BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 544
88R2853 JTZ-D	By: Blanco
	Education
	3/27/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Nationally, there is a shortage of professional educators within the K-12 environment, and Texas is no exception. The pandemic has only exacerbated this teacher shortage, and educators are leaving the profession at record levels. As a result, Texas needs creative solutions to the state's worsening teacher workforce shortage.

The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is an accredited institution through Air University by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. There are over 3,700 CCAF instructors based in Texas, teaching primarily in Wichita Falls, San Antonio, and San Angelo. Additionally, there are over 48 campuses in Texas with instructors across the state.

S.B. 544 seeks to provide military members teaching at the Community College of the Air Force a direct pathway to teaching within the Texas K-12 system. The State of Florida first passed similar legislation in 2006, which created a process to streamline certification for qualified CCAF instructors.

S.B. 544 would allow qualified CCAF instructors to bypass an educator preparation program, which is a prerequisite for the instructor to obtain teacher certification from the state. Instead, the instructor would only have to take the necessary certification exams to ensure they are prepared to enter a K-12 classroom. In addition, the CCAF instructor must hold at least a bachelor's degree, an appropriate certificate or credential, and have taught at least two full-time semesters.

As proposed, S.B. 544 amends current law relating to the issuance of a teaching certificate to certain applicants with experience as instructors for the Community College of the Air Force.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 21.052, Education Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 21.052. CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATORS WITH CREDENTIALS FROM ANOTHER ENTITY.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.052, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-2) and (a-3), as follows:

(a) Authorizes the State Board for Educator Certification to issue a certificate to an educator who applies for a certificate and:

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision;

(2) either:

(A) makes a nonsubstantive change to this paragraph; or

(B) has at least two semesters' experience as a full-time instructor for the Community College of the Air Force; and

(3) makes no changes to this subdivision.

(a-2) Authorizes an applicant described by Subsection (a)(2)(B) to fulfill the examination requirements under Subsection (a)(3) (relating to requiring an applicant to perform satisfactorily on certain exams) by performing satisfactorily on one examination prescribed under Section 21.048 (Certification Examinations) in the subject area in which the applicant intends to teach.

(a-3) Provides that an applicant is not eligible for certification as a superintendent or principal under this section based on the credentials described under Subsection (a)(2)(B).

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.