By: Guillen, Ramos, Muñoz, Jr. H.B. No. 1207

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to additional optional training and course work for public school principals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.0461 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.0461. SCHOOL TURNAROUND SPECIALIST ENDORSEMENT TO PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATE. (a) The board shall propose rules establishing the training requirements and course work a principal must successfully complete to receive a school turnaround specialist endorsement as an addendum to a principal certificate. In proposing the rules, the board shall ensure that each person who receives the endorsement:

(1) demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to significantly improve teacher and student performance at a campus assigned an overall performance rating of F under Section 39.054;

(2) has served as a principal at a campus that has successfully implemented a campus turnaround plan under Subchapter C, Chapter 39A; and

(3) did not serve as a principal at a campus that was assigned an overall performance rating of F under Section 39.054 for two or more consecutive school years.

(b) The board shall solicit proposals for a school turnaround specialist endorsement program from appropriate educator preparation programs. From among school turnaround specialist endorsement programs proposed to the board that are capable of satisfying the requirements prescribed by Subsection (c), the board may select not more than three of the programs that may be offered to principals.

(c) A school turnaround specialist endorsement program under this section must:

(1) partner with one or more school districts that need principals with the training and education necessary to significantly improve teacher and student performance at one or more campuses assigned an overall performance rating of F under Section 39.054;

(2) have appropriately qualified faculty to:

(A) conduct a campus leadership-needs analysis;

(B) develop and provide the training and course work required by rules proposed under this section; and

(C) provide necessary support to program candidates;

(3) establish a selective admissions process to ensure that each principal admitted to the program:

(A) possesses a significant knowledge of educational organizations, educational instruction, and teacher professional development;

(B) demonstrates the ability to develop and implement campus-based systems that result in increased capacity for improving student learning; and

(C) demonstrates the attributes of principals who have significantly improved teacher and student performance at underperforming campuses;

(4) offer a full-time internship that continues for at least one semester and provides meaningful interaction with the central administrative office of a school district; and

(5) collaborate with school districts to provide program participants who complete the program continued support for at least two years after the participants' initial assignment to a campus.

(d) To be eligible for admission to a school turnaround specialist endorsement program under this section, a principal must:

(1) hold a principal certificate;

(2) have served as a principal or assistant principal for at least three school years before applying to the program;

(3) demonstrate significant knowledge of educational organizations, educational instruction, and teacher professional development;

(4) demonstrate the attributes of principals who have significantly improved teacher and student performance at underperforming campuses; and

(5) provide evidence of the ability to develop and implement campus-based systems that result in increased capacity for improving student learning.

(e) The board shall periodically evaluate school turnaround specialist endorsement programs selected under this section. For purposes of evaluating the programs, the board shall require each program to submit data, as determined appropriate by the board, for each year and at each five-year interval.

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the State Board for Educator Certification shall propose rules relating to the school turnaround specialist endorsement to the school principal certificate as provided by Section 21.0461, Education Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than March 1, 2022, the State Board for Educator Certification shall solicit proposals for a school turnaround specialist endorsement program as provided by Section 21.0461, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.