BILL ANALYSIS
By: Eissler
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Now is the time to focus on the area of education that matters most – the effectiveness of teachers to create excellence in the classroom across Texas. Effective educators are focused on student achievement. The professional development activities of effective teachers provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet their individual needs.
This bill places certain requirements on continuing education to improve the quality of teacher training by ensuring that continuing education is tailored to a teacher's specific needs.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
This bill amends the Education Code to provide that continuing education for a teacher must include activities for professional development that provide knowledge and skills shown to improve instructional effectiveness and that are linked to areas identified in a teacher's appraisal as needing improvement, especially those areas relating to student achievement, areas identified by a teacher for achievement of specific professional goals for improvement, or the subject area taught by the teacher, as appropriate to generate improvement in pedagogy or subject area expertise.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The original bill provides that continuing education for a teacher must be evidence-based and linked to any areas identified in a teacher's appraisal as needing improvement, any areas identified by a teacher for achievement of specific professional goals for improvement, and the subject area taught by the teacher, as appropriate to generate improvement in pedagogy or subject area expertise.
The substitute provides that continuing education for a teacher must include activities for professional development that provide knowledge and skills shown to improve instructional effectiveness and that are linked to areas identified in a teacher's appraisal as needing improvement, especially those areas relating to student achievement, areas identified by a teacher for achievement of specific professional goals for improvement, or the subject area taught by the teacher, as appropriate to generate improvement in pedagogy or subject area expertise.