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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to teacher requirements for high quality prekindergarten |
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programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.167, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsections (b-1), |
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(b-2), and (b-3) to read as follows: |
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(b) Each teacher for a prekindergarten program class must: |
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(1) be certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; and |
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(2) have one of the following additional |
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qualifications: |
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(A) an associate or baccalaureate degree in early |
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childhood education or a related field; |
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(B) a Child Development Associate (CDA) |
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credential or another early childhood education credential |
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approved by the agency; |
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(C) [(B)] certification offered through a |
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training center accredited by Association Montessori |
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Internationale or through the Montessori Accreditation Council for |
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Teacher Education; |
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(D) [(C)] at least eight years' experience of |
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teaching in a nationally accredited child care program or a Texas |
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Rising Star Program; |
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(E) [(D)] be employed as a prekindergarten |
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teacher in a school district that has received approval from the |
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commissioner for the district's prekindergarten-specific |
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instructional training plan that the teacher uses in the teacher's |
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prekindergarten classroom; or |
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(F) [(E)] an equivalent qualification. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), each teacher for a |
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prekindergarten class provided by an entity with which a school |
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district contracts to provide a prekindergarten program must: |
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(1) be supervised by a person who meets the |
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requirements under Subsection (b); and |
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(2) have one of the following qualifications: |
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(A) at least two years' experience of teaching in |
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a nationally accredited child care program or a Texas Rising Star |
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Program and: |
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(i) a Child Development Associate (CDA) |
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credential or another early childhood education credential |
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approved by the agency; or |
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(ii) certification offered through a |
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training center accredited by Association Montessori |
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Internationale or through the Montessori Accreditation Council for |
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Teacher Education; or |
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(B) a qualification described by Subsection |
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(b)(2)(A), (D), (E), or (F). |
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(b-2) A person who supervises a prekindergarten program |
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provided by an entity with which a school district contracts for |
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that purpose may supervise multiple prekindergarten classrooms to: |
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(1) ensure programmatic compliance; and |
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(2) support: |
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(A) classroom instruction; |
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(B) the developmental needs of students; and |
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(C) continuous quality improvement, including |
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professional development. |
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(b-3) Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) and this subsection |
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expire September 1, 2029. |
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(d) A school district or an entity with which the district |
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contracts to provide a prekindergarten program must attempt to |
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maintain an average ratio in any prekindergarten program class of |
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not less than one qualified [certified] teacher or teacher's aide |
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for each 11 students. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |