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79S30605 PAM-D
By: Howard of Fort Bend H.B. No. 166
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certification and continuing education requirements
for certain public education administrators.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.0461 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.0461. TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE FOR SUPERINTENDENT OR
PRINCIPAL. (a) The board may issue a temporary certificate under
this section for:
(1) assistant principal;
(2) principal; or
(3) superintendent.
(b) A candidate for certification under this section must:
(1) hold a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an
institution of higher education;
(2) have significant management and leadership
experience, as determined by the board of trustees of the school
district that will employ the person under the temporary
certificate; and
(3) perform satisfactorily on the appropriate
examination prescribed under Section 21.048.
(c) 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 training program.
(d) 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.
(e) A certificate issued under this section:
(1) expires on the third anniversary of the date on
which the certificate was issued; and
(2) is not renewable.
(f) The board shall issue a standard certificate to a person
who holds a temporary certificate issued under this section if the
school district employing the person under the temporary
certificate:
(1) has employed the person for at least three years in
the capacity for which the person seeks a standard certificate; and
(2) has recommended the person to the board and
favorably reviewed, primarily using objective measures of student
performance and improvement in the district, the person's
performance.
(g) A school district employing a person who holds a
temporary 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; and
(2) intensive, high-quality professional development.
(h) For purposes of this section, the board by rule may
determine the criteria a school district board of trustees shall
use to determine whether a candidate for certification under this
section has significant management and leadership experience.
SECTION 2. Section 21.054, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(b) Continuing education for principals must be based on an
individual assessment of the knowledge, skills, and proficiencies
necessary to perform successfully as a principal, as identified in
Section 21.046. As part of a principal's compliance with
continuing education requirements under this section, a principal
must attend advanced management training courses or programs as
prescribed by board rule. An individualized professional growth
plan shall be developed as a result of the assessment and shall be
used exclusively for professional growth purposes. The assessment
results and the growth plan may only be released with the approval
of the principal assessed. Except as provided by Section 21.059,
each certified principal shall participate in the assessment
process and professional growth activities at least once every five
years.
(c) The board, in consultation with business schools,
departments, or programs at institutions of higher education, shall
propose rules to govern the approval and accountability of advanced
management training courses or programs required under this
section. In proposing a rule under this section, the board shall
require that a person conducting a course or program have
recognized expertise in business management.
SECTION 3. (a) Section 21.0461, Education Code, as added
by this Act, applies beginning with the 2006-2007 school year.
(b) Section 21.054, Education Code, as amended by this Act,
applies beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.
SECTION 4. 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.