By Grusendorf H.B. No. 1626
77R460 BDH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the rulemaking authority of the State Board for
1-3 Educator Certification.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 21.031(b), Education Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (b) In adopting [proposing] rules under this subchapter, the
1-8 board shall ensure that all candidates for certification or renewal
1-9 of certification demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to
1-10 improve the performance of the diverse student population of this
1-11 state.
1-12 SECTION 2. Sections 21.041(b) and (c), Education Code, are
1-13 amended to read as follows:
1-14 (b) The board shall adopt [propose] rules that:
1-15 (1) provide for the regulation of educators and the
1-16 general administration of this subchapter in a manner consistent
1-17 with this subchapter;
1-18 (2) specify the classes of educator certificates to be
1-19 issued, including emergency certificates;
1-20 (3) specify the period for which each class of
1-21 educator certificate is valid;
1-22 (4) specify the requirements for the issuance and
1-23 renewal of an educator certificate;
1-24 (5) provide for the issuance of an educator
2-1 certificate to a person who holds a similar certificate issued by
2-2 another state or foreign country, subject to Section 21.052;
2-3 (6) provide for special or restricted certification of
2-4 educators, including certification of instructors of American Sign
2-5 Language;
2-6 (7) provide for disciplinary proceedings, including
2-7 the suspension or revocation of an educator certificate, as
2-8 provided by Chapter 2001, Government Code;
2-9 (8) provide for the adoption, amendment, and
2-10 enforcement of an educator's code of ethics;
2-11 (9) provide for continuing education requirements; and
2-12 (10) provide for certification of persons performing
2-13 appraisals under Subchapter H.
2-14 (c) The board shall adopt [propose a rule adopting] a fee
2-15 for the issuance and maintenance of an educator certificate that is
2-16 adequate to cover the cost of administration of this subchapter.
2-17 SECTION 3. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended to
2-18 read as follows:
2-19 Sec. 21.044. Educator Preparation. The board shall adopt
2-20 [propose] rules establishing the training requirements a person
2-21 must accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or
2-22 enter an induction-year program. The board shall specify the
2-23 minimum academic qualifications required for a certificate.
2-24 SECTION 4. Sections 21.045(a) and (c), Education Code, are
2-25 amended to read as follows:
2-26 (a) The board shall adopt [propose] rules establishing
2-27 standards to govern the approval and continuing accountability of
3-1 all educator preparation programs based on information that is
3-2 disaggregated with respect to sex and ethnicity and that includes:
3-3 (1) results of the certification examinations
3-4 prescribed under Section 21.048(a); and
3-5 (2) performance based on the appraisal system for
3-6 beginning teachers adopted by the board.
3-7 (c) The board shall adopt [propose] rules establishing
3-8 performance standards for the Accountability System for Educator
3-9 Preparation for accrediting educator preparation programs. At a
3-10 minimum, performance standards must be based on Subsection (a).
3-11 The board shall adopt [propose] rules for the sanction of educator
3-12 preparation programs and shall annually review the accreditation
3-13 status of each educator preparation program.
3-14 SECTION 5. Section 21.046(d), Education Code, is amended to
3-15 read as follows:
3-16 (d) In creating the qualifications for certification as a
3-17 principal, the board shall consider the knowledge, skills, and
3-18 proficiencies for principals as developed by relevant national
3-19 organizations and as adopted by the State Board for Educator
3-20 Certification [of Education].
3-21 SECTION 6. Section 21.048(a), Education Code, is amended to
3-22 read as follows:
3-23 (a) The board shall adopt [propose] rules prescribing
3-24 comprehensive examinations for each class of certificate issued by
3-25 the board.
3-26 SECTION 7. Section 21.049, Education Code, is amended to
3-27 read as follows:
4-1 Sec. 21.049. Alternative Certification. To provide a
4-2 continuing additional source of qualified educators, the board
4-3 shall adopt [propose] rules providing for educator certification
4-4 programs as an alternative to traditional educator preparation
4-5 programs. The rules may not provide that a person may be certified
4-6 under this section only if there is a demonstrated shortage of
4-7 educators in a school district or subject area.
4-8 SECTION 8. Section 21.050(b), Education Code, is amended to
4-9 read as follows:
4-10 (b) The board may not require more than 18 semester credit
4-11 hours of education courses at the baccalaureate level for the
4-12 granting of a teaching certificate. The board shall provide for a
4-13 minimum number of semester credit hours of internship to be
4-14 included in the hours needed for certification. The board may
4-15 adopt [propose] rules requiring additional credit hours for
4-16 certification in bilingual education, English as a second language,
4-17 early childhood education, or special education.
4-18 SECTION 9. Section 21.051, Education Code, is amended to
4-19 read as follows:
4-20 Sec. 21.051. OPTIONS FOR FIELD EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS.
4-21 The board shall adopt [propose] rules providing flexible options
4-22 for persons for any field experience or internship required for
4-23 certification.
4-24 SECTION 10. Section 21.054(a), Education Code, is amended to
4-25 read as follows:
4-26 (a) The board shall adopt [propose] rules establishing a
4-27 process for identifying continuing education courses and programs
5-1 that fulfill educators' continuing education requirements.
5-2 SECTION 11. Section 21.042, Education Code, is repealed.
5-3 SECTION 12. This Act applies to a rule proposed by the State
5-4 Board for Educator Certification that has not taken effect or been
5-5 rejected by the State Board of Education before the effective date
5-6 of this Act, regardless of the date on which the State Board for
5-7 Educator Certification proposed the rule.
5-8 SECTION 13. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
5-9 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
5-10 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
5-11 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
5-12 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.