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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the required qualifications of persons admitted to |
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educator preparation programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.0441, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.0441. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATOR |
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PREPARATION PROGRAMS. [(a)] Rules of the board proposed under |
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this subchapter must provide that a person, other than a person |
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seeking career and technology education certification, is not |
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eligible for admission to an educator preparation program, |
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including an alternative educator preparation program, unless the |
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person: |
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(1) [except as provided by Subsection (b),] satisfies |
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minimum grade point average requirements prescribed by the board, |
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not to exceed the following: |
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(A) an overall grade point average of at least |
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2.75 on a four-point scale or the equivalent on any course work |
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previously attempted at a public or private institution of higher |
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education; or |
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(B) a grade point average of at least 2.75 on a |
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four-point scale or the equivalent for the last 60 semester credit |
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hours attempted at a public or private institution of higher |
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education; and |
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(2) if the person is seeking initial certification: |
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(A) has successfully completed at least: |
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(i) 15 semester credit hours in the |
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subject-specific content area in which the person is seeking |
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certification, if the person is seeking certification to teach |
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mathematics or science at or above grade level seven; or |
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(ii) 12 semester credit hours in the |
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subject-specific content area in which the person is seeking |
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certification, if the person is not seeking certification to teach |
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mathematics or science at or above grade level seven; or |
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(B) has achieved a satisfactory level of |
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performance on a content certification examination, which may be a |
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content certification examination administered by a vendor |
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approved by the commissioner for purposes of administering such an |
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examination for the year for which the person is applying for |
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admission to the program. |
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[(b)
The board's rules must permit an educator preparation
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program to admit in extraordinary circumstances a person who fails
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to satisfy a grade point average requirement prescribed by
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Subsection (a)(1)(A) or (B), provided that:
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[(1)
not more than 10 percent of the total number of
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persons admitted to the program in a year fail to satisfy the
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requirement under Subsection (a)(1)(A) or (B); and
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[(2)
for each person admitted as described by this
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subsection, the director of the program determines and certifies,
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based on documentation provided by the person, that the person's
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work, business, or career experience demonstrates achievement
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comparable to the academic achievement represented by the grade
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point average requirement.] |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |