SRC-AMY C.S.H.B. 318 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 318
78R17751 EBy: Grusendorf (Shapiro)
Education
5-23-2003
Committee Report (Substituted)

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

For several years, Texas school districts have faced a growing teacher
shortage.  Neither traditional nor alternative certification programs are
meeting the demand for certified teachers. Alternative certification
processes require applicants to take courses in teaching methods and
certain subject areas before taking the appropriate certification exams.
C.S.H.B. 318 authorizes the State Board of Educator Certification to issue
to a person a temporary certificate authorizing the person to teach only
in grade levels 8-12 if the person holds a baccalaureate or advanced
degree from an institution of higher education received with an academic
major or interdisciplinary academic major, including reading, other than
education, that is related to at least one area of the curriculum as
prescribed under Subchapter A, Chapter 28, and performs satisfactorily on
the appropriate examination prescribed under Section 21.048.  This bill
sets forth the requirements and restrictions of such a program. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Educator
Certification in SECTION 1 (Section 21.0491, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.   Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding
Section 21.0491, as follows: 

Sec. 21.0491.  TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION OF PERSONS HOLDING CERTAIN DEGREES.
(a)  Authorizes the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC), in
addition to issuing teaching certificates to persons to whom Section
21.050 (Academic Degree Requires for Teaching Certificate; Internship)
applies, to issue to a person a temporary certificate authorizing the
person to teach only in grade levels 8-12 if the person holds a
baccalaureate or advanced degree from an institution of higher education
received with an academic major or interdisciplinary academic major,
including reading, other than education, that is related to at least one
area of the curriculum as prescribed under Subchapter A, Chapter 28, and
performs satisfactorily on the appropriate examination prescribed under
Section 21.048. 

(b) Authorizes a school district to require that a person who is employed
by the district and who holds a certificate issued under this section
complete a teacher training program. 

(c) Provides that a certificate issued to a person under this section is
valid only in the school district in which the person is initially
employed after receiving the certificate. 

(d) Provides that a certificate issued under this section is valid for a
term not to exceed two years. 

(e) Authorizes a school district to direct SBEC to issue a standard
teaching certificate to a person under certain circumstances. 

(f) Authorizes a person to receive a certificate to teach only in a
subject area of the  curriculum prescribed under Subchapter A, Chapter 28
(Essential Knowledge and Skills; Curriculum), in which the person holds a
baccalaureate or advanced degree from an institution of higher education
with an academic major related to that area of the curriculum. 

(g) Authorizes a school district to employ a person who holds a
certificate under this section only under certain circumstances. 

(h) Requires a school district employing a person who holds a certificate
issued under this section to provide the person with intensive support
during the person's first year of employment with the district, including
mentoring, preservice training, and appropriate professional development. 

(i) Authorizes SBEC, for the purposes of this section, by rule, to
determine which higher education academic majors are related to which
subject areas of the curriculum under Subchapter A, Chapter 28 (Essential
Knowledge and Skills; Curriculum). 

SECTION 2.   Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.