By:  Grusendorf (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro)                        H.B. No. 318
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 25, 2003; 
April 28, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Education; May 23, 2003, reported adversely, with favorable 
Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 1; 
May 23, 2003, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 318                                    By:  Shapiro


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to certification to teach in certain grade levels of 
individuals who hold baccalaureate or advanced degrees from an 
institution of higher education.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 21.0491 to read as follows:
	Sec. 21.0491.  TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION OF PERSONS HOLDING 
CERTAIN DEGREES.  (a)  In addition to issuing teaching certificates 
to persons to whom Section 21.050 applies, the board may issue to a 
person a temporary certificate authorizing the person to teach only 
in grade levels 8-12 if the person:
		(1)  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
		(2)  performs satisfactorily on the appropriate 
examination prescribed under Section 21.048.
	(b)  A school district may 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)  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)  A certificate issued under this section is valid for a 
term not to exceed two years.
	(e)  A school district may direct the board to issue a 
standard teaching certificate to a person if:
		(1)  the person holds a certificate issued under this 
section;       
		(2)  the district has employed the person as a teacher 
for at least two years; and
		(3)  the district has favorably reviewed the person's 
performance, including classroom performance and performance in 
any teacher training program.
	(f)  A person may receive a certificate to teach only in a 
subject area of the curriculum prescribed under Subchapter A, 
Chapter 28, 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)  A school district may employ a person who holds a 
certificate under this section only:
		(1)  under a probationary contract for each year of the 
person's employment with the district, notwithstanding the 
probationary contract period limitations described by Sections 
21.102(b) and (c); or
		(2)  in an at-will employment relationship, 
notwithstanding Section 21.002(a).
	(h)  A school district employing a person who holds a 
certificate issued under this section must provide the person with 
intensive support during the person's first year of employment with 
the district, including:
		(1)  mentoring;                                                        
		(2)  preservice training, including training in 
classroom management and student discipline; and
		(3)  appropriate professional development.                             
	(i)  For purposes of this section, the board may by rule 
determine which higher education academic majors are related to 
which subject areas of the curriculum under Subchapter A, Chapter 
28.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 
school year.       
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.



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