84R9800 CAE-F

By: Crownover H.B. No. 2205

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to educator preparation programs, including the appointment of a member of the State Board for Educator Certification with experience and knowledge of alternative educator preparation programs.

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

SECTION 1. Section 21.033, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) One voting member of the board appointed by the governor must have experience and knowledge regarding alternative educator preparation programs.

SECTION 2. Section 21.0451(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The board shall propose rules for the sanction of educator preparation programs that do not meet accountability standards and shall annually review the accreditation status of each educator preparation program. The rules:

(1) shall provide for the assignment of the following accreditation statuses:

(A) not rated;

(B) accredited;

(C) accredited-warned;

(D) accredited-probation; and

(E) not accredited-revoked;

(2) may provide for the agency to take any necessary action, including one or more of the following actions:

(A) requiring the program to obtain technical assistance approved by the agency or board;

(B) requiring the program to obtain professional services under contract with another person;

(C) appointing a monitor to participate in and report to the board on the activities of the program; and

(D) if a program has been rated as accredited-probation under the Accountability System for Educator Preparation for a period of at least one year, revoking the approval of the program and ordering the program to be closed, provided that the board or agency must provide the opportunity for a hearing before the effective date of the closure; [and]

(3) shall provide for the agency to revoke the approval of the program and order the program to be closed if the program has been rated as accredited-probation under the Accountability System for Educator Preparation for three consecutive years, provided that the board or agency must provide the opportunity for a hearing before the effective date of the closure; and

(4) shall provide the board procedure for changing the accreditation status of a program that:

(A) does not meet the accreditation standards established under Section 21.045(a); or

(B) violates a board or agency regulation.

SECTION 3. Sections 21.0452(b), (c), and (d), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) The board shall make available at least the following information regarding each educator preparation program:

(1) the information specified in Sections 21.045(a) and (b);

(2) in addition to any other appropriate information indicating the quality of persons admitted to the program, the average academic qualifications possessed by persons admitted to the program, including:

(A) average overall grade point average and average grade point average in specific subject areas; and

(B) average scores on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), the American College Test (ACT), or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), as applicable;

(3) the degree to which persons who complete the program are successful in obtaining teaching positions;

(4) the extent to which the program prepares teachers, including general education teachers and special education teachers, to effectively teach:

(A) students with disabilities; and

(B) students of limited English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052;

(5) the activities offered by the program that are designed to prepare teachers to:

(A) integrate technology effectively into curricula and instruction, including activities consistent with the principles of universal design for learning; and

(B) use technology effectively to collect, manage, and analyze data to improve teaching and learning for the purpose of increasing student academic achievement;

(6) the ratio of field supervisors to candidates completing student teaching, clinical teaching, or an internship in an educator preparation program;

(7) the percentage of teachers employed under a standard teaching certificate within one year of completing the program;

(8) the perseverance of beginning teachers in the profession, as determined on the basis of the number of beginning teachers who maintain status as active contributing members in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for at least three years after certification in comparison to similar programs;

(9) [(7)] the results of exit surveys given to program participants on completion of the program that involve evaluation of the program's effectiveness in preparing participants to succeed in the classroom; and

(10) [(8)] the results of surveys given to school principals that involve evaluation of the program's effectiveness in preparing participants to succeed in the classroom, based on experience with employed program participants.

(c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(9) [(b)(7)], the board shall require an educator preparation program to distribute an exit survey that a program participant must complete before the participant is eligible to receive a certificate under this subchapter.

(d) For purposes of Subsections (b)(9) [(b)(7)] and (10) [(8)], the board shall develop surveys for distribution to program participants and school principals.

SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.0454 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.0454. FIELD SUPERVISORS. The board shall propose rules to establish minimum standards for field supervisor to candidate ratios in educator preparation programs to ensure the effective supervision of candidates.

SECTION 5. Section 21.033(a-1), Education Code, as added by this Act, regarding the qualifications of one voting member of the State Board for Educator Certification, does not affect the entitlement of a member serving on the board immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to serve as a member of the board for the remainder of the member's term. After a term of a voting member expires on February 1, 2017, the governor shall appoint a member who meets the requirements under Section 21.033(a-1), Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.