81R7869 CAE-D
 
  By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 2206
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certification of an educator in Texas who is certified
  in another state or country.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.052, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (e), (f), and (g) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The board shall [may] issue a certificate to an educator
  who applies for a certificate and:
               (1)  holds:
                     (A)  a degree issued by an institution accredited
  by a regional accrediting agency or group that is recognized by a
  nationally recognized accreditation board; or
                     (B)  a degree issued by an institution located in
  a foreign country, if the degree is equivalent to a degree described
  by Paragraph (A);
               (2)  holds an appropriate certificate or other
  credential issued by another state or country; [and]
               (3)  performs satisfactorily on:
                     (A)  the examination prescribed under Section
  21.048; or
                     (B)  if the educator holds a certificate or other
  credential issued by another state or country, an examination
  similar to and at least as rigorous as that described by Paragraph
  (A) administered to the educator under the authority of that state;
  and
               (4)  holds a certificate or other credential issued by
  another state or country to teach mathematics, science, special
  education, or bilingual education, or another subject area that the
  commissioner determines has a shortage of teachers.
         (e)  An educator who receives a certificate as provided by
  Subsection (a) must perform satisfactorily on the examination
  prescribed under Section 21.048 not later than the second
  anniversary of the date the certificate under Subsection (a) was
  issued.
         (f)  The board shall post on the board's Internet website the
  procedures for obtaining a certificate under Subsection (a).
         (g)  The commissioner shall provide guidance to school
  districts that employ an educator certified as provided by
  Subsection (a) on procedures to classify the educator as a highly
  qualified teacher in a manner consistent with the No Child Left
  Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.).
         SECTION 2.  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, 2009.