BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2424

By: Ashby

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to allow public school educators to receive micro‑credentials in specific fields of study as part of their continuing education requirements. H.B. 2424 provides for the creation of a micro‑credential certification program to offer continuing education courses to educators and for which credits may be included as part of an educator's public certification records.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board for Educator Certification in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2424 amends the Education Code to require the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to propose rules establishing a program to issue micro-credentials in fields of study related to an educator's certification class. The bill requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to approve continuing education providers to offer micro-credential courses. The bill requires a micro-credential received by an educator to be recorded on the TEA Educator Certification Online System and included as part of the educator's public certification records. The bill requires rules proposed by the SBEC establishing a process for identifying continuing education courses and programs to include opportunities for educators to receive micro-credentials in fields of study related to the educator's certification class.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.