AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 1704 creates a task force to redesign and rebuild teacher preparation programs. The task force will develop preparation standards, develop highly credible and predictive assessments of professional knowledge and skills so that no new teacher enters a classroom without a fundamental capacity for effective performance, and recommend an implementation plan for incorporating the new standards.
To ensure that the measures work, the task force will follow a strict timeline to systemically reform teacher preparation across Texas, and by June 1, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) will review educator preparation programs for implementation of the standards.
In addition to developing rigorous teacher preparation standards, S.B. 1704 creates a distinction for one college of education at an institution of higher education in this state to become the Texas Institute for Educator Excellence. This institute will initially serve as the demonstration site for modeling the new preparation standards and will continue to serve as the state's center for innovative practice and high-quality research on educator quality. Lastly, S.B. 1704 creates an interim Joint Select Committee for Teacher and Principal Excellence that will oversee and streamline the implementation of the many reforms currently striving to improve the quality of teachers and principals across the state.
As proposed, S.B. 1704 amends current law relating to educator preparation programs.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to the State Board of Educator Certification is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 21.044, Education Code) of this bill.
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of higher education in SECTION 4 (Section 21.0501, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.044, Education Code, as follows:
Sec. 21.044. EDUCATOR PREPARATION. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Makes no further changes.
(b) Requires the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC), in proposing rules as required by Subsection (a), to provide minimum content standards regarding the content that must be included in an educator preparation program administered by an undergraduate university for the following subject areas: English language, mathematics, science, and social studies.
(c) Provides that if SBEC does not propose rules regarding the minimum content standards for educator preparation programs as required by Subsection (b) on or before June 1, 2012, the minimum content standards recommended by the task force and adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE) under Section 21.0453 take effect as rules of SBEC.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.045, Education Code, by adding Subsection (d), as follows:
(d) Requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in cooperation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to conduct a review of all educator preparation programs at least once each year. Requires TEA and THECB, not less than once every three years, to conduct a review of the educator preparation program at the program's campus.
SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Sections 21.0453, 21.0454, 21.0455, and 21.0456, as follows:
Sec. 21.0453. TASK FORCE ON EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS. (a) Provides that a task force is established under this section to recommend standards for educator preparation programs and the implementation of those standards.
(b) Requires the commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education to jointly appoint a presiding officer of the task force. Requires the Joint Select Committee for Teacher and Principal Excellence established under Section 21.0455 to approve the presiding officer. Requires the presiding officer to:
(1) be a nationally recognized expert in teacher education and preparation;
(2) have served as a presiding officer of a state or national board or task force addressing teachers and the education of teachers; and
(3) be an experienced and effective leader of an educator preparation program or a college of education of a public or private institution of higher education.
(c) Provides that the task force of members appointed jointly by the commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education on the recommendation of the presiding officer of the task force. Requires the task force to include representatives of educator preparation programs. Requires the commissioners to appoint the members of the task force not later than December 1, 2011.
(d) Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the task force.
(e) Requires the task force to recommend program standards for educator preparation programs. Requires that the standards include:
(1) educating a prospective teacher in a manner that enables the prospective teacher to graduate with an ability to deliver information and instruction to students in a comprehensible manner, and detailed and specialized knowledge in the academic content the teacher will teach;
(2) providing a range of settings that provide a prospective teacher with an opportunity to practice the art of teaching and receive feedback and coaching on the prospective teacher's effectiveness, including learning in a laboratory setting; and
(3) developing and administering a highly credible and predictive assessment of professional knowledge and skill that ensures each teacher enters the profession with a fundamental capacity for effective performance as a beginning teacher.
(f) Requires the task force to recommend an implementation plan for the standards adopted by Subsection (e). Requires that the plan include:
(1) developing a cooperative and collaborative response from educator preparation programs for implementation of the new standards;
(2) providing technical assistance to educator preparation programs in implementing the standards;
(3) providing illustrative examples to educator preparation programs for implementing the standards; and
(4) providing methods to evaluate educator preparation programs for compliance with the standards.
(g) Requires the task force to develop the recommended standards and implementation plan required by Subsections (e) and (f) and, not later than June 1, 2012, submit the proposed standards and plan to SBOE for review. Authorizes SBOE to reject the standards and plan by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of SBOE present and voting. Provides that if SBOE fails to reject the standards and plan before the 90th day after the date on which it receives the standards and plan, the standards and plan take effect as rules of SBEC as provided by Chapter 2001, Government Code, except as provided by Section 21.044. Prohibits SBOE from modifying the standards and plan proposed by the task force.
(h) Requires the task force, not later than January 1, 2013, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over higher education, and the presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over primary and secondary education a written report that contains:
(1) the standards and the implementation plan recommended by the task force and, if applicable, adopted by the SBOE; and
(2) task force recommendations concerning statutory changes necessary or appropriate to implement the standards and plan.
(i) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2015.
Sec. 21.0454. IMPLEMENTATION OF TASK FORCE STANDARDS. (a) Requires SBEC, not later than January 1, 2013, to implement the standards recommended by the task force and adopted by SBOE under Section 21.0453. Prohibits SBEC from proposing to SBOE a rule that does not comply with the standards recommended by the task force.
(b) Requires that an educator certification program, not later than June 1, 2014, comply with the standards recommended by the task force and adopted by SBOE under Section 21.0453.
(c) Requires TEA in cooperation with THECB, not later than June 1, 2015, to conduct a review of all educator preparation programs to determine compliance with the standards implemented under this section. Requires that a review under this section be conducted on the campus of the educator preparation program. Requires TEA and THECB, not later than the 90th day after the date a review under this section is completed, to notify a program whether the program complies with the standards implemented under this section.
(d) Authorizes an educator preparation program under that does not comply with the standards implemented under this section to request a second review. Provides that the education preparation program requesting review is responsible for all costs associated with the second review. Requires that an educator preparation program, not later than January 1, 2016, comply with the standards or the program is assigned an accreditation status of not accredited-revoked and the program closed by SBEC.
(e) Provides that this section expires on September 1, 2016.
Sec. 21.0455. JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE FOR TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL EXCELLENCE. (a) Defines "committee."
(b) Provides that the Joint Select Committee for Teacher and Principal Excellence (committee) is established to oversee and monitor the implementation of statutes relating to teacher and principal effectiveness.
(c) Provides that the committee is composed of 15 members as follows:
(1) the presiding officers of the legislative standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over public education;
(2) the presiding officers of the legislative standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over higher education;
(3) the commissioner of education;
(4) the commissioner of higher education;
(5) one dean of a college of education of an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003 (Definitions), one classroom teacher, and one representative from an alternative certification program, each currently employed in this state and each appointed jointly by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives;
(6) two educators currently employed in this state and each appointed jointly by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives;
(7) one member who represents the business community or the public, appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(8) one member who represents the business community or the public, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
(9) two members who represent the business community or the public, appointed by the governor, one of whom has at least one child who attends a public school in this state.
(d) Requires the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives to make the appointments required by Subsection (c) in a timely manner.
(e) Requires TEA to periodically report to the committee regarding any statutory initiative adopted by the 82nd Legislature, Regulate Session, 2011, relating to teacher and principal quality. Requires that the report be:
(1) prepared by the person at TEA charged with overseeing the implementation of the initiative; and
(2) submitted in writing, unless the committee requests the person providing the report to appear in person at a hearing of the committee.
(f) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2016.
Sec. 21.0456. TEXAS INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATOR EXCELLENCE. (a) Defines "institute."
(b) Requires the commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education to develop and implement the Texas Institute for Educator Excellence (institute).
(c) Requires the commissioners to adopt a plan for the selection and design of the institute. Requires that the plan developed by the commissioners be submitted for approval to the committee established under Section 21.0455.
(d) Requires the commissioners, after the plan is adopted and approved as provided by Subsection (c), to issue a request for proposal to select a college of education of an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, to serve as the institute.
(e) Requires the institute, not later than June 1, 2013, to implement the standards recommended by the task force and adopted by SBOE under Section 21.0453. Provides that the institute will serve as a demonstration site for the educator preparation standards recommended by the task force.
(f) Provides that Subsections (c), (d), (e), and this subsection expire September 1, 2016.
(g) Provides that after the educator preparation standards are implemented, the institute will serve as the state's center for reform-oriented and innovative practice, high-quality research, and model programs relating to educator quality and effectiveness.
SECTION 4. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Section 21.0501, as follows:
Sec. 21.0501. ACCEPTANCE AND GRADUATION IN MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM. (a) Requires the commissioner of higher education, before January 1, 2012, in consultation with THECB, to evaluate:
(1) admission requirements for master's degree programs in teaching; and
(2) graduation requirements for master's degree programs in teaching.
(b) Requires the commissioner of higher education, before June 1, 2012, in consultation with THECB, to adopt rules:
(1) increasing the academic standards for admission to a master's degree program in teaching;
(2) increasing the graduation requirements for a master's degree program in teaching; and
(3) providing for the applicability of the increased standards and requirements to students enrolled in a master's degree program in teaching.
(c) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2012.
SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2011.