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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to staff development requirements concerning the |
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instruction of students with disabilities 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 21.451, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (g), (h), and (i) to read as follows: |
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(g) This subsection applies only to a teacher who provides |
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instruction to a student for whom an individualized education |
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program has been developed under Section 29.005. Except as |
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provided by Subsection (i), a teacher subject to this subsection, |
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at least every three years, must complete a minimum number of hours |
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of staff development, as determined by commissioner rule, relating |
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to the instruction of students with disabilities. The staff |
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development training must include information relating to: |
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(1) temperament and requirements of students with |
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disabilities; |
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(2) methods for providing individualized instruction |
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to and assessing students with disabilities; and |
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(3) behavioral management techniques. |
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(h) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section and create as a local option for school |
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districts a three-year implementation schedule. Except as provided |
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by Subsection (i), at least one-third of the teachers subject to |
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Subsection (g) in the district must participate each year during |
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the three-year implementation period or until all teachers subject |
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to Subsection (g) have fulfilled the initial staff development |
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requirement under Subsection (g). The rules adopted under this |
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subsection must emphasize the need to provide adequate staff |
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development training to enable teachers to implement |
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individualized education programs for students with disabilities |
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in an effective manner. |
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(i) A school district that employs a teacher subject to |
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Subsection (g) may allow the teacher to satisfy the requirements of |
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that subsection if the teacher participates in district-approved |
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professional development activities or training, other than staff |
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development training provided by the district, that satisfies the |
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requirements of Subsection (g). |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2008-2009 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2008. |