AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law requires a school district to seek commissioner approval from the commissioner of education for a school district teaching permit. (See Section 21.055, Education Code) The agency does not have established guidelines on issuing permits, as individuals’ education and work experiences vary. The proposed legislation would allow school districts to issue a teaching permit. Districts would not have to ask the agency for approval in order to issue permits for non-core courses. Those being issued teaching permits would still be required to have a bachelor's degree. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)
C.S.S.B. 1003 amends current law relating to the issuance of school district teaching permits to persons who teach career and technical education.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.055, Education Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d-1), as follows:
(b) Requires a person, to be eligible for a school district teaching permit under this section, to hold a baccalaureate degree. Deletes existing text providing that this subsection does not apply to a person who will teach only career and technology education.
(d-1) Provides that Subsections (b), (c) (requiring a school district to send to the commissioner of education (commissioner), promptly after employing a person under this section, a written statement identifying the person, the person's qualifications as a teacher, and the subject or class the person will teach), and (d) (authorizing the commissioner to inform the district in writing that the commissioner finds the person is not qualified to teach) do not apply to a person who will teach only non-core academic career and technical education courses. Authorizes a school board to issue a school district teaching permit to a person who will teach courses only in career and technical education based on qualifications certified by the superintendent of the school district. Requires that qualifications include demonstrated subject matter expertise through active professional licensure, certification, or registration by a nationally recognized professional accrediting agency and at least five years of full-time wage earning work experience requiring licensure within the past eight years. Requires the superintendent of the school district to certify to the school board that a new employee has undergone a criminal background check and is capable of proper classroom management. Requires a school district to require a new employee to obtain at least 20 hours of classroom management training and to comply with continuing education requirements as determined by the school board. Authorizes a person to teach a career and technical education course immediately upon issuance of a permit under this subsection. Requires the school board, promptly after employing a person who qualifies under this subsection, to send to the commissioner a written statement identifying the person, the course the person will teach, and the person's qualifications to teach the course.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.