fact that a B. A. degree Is an appropriatedegree for the success- ful completionof four years of prescribed college work, and that a Masters degree is appropriateand conferred for the successful completionof an additional year of prescribed college work after a B. A. degree, or its equivalent,is acquired. Our Opinion V-$06 insofar as It refers to the increment for'a.teacherwho has a B. A. degree, or its equivalent,or who has a Masters c¶egree was predicated upon this premise or reasoning. It should further be observed that the law above quoted makes no specific reference to a B. A., Masters or Ph.D. degree, It does not require that the teacher should have a Masters degree before he shall be entitled to an increme'r$lOO for .flveyears of col- lege work. It requires only that he shall have a recog- nized degree appropriate to each year of college work for which the degree has been conferred before he shall re- ceive increment credit for each year of college training beginning with the fourth year. If a teacher has a Masters degree, he is en- titled to the $100 incrementas provided in the Act. Opinion V-406e If, however, he has a degree, other thank a Masters degree, which oould be conferred only upon his suco'essfulcompletionof five years of prescribed col- lege work leading u to said degree, he would likewise be entitled to the $100 increment,for the degree is ap- propriate to each year of college work for which the HOIL 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 college which PO- quiz-esthe successful completionof five years of pro- sorlbed 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~egs which Ce- qulres the~sucoessful completion of four years 0nXy of prescribed college work before said degree map be oon- femad, he Is entitled to a college tralnlng inmement of $75. SUMMARY Where a teacher holds a B. S. degree in Library Soienae from a recognized col- lege which requires the suocessf\iloostplo- tion of 5 years of prescribed college work before confepringsaw, he is entitled to a college train% increment of $100. Where, 3 8 suoh degree from a recog- howev87, he ho1 nized college which Pequirss only four gears of presoribed college work 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