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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the preparation, certification, and classification of |
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public school educators. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.043, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.043. ACCESS TO PEIMS DATA. (a) The agency shall |
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provide the board with access to data obtained under the Public |
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Education Information Management System (PEIMS). |
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(b) The agency shall provide educator preparation programs |
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with data based on information reported through the Public |
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Education Information Management System (PEIMS) that enables an |
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educator preparation program to: |
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(1) assess the impact of the program; and |
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(2) revise the program as needed to improve the design |
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and effectiveness of the program. |
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(c) The agency in coordination with the board shall solicit |
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input from educator preparation programs to determine the data to |
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be provided to educator preparation programs. |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.045, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) To assist an educator preparation program in improving |
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the design and effectiveness of the program in preparing educators |
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for the classroom, the agency shall provide to each program data |
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that is compiled and analyzed by the agency based on information |
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reported through the Public Education Information Management |
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System (PEIMS) relating to the program. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.0489 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.0489. EARLY CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATION. (a) To |
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ensure that there are teachers with special training in early |
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childhood education focusing on prekindergarten through grade |
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three, the board shall establish an early childhood certificate. |
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(b) A person is not required to hold a certificate |
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established under this section to be employed by a school district |
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to provide instruction in prekindergarten through grade three. |
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(c) To be eligible for a certificate established under this |
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section, a person must: |
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(1) either: |
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(A) satisfactorily complete the course work for |
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that certificate in an educator preparation program, including a |
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knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction on early |
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childhood education that includes: |
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(i) teaching methods for: |
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(a) using small group instructional |
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formats that focus on building social, emotional, and academic |
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skills; |
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(b) navigating multiple content |
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areas; and |
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(c) managing a classroom environment |
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in which small groups of students are working on different tasks; |
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and |
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(ii) strategies for teaching fundamental |
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academic skills, including reading, writing, and numeracy; or |
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(B) hold an early childhood through grade six |
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certificate issued under this subchapter and satisfactorily |
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complete a course of instruction described by Paragraph (A); |
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(2) perform satisfactorily on an early childhood |
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certificate examination prescribed by the board; and |
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(3) satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the |
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board. |
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(d) The criteria for the course of instruction described by |
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Subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be developed by the board in |
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consultation with faculty members who provide instruction at |
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institutions of higher education in educator preparation programs |
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for an early childhood through grade six certificate. |
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SECTION 4. Section 21.052, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The commissioner may adopt rules establishing |
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exceptions to the examination requirements prescribed by |
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Subsection (a)(3) for an educator from outside the state to obtain a |
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certificate in this state. |
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SECTION 5. Section 30A.112(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The state virtual school network may provide or |
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authorize providers of electronic professional development courses |
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to provide professional development for: |
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(1) teachers who are teaching subjects or grade levels |
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for which the teachers are not certified; or |
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(2) [teachers who must become highly qualified under
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Section 1119, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section
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6319); or
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[(3)] teachers who must become qualified under the |
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 |
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et seq.). |
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SECTION 6. The following provisions of the Education Code |
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are repealed: |
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(1) Section 21.005; and |
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(2) Section 21.052(g). |
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SECTION 7. The State Board for Educator Certification shall |
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propose rules: |
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(1) establishing requirements and prescribing an |
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examination for an early childhood certificate examination as |
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required by Section 21.0489, Education Code, as added by this Act; |
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and |
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(2) establishing standards to govern the approval and |
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renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for early |
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childhood certification. |
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SECTION 8. The commissioner of education is required to |
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implement Sections 21.043(b) and (c) and 21.045(d), Education Code, |
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as added by 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 those sections |
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using other appropriations available for the purpose. |
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SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |