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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to improving training and staff development for primary |
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and secondary educators to enable them to more effectively serve |
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all students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.001. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Commissioner"[, "commissioner"] includes a |
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person designated by the commissioner. |
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(2) "Universal design for learning" means a |
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scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice |
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that: |
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(A) provides flexibility in the ways: |
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(i) information is presented; |
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(ii) students respond or demonstrate |
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knowledge and skills; and |
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(iii) students are engaged; |
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(B) reduces barriers in instruction; |
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(C) provides appropriate accommodations, |
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supports, and challenges; and |
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(D) maintains high achievement expectations for |
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all students, including students with disabilities and students of |
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limited English proficiency. |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a), (b), (c-1), and (g) and adding Subsection |
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(a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a) The board shall propose rules: |
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(1) specifying what each educator is expected to know |
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and be able to do, particularly with regard to students with |
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disabilities; |
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(2) establishing the training requirements a person |
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must accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or |
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enter an induction-year program; and |
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(3) specifying[. The board shall specify] the minimum |
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academic qualifications required for a certificate. |
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(a-1) The minimum academic qualifications for a certificate |
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specified under Subsection (a) must require that the person |
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demonstrate: |
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(1) basic knowledge of each disability category under |
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the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section |
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1400 et seq.) and how each category can affect student learning and |
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development; and |
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(2) competence in the use of evidence-based inclusive |
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instructional practices, including: |
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(A) universal design for learning principles; |
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(B) general and special education collaborative |
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and co-teaching models and approaches; |
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(C) multitiered systems of support, including |
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response to intervention strategies, classroom and school level |
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data-based collaborative structures, and evidence-based strategies |
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for intervention and progress monitoring systems in academic areas; |
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(D) classroom management techniques using |
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evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies and supports; |
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and |
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(E) appropriate adaptation strategies, including |
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accommodations, modifications, and instruction in the use of |
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assistive technology for instruction provided using universal |
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design for learning principles. |
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(b) The [Any] minimum academic qualifications for a |
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certificate specified under Subsection (a) [that require a person
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to possess a bachelor's degree] must [also] require that the person |
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receive, as part of the training required to obtain that |
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certificate, instruction in detection and education of students |
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with dyslexia. |
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(c-1) The [Any] minimum academic qualifications for a |
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certificate specified under Subsection (a) [that require a person
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to possess a bachelor's degree] must [also] require that the person |
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receive, as part of the training required to obtain that |
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certificate, instruction regarding mental health, substance abuse, |
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and youth suicide. The instruction required must: |
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(1) be provided through a program selected from the |
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list of recommended best practice-based programs established under |
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Section 161.325, Health and Safety Code; and |
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(2) include effective strategies for teaching and |
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intervening with students with mental or emotional disorders, |
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including de-escalation techniques and positive behavioral |
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interventions and supports. |
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(g) Each educator preparation program must provide |
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information regarding: |
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(1) the skills that educators are required to possess, |
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the responsibilities that educators are required to accept, and the |
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high expectations for all students, including students with |
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disabilities, in this state; |
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(2) the effect of supply and demand forces on the |
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educator workforce in this state; |
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(3) the performance over time of the educator |
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preparation program; |
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(4) the importance of building strong classroom |
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management skills; and |
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(5) the framework in this state for teacher and |
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principal evaluation, including the procedures followed in |
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accordance with Subchapter H. |
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SECTION 3. Section 21.0443(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) To be eligible for approval or renewal of approval, an |
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educator preparation program must: |
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(1) use a universal design for learning framework |
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integrating inclusion for all students, including students with |
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disabilities, and evidence-based instruction and intervention |
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strategies throughout course work, clinical experiences, and |
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student teaching to adequately prepare candidates for educator |
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certification; and |
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(2) meet the standards and requirements of the board. |
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SECTION 4. Section 21.045(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The board shall propose rules necessary to establish |
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standards to govern the continuing accountability of all educator |
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preparation programs based on the following information that is |
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disaggregated with respect to race, sex, and ethnicity: |
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(1) results of the certification examinations |
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prescribed under Section 21.048(a); |
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(2) performance based on the appraisal system for |
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beginning teachers adopted by the board; |
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(3) achievement, including improvement in |
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achievement, of all students, including students with |
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disabilities, taught by beginning teachers for the first three |
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years following certification, to the extent practicable; |
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(4) compliance with board requirements regarding the |
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frequency, duration, and quality of structural guidance and ongoing |
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support provided by field supervisors to candidates completing |
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student teaching, clinical teaching, or an internship; and |
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(5) results from a teacher satisfaction survey, |
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developed by the board with stakeholder input, of new teachers |
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performed at the end of the teacher's first year of teaching. |
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SECTION 5. Section 21.0453(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The board shall require an educator preparation program |
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to provide candidates for teacher certification with information |
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concerning the following: |
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(1) skills and responsibilities required of teachers |
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with regard to all students, including students with disabilities; |
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(2) expectations for student performance, including |
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students with disabilities, based on state standards; |
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(3) the current supply of and demand for teachers in |
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this state; |
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(4) the importance of developing classroom management |
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skills; and |
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(5) the state's framework for appraisal of teachers |
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and principals. |
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SECTION 6. Section 21.046(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The qualifications for certification as a principal |
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must be sufficiently flexible so that an outstanding teacher may |
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qualify by substituting approved experience and professional |
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training for part of the educational requirements. Supervised and |
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approved on-the-job experience in addition to required internship |
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shall be accepted in lieu of classroom hours. The qualifications |
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must emphasize: |
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(1) instructional leadership, including the ability |
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to create an inclusive school environment and to foster parent |
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involvement; |
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(2) administration, supervision, and communication |
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skills; |
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(3) curriculum and instruction management; |
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(4) performance evaluation; |
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(5) organization; and |
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(6) fiscal management. |
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SECTION 7. Section 21.047(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) A center may develop and implement a comprehensive |
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field-based educator preparation program to supplement the |
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internship hours required in Section 21.050. This comprehensive |
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field-based teacher program must: |
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(1) be designed on the basis of current research into |
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state-of-the-art teaching practices applicable to all students, |
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including students with disabilities, curriculum theory and |
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application within diverse student populations, evaluation of |
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student outcomes, and the effective application of technology; and |
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(2) have rigorous internal and external evaluation |
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procedures that focus on content, delivery systems, and teacher and |
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student outcomes. |
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SECTION 8. Sections 21.051(b) and (f), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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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 in which the candidate |
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is actively engaged in instructional or educational activities |
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involving a diverse student population that, to the greatest extent |
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practicable, includes students with disabilities under supervision |
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at: |
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(1) a public school campus accredited or approved for |
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the purpose by the agency; or |
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(2) a private school recognized or approved for the |
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purpose by the agency. |
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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. The options must, to the greatest |
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extent practicable, involve interaction with a diverse student |
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population, including students with disabilities. |
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SECTION 9. Section 21.4511(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The training under this section shall include training |
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relating to implementing curriculum and instruction that is aligned |
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with the foundation curriculum described by Section 28.002(a)(1) |
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and standards and expectations for college readiness, as determined |
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by State Board of Education rule under Section 28.008(d). In order |
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to create a classroom environment that meets the individual |
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learning needs of each student, the training must emphasize |
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inclusive collaborative strategies and providing instruction using |
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a universal design for learning framework to the greatest extent |
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practicable. |
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SECTION 10. The commissioner of education is required to |
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implement this Act only if the legislature appropriates money |
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specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not |
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appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner |
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of education may, but is not required to, implement this Act using |
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other funds available for the purpose. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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