By: Aycock (Senate Sponsor - Seliger) H.B. No. 2318

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013; May 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Education; May 15, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 15, 2013, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2318 By: Seliger

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to public school educator preparation and alternative certification programs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.0453 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.0453. INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION. (a) The board shall require an educator preparation program to provide candidates for teacher certification with information concerning the following:

(1) skills and responsibilities required of teachers;

(2) expectations for student performance based on state standards;

(3) the current supply of and demand for teachers in this state;

(4) the importance of developing classroom management skills; and

(5) the state's framework for appraisal of teachers and principals.

(b) The board may propose rules as necessary for administration of this section, including rules to ensure that accurate and consistent information is provided by all educator preparation programs.

SECTION 2. Section 21.048(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 21.048. CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONS. (a) The board shall propose rules prescribing comprehensive examinations for each class of certificate issued by the board. The commissioner shall determine the satisfactory level of performance required for each certification examination. For the issuance of a generalist certificate, the commissioner shall require a satisfactory level of examination performance in each core subject covered by the examination.

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.061 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.061. REVIEW AND UPDATING OF EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS. The board shall, after consulting with appropriate higher education faculty and public school teachers and administrators and soliciting advice from other interested persons with relevant knowledge and experience, develop and carry out a process for reviewing and, as necessary, updating standards and requirements for educator preparation programs.

SECTION 4. The State Board for Educator Certification shall complete an initial review of and implement any updated standards and requirements for educator preparation and alternative certification programs as required by Section 21.061, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2014.

SECTION 5. Not later than January 1, 2014, the commissioner of education shall determine performance levels for certification examinations as provided by Section 21.048(a), Education Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 6. 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, 2013.

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