By Cain S.B. No. 1733
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.