We refer to your letter request from which we quote:

"The State Department of Education, in the administration of the Rquallsation Law has recognized a Bachelor of Science degree in Library Science as an appropriate degree in recognition of 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 increment for this appropriate degree.* Section 2 of Article III, B. B. 295, 50th Leg- islature, Acts 1947, which sets out the base salary sched- ules and teaching experience Increments applicable to the payment of teachers' salaries In State-aid schools of Texas, provides a further increment as follows:

I, * Twenty-five Dollars ($25) per month &ail be added for each year of college credit over one (1) year o e e To reoeive credit for each year of college training beginning with the fourth year, a recogniz- ed degree appropriate to each year of o$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 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. Beginning with the fourth year .a degree appropriate to 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 conferred would be eligible for $75 and an additional year Is 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 appropriate degree for the success- ful completion of four years of prescribed college work, and that a Masters degree is appropriate and conferred for the successful completion of an additional year of prescribed college work after a B. degree, or its equivalent, is acquired. Our Opinion V- $ 06 insofar as It refers to the increment for'a.teacher who 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 .flve years 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 increment as provided in the Act. Opinion V-406 e If, however, he has a degree, other thank a Masters degree, which oould be conferred only upon his suco'essful completion of 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 *3 HOIL 1;. Woods, page 3 (V-670)

d8gr88 has been conferred.

Accordingly, if a tea&e& has'8 B. S. degree from a amognised college which PO- in Library Soleace quiz-es the successful completion of 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- completion of four years 0nXy of qulres the~sucoessful 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\il oostplo- tion of 5 years of prescribed college work before confepring saw, he is entitled to a increment of $100. Where, college train% howev87, he ho1 8 suoh degree from a recog- 3

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 -ti Chester E. Ollison CEO:mw

Assistant