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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to continuing education requirements for certain |
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educators. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 21.054(d), (e), and (f), Education |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(d) Continuing education requirements for a classroom |
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teacher must provide that not more than 25 percent of the training |
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required every five years include instruction regarding: |
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(1) collecting and analyzing information that will |
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improve effectiveness in the classroom; |
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(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a |
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student may be at risk of dropping out of school; |
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(3) integrating technology into classroom |
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instruction; [and] |
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(4) educating diverse student populations, including: |
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(A) students with disabilities, including mental |
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health disorders; |
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(B) students who are educationally |
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disadvantaged; |
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(C) students of limited English proficiency; and |
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(D) students at risk of dropping out of school; |
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and |
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(5) appropriate relationships, boundaries, and |
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communication between teachers and students. |
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(e) Continuing education requirements for a principal must |
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provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every |
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five years include instruction regarding: |
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(1) effective and efficient management, including: |
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(A) collecting and analyzing information; |
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(B) making decisions and managing time; and |
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(C) supervising student discipline and managing |
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behavior; |
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(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a |
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student may be at risk of dropping out of school; |
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(3) integrating technology into campus curriculum and |
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instruction; [and] |
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(4) educating diverse student populations, including: |
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(A) students with disabilities, including mental |
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health disorders; |
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(B) students who are educationally |
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disadvantaged; |
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(C) students of limited English proficiency; and |
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(D) students at risk of dropping out of school; |
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and |
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(5) recognizing, preventing, and reporting |
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inappropriate relationships between teachers or counselors and |
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students. |
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(f) Continuing education requirements for a counselor must |
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provide that not more than 25 percent of training required every |
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five years include instruction regarding: |
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(1) assisting students in developing high school |
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graduation plans; |
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(2) implementing dropout prevention strategies; [and] |
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(3) informing students concerning: |
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(A) college admissions, including college |
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financial aid resources and application procedures; and |
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(B) career opportunities; and |
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(4) appropriate relationships, boundaries, and |
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communication between counselors and students. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Board for Educator Certification shall |
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propose rules implementing Section 21.054, Education Code, as |
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amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. An educator subject to continuing education |
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requirements immediately before the effective date of this Act is |
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not required to comply with the continuing education requirements |
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described by Section 21.054(d), (e), or (f), Education Code, as |
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amended by this Act, for any continuing education requirements |
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period that ends before January 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |