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.
As proposed, S.B. 1309 amends current law relating to eligibility requirements for issuance of a teaching certificate to an applicant who holds a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor teaching certification.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 21.052, Education Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 21.052. CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATORS FROM OUTSIDE JURISDICTION.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.052, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:
(a) Provides that the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) may issue a certificate to an educator who applies for a certificate and:
(1) holds a degree issued by:
(A) and (B) Creates these paragraphs from existing text;
(2) holds:
(A) Creates this paragraph from existing text; or
(B) a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor teaching certification issued by the United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, or United States Marine Corps; and
(3) Makes no change to this subdivision.
(a-1) Prohibits SBEC from imposing, for purposes of Subsection (a)(1), on an applicant who holds a teaching certification described by Subsection (a)(2)(B) requirements described by Section 21.050 (Academic Degree Required for Teaching Certificate; Internship) in connection with the degree requirement.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.