BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 54

By: Zaffirini

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A student with a visual impairment is currently required to be taught by a certified teacher. According to interested parties, teachers of students with visual impairments can obtain the supplemental visual impairment certification in several ways, not all of which require the completion of certain approved course work. S.B. 54 seeks to improve the quality of education provided to students with visual impairments by requiring teachers of students with visual impairments to complete all required course work or an approved alternative education certification program before taking the certification test.

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

S.B. 54 amends the Education Code to require a person, to be eligible to be issued a certificate to teach students with visual impairments, to complete either all course work required for that certification in an approved educator preparation program or an alternative educator certification program approved for the purpose by the State Board for Educator Certification; to perform satisfactorily on each examination for certification to teach students with visual impairments, after completing the appropriate course work or alternative program; and to satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the board. The bill makes these eligibility requirements inapplicable to eligibility for a certificate to teach students with visual impairments, including eligibility for renewal of that certificate, if the application for the initial certificate was submitted on or before September 1, 2011.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.