| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
| |
|
|
relating to creating a temporary educator certification for certain |
|
|
military service members and first responders. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Section 21.0444 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 21.0444. TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION FOR CERTAIN MILITARY |
|
|
SERVICE MEMBERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. (a) In this section, "first |
|
|
responder" means a person elected, employed, or appointed as: |
|
|
(1) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of |
|
|
Criminal Procedure; |
|
|
(2) fire protection personnel as defined by Section |
|
|
419.021, Government Code; or |
|
|
(3) emergency medical services personnel as defined by |
|
|
Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code. |
|
|
(b) This section applies to a person seeking certification |
|
|
who: |
|
|
(1) has served in the armed forces of the United States |
|
|
and was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active |
|
|
duty; or |
|
|
(2) has served as a first responder and, while in good |
|
|
standing and not because of pending or final disciplinary actions |
|
|
or a documented performance problem, retired, resigned, or |
|
|
separated from employment as a first responder. |
|
|
(c) The board shall propose rules under this subchapter |
|
|
providing for the issuance of a temporary certificate to a person |
|
|
described by Subsection (b) who meets all other eligibility |
|
|
requirements for standard certification, except that the person may |
|
|
substitute for a requirement that the person hold: |
|
|
(1) an associate degree from an accredited institution |
|
|
of higher education, 48 months of active duty military service or |
|
|
service as a first responder; or |
|
|
(2) a bachelor's degree: |
|
|
(A) the military service or service as a first |
|
|
responder described by Subdivision (1); and |
|
|
(B) 60 semester credit hours completed at a |
|
|
public or private institution of higher education with a minimum |
|
|
grade point average of at least 2.50 on a four-point scale. |
|
|
(d) Rules proposed by the board for a temporary certificate |
|
|
issued under this section must provide that the certificate is: |
|
|
(1) valid for no more than three years; |
|
|
(2) limited to a one-time issuance; and |
|
|
(3) not subject to renewal. |
|
|
(e) A person issued a temporary certificate under this |
|
|
section may be issued a standard certificate if the person |
|
|
completes all eligibility requirements required for that |
|
|
certification. |
|
|
(f) A school district shall require a new employee who holds |
|
|
a temporary certificate issued under this section to obtain at |
|
|
least 20 hours of classroom management training, unless the new |
|
|
employee has documented experience as an instructor or trainer |
|
|
during the employee's required 48 months of active duty military |
|
|
service or service as a first responder. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 21.458, Education Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), each [Each] |
|
|
school district may assign a mentor teacher to each classroom |
|
|
teacher who has less than two years of teaching experience in the |
|
|
subject or grade level to which the teacher is assigned. A teacher |
|
|
assigned as a mentor must: |
|
|
(1) to the extent practicable, teach in the same |
|
|
school; |
|
|
(2) to the extent practicable, teach the same subject |
|
|
or grade level, as applicable; and |
|
|
(3) meet the qualifications prescribed by |
|
|
commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (b). |
|
|
(a-2) A school district shall assign a mentor teacher to a |
|
|
classroom teacher who has been issued a temporary certificate under |
|
|
Section 21.0444 for at least two school years. |
|
|
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|
|
of this Act, the State Board for Educator Certification shall |
|
|
propose rules relating to temporary educator certificates for |
|
|
certain military service members and first responders as required |
|
|
by Section 21.0444, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|
|
|
|
|
* * * * * |