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House Bill 2205 |
House Author: Crownover et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-15 |
Senate Sponsor: Seliger |
House Bill 2205 amends the Education Code to set out and revise provisions relating to the State Board for Educator Certification, educator preparation programs, educator certification, teaching permits, and procedures for investigating educator misconduct. The bill increases SBEC's membership by adding a nonvoting member, appointed by the governor, with experience working for and knowledge of an alternative educator preparation program. The bill permits SBEC to make a written delegation of authority to the commissioner of education or the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to informally dispose of a contested case involving educator certification. The bill decreases the minimum grade point averages required for admission into an educator preparation program and requires SBEC to establish standards governing the approval or renewal of approval of educator preparation programs and program certification fields.
House Bill 2205 revises the accountability standards for educator preparation programs and related sanctions and requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to participate and provide recommendations regarding criteria for the evaluation of such programs based on teacher retention and success. The bill requires SBEC to develop a set of risk factors to use in assessing the overall risk level of each educator preparation program and to establish a process for a teacher certification candidate to direct a complaint against a program to TEA. The bill limits the number of times a person may retake an educator certification examination. The bill authorizes a school district board of trustees to issue a school district teaching permit to a person who will only teach career and technical education courses based on qualifications certified by the district superintendent. Finally, the bill authorizes the commissioner to issue a subpoena during an investigation of alleged educator misconduct to compel the production of relevant evidence that is located in Texas.