84R7999 KKA-D
 
  By: Huberty H.B. No. 3494
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to educator preparation programs and teacher
  certification examinations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.0441, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
         (c)  The overall grade point average of each incoming class
  admitted by an educator preparation program, including an
  alternative educator preparation program, may not be less than 3.00
  on a four-point scale or the equivalent or a higher overall grade
  point average prescribed by the board. In computing the overall
  grade point average of an incoming class for purposes of this
  subsection, a program may:
               (1)  include the grade point average of each person in
  the incoming class based on all course work previously attempted by
  the person at a public or private institution of higher education;
  or
               (2)  include the grade point average of each person in
  the incoming class based only on the last 60 semester credit hours
  attempted by the person at a public or private institution of higher
  education.
         (d)  A person seeking career and technology education
  certification is not included in determining the overall grade
  point average of an incoming class under Subsection (c).
         SECTION 2.  Section 21.045(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Each educator preparation program shall submit data
  elements as required by the board for an annual performance report
  to ensure access and equity.  At a minimum, the annual report must
  contain:
               (1)  the performance data from Subsection (a), other
  than the data required for purposes of Subsection (a)(3), and the
  following information, disaggregated by sex and ethnicity:
                     (A) [(1)]  the number of candidates who apply;
                     (B) [(2)]  the number of candidates admitted;
                     (C) [(3)]  the number of candidates retained;
                     (D) [(4)]  the number of candidates completing
  the program;
                     (E) [(5)]  the number of candidates employed as
  beginning teachers [in the profession] after completing the
  program;
                     (F)  the amount of time required by candidates
  employed as beginning teachers to progress from a probationary
  teaching certificate to a standard teaching certificate; 
                     (G) [(6)]  the number of candidates retained in
  the profession; and
                     (H) [(7)]  any other information required by
  federal law;
               (2)  the ratio of candidates employed as beginning
  teachers to field supervisors; and
               (3)  any other information necessary to enable the
  board to assess the effectiveness of the program on the basis of
  teacher retention and success criteria adopted by the board.
         SECTION 3.  Section 21.048, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a-1) and (c-1) and adding Subsection (a-2) to
  read as follows:
         (a-1)  The board may not require that more than 45 days
  elapse before a person may retake an examination. A person may not
  retake an examination more than four times, unless the board waives
  the limitation for good cause as prescribed by the board.
         (a-2)  For purposes of the limitation imposed by Subsection
  (a-1) on the number of administrations of an examination, a person
  who initially took an examination before September 1, 2015, may
  retake the examination up to four times after that date, regardless
  of the number of times that the person attempted to perform
  satisfactorily on the examination before that date. This
  subsection expires September 1, 2018. 
         (c-1)  The results of an examination administered under this
  section are confidential and are not subject to disclosure under
  Chapter 552, Government Code, unless[:
               [(1)]  the disclosure is regarding notification to a
  parent of the assignment of an uncertified teacher to a classroom as
  required by Section 21.057[; or
               [(2)     the educator has failed the examination more than
  five times].
         SECTION 4.  Effective September 1, 2016, Section 21.051,
  Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding
  Subsections (b-1) and (c-1) to read as follows:
         (b)  Before a school district may employ a candidate for
  certification as a teacher of record, the candidate must complete
  at least 30 [15] hours of field-based experience in which the
  candidate is actively engaged in instructional or educational
  activities in the classroom under supervision at:
               (1)  a public school campus accredited or approved for
  the purpose by the agency; or
               (2)  a private school recognized or approved for the
  purpose by the agency.
         (b-1)  The hours of field-based experience required by
  Subsection (b) may not be provided through use of electronic
  transmission or other video- or technology-based method.
         (c-1)  Subsections (b) and (b-1), as amended and added by
  __.B. ____, Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015,
  apply only to an initial certification issued on or after September
  1, 2016. Those provisions do not affect:
               (1)  the validity of a certification issued before
  September 1, 2016; or
               (2)  the eligibility of a person who holds a
  certification issued before September 1, 2016, to obtain a
  subsequent renewal of the certification in accordance with board
  rule.
         SECTION 5.  Not later than January 1, 2016, the State Board
  for Educator Certification shall develop criteria for evaluation of
  educator preparation programs based on teacher retention and
  success as required by Section 21.045(b)(3), Education Code, as
  added by this Act. The State Board for Educator Certification shall
  consult with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in
  developing the criteria, and the Texas Higher Education
  Coordinating Board shall participate and provide recommendations
  regarding the criteria.
         SECTION 6.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.