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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to educator preparation and certification requirements |
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concerning reading instruction in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.044. EDUCATOR PREPARATION. (a) The board shall |
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propose rules establishing the training requirements a person must |
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accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or enter |
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an induction-year program. The board shall specify the minimum |
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academic qualifications required for a certificate. |
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(b) In this subsection, "essential components of reading |
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instruction," "reading," and "scientifically based reading |
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research" have the meanings assigned by Section 1208, No Child Left |
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Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6368). The board's rules |
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under Subsection (a) must require that for a person to obtain a |
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certificate under which the person may teach at an elementary grade |
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level or teach reading at any grade level, the person must complete |
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training in reading instruction, including training in: |
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(1) the essential components of reading instruction; |
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(2) reading; |
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(3) spelling; |
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(4) grammar, punctuation, and capitalization skills; |
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(5) the diagnosis of reading deficiencies; |
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(6) strategies for early intervention in reading |
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deficiencies; |
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(7) scientifically based reading research on the |
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manner in which children learn to read; |
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(8) scientifically based reading research on the |
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manner in which proficient readers read; |
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(9) the structure of the English language; |
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(10) the relationships among reading, writing, and |
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spelling; |
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(11) planning and delivering appropriate reading |
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instruction based on assessment and evaluation; and |
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(12) independent student reading of high quality books |
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and the relationship of that reading to improved reading |
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performance. |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.045, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) In this subsection, "essential components of reading |
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instruction," "reading," and "scientifically based reading |
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research" have the meanings assigned by Section 1208, No Child Left |
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Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6368). In addition to the |
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standards established by the board under Subsection (a), each |
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educator preparation program must require that a candidate for a |
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certificate to teach at an elementary grade level or to teach |
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reading at any grade level must complete training in reading |
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instruction, including training in: |
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(1) the essential components of reading instruction; |
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(2) reading; |
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(3) spelling; |
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(4) grammar, punctuation, and capitalization skills; |
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(5) the diagnosis of reading deficiencies; |
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(6) strategies for early intervention in reading |
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deficiencies; |
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(7) scientifically based reading research on the |
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manner in which children learn to read; |
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(8) scientifically based reading research on the |
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manner in which proficient readers read; |
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(9) the structure of the English language; |
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(10) the relationships among reading, writing, and |
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spelling; |
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(11) planning and delivering appropriate reading |
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instruction based on assessment and evaluation; and |
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(12) independent student reading of high quality books |
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and the relationship of that reading to improved reading |
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performance. |
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(c) The board shall propose rules establishing performance |
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standards for the Accountability System for Educator Preparation |
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for accrediting educator preparation programs. At a minimum, |
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performance standards must be based on Subsections [Subsection] (a) |
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and (a-1). The board shall propose rules for the sanction of |
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educator preparation programs and shall annually review the |
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accreditation status of each educator preparation program. |
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SECTION 3. Section 21.048(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In this subsection, "essential components of reading |
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instruction," "reading," and "scientifically based reading |
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|
research" have the meanings assigned by Section 1208, No Child Left |
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Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6368). The board shall |
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propose rules prescribing comprehensive examinations for each |
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class of certificate issued by the board. The rules must provide |
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that the examination for a certificate under which a person may |
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teach at an elementary grade level or teach reading at any grade |
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level must assess mastery of reading instruction, including: |
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(1) the essential components of reading instruction; |
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(2) reading; |
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(3) spelling; |
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(4) grammar, punctuation, and capitalization skills; |
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(5) the diagnosis of reading deficiencies; |
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(6) strategies for early intervention in reading |
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deficiencies; |
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(7) scientifically based reading research on the |
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manner in which children learn to read; |
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(8) scientifically based reading research on the |
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manner in which proficient readers read; |
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(9) the structure of the English language; |
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(10) the relationships among reading, writing, and |
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spelling; |
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(11) planning and delivering appropriate reading |
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instruction based on assessment and evaluation; and |
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(12) independent student reading of high quality books |
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and the relationship of that reading to improved reading |
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performance. |
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SECTION 4. Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The staff development must include, for teachers who |
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teach reading at any grade level or special education, at least five |
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days of training in the areas described by Section 21.044(b). |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2007–2008 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |