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.