AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) instructors are valuable members of the teaching community. After years of service, many instructors express interest in finding permanent teaching positions in Texas schools. However due to oversight in legislation, this process can take years, as the state does not currently recognize the hours spent as JROTC instructors toward those required for an educator's certificate.
This concern was brought by a JROTC instructor for the United States Coast Guard who was experiencing years of setbacks in his efforts to transition into becoming a civilian educator. S.B. 1309 amends the Texas Education Code to allow for JROTC instructors to count their teaching experience toward gaining an educator's certificate in the State of Texas.
The bill does not eliminate examination requirements for the certificate, but allows for time spent teaching to be credited. Under S.B. 1309, JROTC instructors will follow and meet all requirements to receive a teaching certification, but will allow for their years spent as educators in the JROTC program to count toward the traditional supervised teaching hours as part of the certification process.
S.B. 1309 amends current law relating to the establishment of a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps teaching certificate and eligibility of such certified teacher for other educator certification.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Education on behalf of the State Board for Education Certification in SECTION 1 (Section 21.0487, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Section 21.0487, as follows:
Sec. 21.0487. JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS TEACHER CERTIFICATION. (a) Requires the State Board for Education Certification (SBEC) to establish a standard Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps teaching certificate to provide Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instruction.
(b) Requires a person, to be eligible for a certificate under this section, to:
(1) hold a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education that is, and at the time the person received the degree was, accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(2) satisfy the eligibility and testing requirements for certification as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor established by the branch of service in which the person served; and
(3) complete an approved educator preparation program.
(c) Require SBEC to propose rules to:
(1) approve educator preparation programs to prepare a person as a teacher for certification under this section; and
(2) establish requirements under which:
(A) a person's training and experience acquired during the person's military service serves as proof of the person's demonstration of subject matter knowledge if that training and experience is verified by the branch of service in which the person served; and
(B) a person's employment by a school district as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor before the person was enrolled in an educator preparation program or while the person is enrolled in an educator preparation program is applied to satisfy any student teaching, internship, or field-based experience program requirement.
(d) Provides that a person is not required to hold a certificate established under this section to be employed by a school district as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.046, Education Code, by adding Subsection (e), as follows:
(e) Provides that, for purposes of satisfying eligibility requirements for certification as a principal, a teacher who is certified under Section 21.0487:
(1) is considered to hold a classroom teaching certificate; and
(2) may apply as creditable years of teaching experience as a classroom teacher any period during which the teacher was employed by a school district as a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor before or after the teacher was certified under Section 21.0487.
SECTION 3. Requires SBEC, not later than January 1, 2016, to propose rules relating to the establishment of a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps teaching certificate as provided by Section 21.0487, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.