Honorable Larry Taylor, Chair, Senate Committee on Education
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1963 by Creighton (Relating to requirements for educator preparation program support for certain candidates for certification.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would prevent the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) from requiring an educator preparation program to conduct formal observations of a candidate on the candidate's site in a face-to-face setting. The bill would establish that SBEC rules must permit each required formal observation to occur on the candidate's site or through use of electronic transmission or other video-based or technology-based method. The provisions of the bill would apply to candidates for a certification other than classroom teacher.
It is anticipated that all duties and responsibilities necessary to fulfill the provisions of the bill would have no significant fiscal impact and could be absorbed within existing resources, based on information reported by the Texas Education Agency.
Local Government Impact
The bill may result in some local costs associated with educator preparation programs at school districts, charter schools, county districts, education service centers, community colleges, and public universities that choose to implement remote observation technologies. The fiscal implications would depend upon each program's current observation policies and practices and on the technology capabilities that exist within the educator preparation program.