By: Patrick H.B. No. 642
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to continuing education requirements for certain
  educators.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.054, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) 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.
         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 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 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2014-2015
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.