By Tillery                                            H.B. No. 3485
         77R6440 CAS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to training for certain public school teachers and care
 1-3     givers in certain early childhood programs.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 29.158 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 29.158.  TRAINING FOR CERTAIN TEACHERS AND CARE GIVERS.
 1-8     (a)  Each teacher of a prekindergarten or kindergarten class and
 1-9     each care giver in a federal Head Start program or other federally
1-10     or state funded early childhood care and education program must
1-11     receive training that enables the teacher or care giver to provide
1-12     children in the class or program with instruction that:
1-13                 (1)  is based on scientific studies showing the manner
1-14     in which brain development is connected to the nature of early
1-15     childhood experiences;
1-16                 (2)  focuses on the importance and continuity of the
1-17     relationships between:
1-18                       (A)  the teacher or care giver and the child; and
1-19                       (B)  the teacher or care giver and the parent;
1-20     and
1-21                 (3)  includes appropriate language awareness activities
1-22     conducted with a small group of children.
1-23           (b)  Training under this section must be provided by a
1-24     person, including an eligible entity as defined by Section
 2-1     12.101(a), approved by the commissioner.  The commissioner by rule
 2-2     shall adopt criteria a person must meet to be approved under this
 2-3     section.
 2-4           (c)  Training under this section shall be paid for with state
 2-5     or federal funds appropriated for that purpose.
 2-6           SECTION 2. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended to read
 2-7     as follows:
 2-8           Sec. 21.044.  EDUCATOR PREPARATION. (a)  The board shall
 2-9     propose rules establishing the training requirements a person must
2-10     accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or enter
2-11     an induction-year program. The board shall specify the minimum
2-12     academic qualifications required for a certificate.
2-13           (b)  The rules proposed under this section shall provide that
2-14     to obtain the certificate required to teach prekindergarten or
2-15     kindergarten, a person must receive the training prescribed by
2-16     Section 29.158.
2-17           SECTION 3. Section 21.451(a), Education Code, is amended to
2-18     read as follows:
2-19           (a)  The staff development provided by a school district must
2-20     be conducted in accordance with minimum standards developed by the
2-21     commissioner for program planning, preparation, and improvement.
2-22     The staff development:
2-23                 (1)  must include:
2-24                       (A)  training in technology, conflict resolution,
2-25     and discipline strategies, including classroom management, district
2-26     discipline policies, and the student code of conduct adopted under
2-27     Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; and
 3-1                       (B)  for teachers of prekindergarten or
 3-2     kindergarten classes, the training prescribed by Section 29.158;
 3-3     and
 3-4                 (2)  may include instruction as to what is permissible
 3-5     under law, including opinions of the United States Supreme Court,
 3-6     in regard to prayers in public school.
 3-7           SECTION 4.  Notwithstanding Section 29.158, Education Code,
 3-8     as added by this Act, a person who holds a certificate to teach
 3-9     prekindergarten or kindergarten on the effective date of this Act
3-10     must, not later than September 1, 2003, receive the training
3-11     prescribed by Section 29.158, Education Code, as added by this Act,
3-12     to teach prekindergarten or kindergarten after that date.
3-13           SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
3-14     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-15     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
3-16     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-17     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.