SRC-ARR S.B. 1450 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1450
By: West
Education
4/6/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law provides for teacher certification.  S.B. 1450  would
issue different levels of certificates to public school teachers as a basis
of establishing compensation and to attract new teachers to work in public
elementary and secondary schools. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1450 issues certificates to public school teachers as a
basis of establishing compensation levels and to attract new teachers to
work in public elementary and secondary schools. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the State board of Education in SECTION
1 (Section 21.057(g), Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 21B, Education Code, by adding Section 21.057, as
follows: 

Sec. 21.057. CERTIFICATION CLASSIFICATIONS USED IN ESTABLISHING
COMPENSATION LEVELS. Requires the State board of Education (board) to issue
certification for certain classifications of certifications, as a basis for
establishing compensation levels for teachers under Subchapter I. Requires
the board to issue a teacher certificate to a person who has satisfactorily
completed an educator preparation program and the internship requirements
prescribed by the board and performed satisfactorily on an examination
under Section 21.048 or who has satisfactorily entered an alternative
certification program. Requires a person to take certain actions, before a
person to whom the board has issued a teacher certificate is eligible for a
staff teacher certificate. Requires the board to issue a staff teacher
certificate to person who, as a teacher, satisfactorily completes the
requirements under this section and those prescribed by the board. Requires
the board to issue a senior teacher certificate to a person who meets
certain requirements. Requires the board to issue a master teacher
certificate to a person who meets certain requirements. Provides that the
classification of certificates under this section is for purposes of
compensation under Subchapter I only. Provides that a certificate issued
under this section does not satisfy certification requirements or qualify a
person to teach a particular course. Requires the board to propose rules as
necessary.  

SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.044, Education Code, to require the board to
propose rules establishing the training requirements a person must
accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or enter an
induction program, rather than induction year program. 

SECTION 3. Sets forth certain goals of the legislature. Sets forth certain
requirements for achieving goals. Requires the State Board of Educator
Certification (SBEC) to monitor the success of efforts of the board and the
Texas Education Agency under Subsection (a) of this section and efforts to
provide loans for persons enrolled in educator preparation programs and
shall report to the legislature and school districts in this state not
later than January 31 of 2001, 2003, and 2005, concerning the success or
lack of success of those efforts. Requires SBEC to make each report
available, on request, to a member of the public.  
 
SECTION 4. Emergency clause.
                      Effective date: upon passage.