BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 642

By: Patrick, Diane

Public Education

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, the State Board for Educator Certification establishes continuing education requirements for classroom teachers, principals, and counselors. Interested parties express concern that these requirements are overly broad and often not meaningful for public schools, classrooms, or students. In addition, these parties contend that making data-driven decisions, identifying at-risk students, integrating technology, working with diverse populations, and focusing on one's respective content area will improve classroom effectiveness and student achievement, and that principals and counselors must meet student and teacher needs more effectively to move Texas public education into a strong position to be globally competitive.  C.S.H.B. 642 seeks to address these issues by enhancing the continuing education requirements for classroom teachers, principals, and counselors.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board for Educator Certification in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 642 amends the Education Code to require continuing education requirements for a classroom teacher to provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom, recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school, integrating technology into classroom instruction, educating diverse student populations, and increasing knowledge of the subject area taught by the educator. The bill requires continuing education requirements for a principal to provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding effective and efficient management, recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school, integrating technology into campus curriculum and instruction, educating diverse student populations, and providing instructional leadership. The bill requires continuing education requirements for a counselor to provide that not more than 25 percent of training required every five years include instruction regarding assisting students in developing high school graduation plans, implementing dropout prevention strategies, and informing students concerning college admissions and career opportunities. The bill exempts an educator subject to continuing education requirements immediately before the bill's effective date from these requirements for any continuing education requirements period that ends before January 1, 2017.

C.S.H.B. 642 requires continuing education requirements for an educator each year to be linked to any areas identified in the educator's appraisal as needing improvement. The bill exempts an educator subject to continuing education requirements immediately before the bill's effective date from this requirement for any continuing education requirements period that ends before January 1, 2016.

C.S.H.B. 642 requires the State Board for Educator Certification to propose rules implementing the bill's provisions not later than January 1, 2014. The bill's provisions apply beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 642 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 21.054, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as follows: (d)  Continuing education requirements for a classroom teacher must provide that 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding: (1)  collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom; (2)  recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school; (3)  integrating technology into classroom instruction; (4)  educating diverse student populations, including: (A)  students with disabilities; (B)  students who are educationally disadvantaged; (C)  students of limited English proficiency; and (D)  students at risk of dropping out of school; and (5)  increasing knowledge of the subject area taught by the educator. (e)  Continuing education requirements for a principal must provide that 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding: (1)  effective and efficient management, including: (A)  collecting and analyzing information; (B)  making decisions and managing time; and (C)  supervising student discipline and managing behavior; (2)  recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school; (3)  integrating technology into campus curriculum and instruction; (4)  educating diverse student populations, including: (A)  students with disabilities; (B)  students who are educationally disadvantaged; (C)  students of limited English proficiency; and (D)  students at risk of dropping out of school; and (5)  providing instructional leadership, including: (A)  providing teacher support; (B)  maintaining community involvement; (C)  building professional learning communities; and (D)  recruiting, coaching, remediating, and retaining campus educators. (f)  Continuing education requirements for a counselor must provide that 25 percent of training required every five years include instruction regarding: (1)  assisting students in developing high school graduation plans; (2)  implementing dropout prevention strategies; and (3)  informing students concerning: (A)  college admissions, including college financial aid resources and application procedures; and (B)  career opportunities. (g)  Continuing education requirements for an educator each year must be linked to any areas identified in the educator's appraisal as needing improvement.	SECTION 1.  Section 21.054, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as follows: (d)  Continuing education requirements for a classroom teacher must provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding: (1)  collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom; (2)  recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school; (3)  integrating technology into classroom instruction; (4)  educating diverse student populations, including: (A)  students with disabilities, including mental health disorders; (B)  students who are educationally disadvantaged; (C)  students of limited English proficiency; and (D)  students at risk of dropping out of school; and (5)  increasing knowledge of the subject area taught by the educator. (e)  Continuing education requirements for a principal must provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding: (1)  effective and efficient management, including: (A)  collecting and analyzing information; (B)  making decisions and managing time; and (C)  supervising student discipline and managing behavior; (2)  recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school; (3)  integrating technology into campus curriculum and instruction; (4)  educating diverse student populations, including: (A)  students with disabilities, including mental health disorders; (B)  students who are educationally disadvantaged; (C)  students of limited English proficiency; and (D)  students at risk of dropping out of school; and (5)  providing instructional leadership, including: (A)  providing teacher support; (B)  maintaining community involvement; (C)  building professional learning communities; and (D)  recruiting, coaching, remediating, and retaining campus educators. (f)  Continuing education requirements for a counselor must provide that not more than 25 percent of training required every five years include instruction regarding: (1)  assisting students in developing high school graduation plans; (2)  implementing dropout prevention strategies; and (3)  informing students concerning: (A)  college admissions, including college financial aid resources and application procedures; and (B)  career opportunities. (g)  Continuing education requirements for an educator each year must be linked to any areas identified in the educator's appraisal as needing improvement.
SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2014, the State Board for Educator Certification shall propose rules implementing Section 21.054, Education Code, as amended by this Act.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3.  An educator subject to continuing education requirements immediately before the effective date of this Act is not required to comply with the continuing education requirements described by Section 21.054(d), (e), or (f), Education Code, as added by this Act, for any continuing education requirements period that ends before January 1, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 4.  An educator subject to continuing education requirements immediately before the effective date of this Act is not required to comply with the continuing education requirements described by Section 21.054(g), Education Code, as added by this Act, for any continuing education requirements period that ends before January 1, 2016.	SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 5.  This Act applies beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.	SECTION 5. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.	SECTION 6. Same as introduced version.