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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to educator preparation programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection 21.051 Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.051. RULES REGARDING FIELD-BASED EXPERIENCE AND |
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OPTIONS FOR FIELD EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS. (a) In this section, |
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"teacher of record" means a person employed by a school district who |
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teaches the majority of the instructional day in an academic |
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instructional setting and is responsible for evaluating student |
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achievement and assigning grades. |
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(b) Before a school district may employ a candidate for |
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certification as a teacher of record, the candidate must complete |
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at least 15 hours of field-based experience, which may be obtained |
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up to two years prior to, or subsequent to, admission in an educator |
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preparation program. |
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These field-based experiences may be obtained |
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by observation of a Texas certified teacher in which the candidate
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is actively engaged in instructional or educational activities, or |
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by serving as a substitute teacher or teachers aide under
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supervision at: |
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(1) at a public school campus accredited or approved |
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for the purpose by the agency; or |
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(2) at a private school recognized or approved for the |
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purpose by the agency. |
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(c) Subsection (b) applies only to an initial certification |
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issued on or after September 1, 2012. Subsection (b) does not |
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affect: |
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(1) the validity of a certification issued before |
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September 1, 2012; or |
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(2) the eligibility of a person who holds a |
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certification issued before September 1, 2012, to obtain a |
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subsequent renewal of the certification in accordance with board |
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rule. |
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(d) Subsection (b) does not affect the period within which |
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an individual must complete field-based experience hours as |
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determined by board rule if the individual is not accepted into an |
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educator preparation program before the deadline prescribed by |
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board rule and is hired for a teaching assignment by a school |
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district after the deadline prescribed by board rule. |
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(e) The board shall propose rules relating to the |
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field-based experience required by Subsection (b). The |
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commissioner by rule shall adopt procedures and standards for |
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recognizing a private school under Subsection (b)(2). |
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(f) The board shall propose rules providing flexible |
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options for persons for any field-based experience or internship |
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required for certification. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |