80R1668 SLO-D

By: Villarreal H.B. No. 134

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to teacher certification in early childhood education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 21.050, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) The board shall propose rules requiring that a certification in early childhood education, such as an early childhood-grade four certification, include a minimum of six credit hours of education courses emphasizing early childhood education or early childhood development. The curriculum for the courses must be based on National Association for the Education of Young Children standards for professional preparation or comparable standards. An early childhood education course provided under an articulation agreement between or among institutions of higher education may fulfill the curriculum requirements of this subsection. The rules must require an educator preparation program to offer courses or accept the transfer of credit for courses described by this subsection.

SECTION 2. Section 21.051, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 21.051. OPTIONS FOR FIELD EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS. (a) The board shall propose rules providing flexible options for persons for any field experience or internship required for certification.

(b) In this subsection, "child-care facility" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code. The rules proposed under this section must allow a person seeking certification in early childhood education, such as an early childhood--grade 4 certification, to satisfy not more than half of any field experience or internship requirement with relevant supervised work experience with a public school, federal Head Start program, or child-care facility that is operated in accordance with National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation standards for early childhood programs or comparable standards.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the State Board for Educator Certification shall propose the rules required by Sections 21.050(d) and 21.051(b), Education Code, as added by this Act. The rules proposed under Section 21.050(d), Education Code, as added by this Act, must provide for a transition period for imposing the curriculum requirements of that subsection as a condition for certification in early childhood education.

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 September 1, 2007.