By:  Gutierrez                                                    H.B. No. 2722



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the methods of assessing the knowledge and skills of a 
candidate for educator certification.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 21.048(a), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(a)  The board shall propose rules:                                            
		(1)  prescribing comprehensive examinations for each 
class of certificate issued by the board; and
		(2)  providing for alternative methods of assessing a 
candidate's knowledge and skills in pedagogy and professional 
responsibility, including a performance appraisal approved by the 
board.
	SECTION 2.  Section 21.355, Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	(a)  A document evaluating the performance of an educator [a 
teacher or administrator] is confidential.
	(b)  A document or information contained in a document under 
subsection (a) of this section may be disclosed to the State Board 
for Educator Certification without violating the confidentiality 
of the document or any information contained in it.
	SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2004, the State Board 
for Educator Certification shall propose rules providing for 
alternative methods of assessing a candidate's knowledge and skills 
in pedagogy and professional responsibility.  Section 21.048(a), 
Education Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to the 
certification of a candidate on or after September 1, 2004.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.