BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 1731
86R23240 MM-F	By: Paxton
	Education
	4/6/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

By reinstating the education degree and removing the 18 semester credit hour limit, S.B. 1731 allows educator preparation programs to provide the curricular space necessary to cover the required content to better prepare our teachers for the classroom.

The primary challenge with the existing statute is that it does not allow students to major in education, which is a marketing and recruitment problem as well as a professionalism problem, both detrimental to the profession of teaching in Texas. In addition, the existing statute does not allow educator preparation programs (EPPs) the curricular space necessary to cover pedagogy and the content required by statute (dyslexia, mental health, substance abuse, and youth suicide), as well as additional content that is relevant for teachers in today�s schools, specifically topics related to school violence.

Addressing these issues will provide the necessary flexibility that will enable EPPs to prepare teachers for the complex classroom environment. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

C.S.S.B. 1731 amends current law relating to certain eligibility requirements for issuance of a teaching certificate.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 21.050, Education Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 21.050. ACADEMIC DEGREE REQUIRED FOR TEACHING CERTIFICATE; FIELD‑BASED EXPERIENCE OR INTERNSHIP.

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 21.050(a) and (b), Education Code, as follows:

(a) Requires a person who applies for a teaching certificate for which State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules require a bachelor's degree to possess a bachelor's degree received with an academic major, including education, or interdisciplinary academic major, including reading, rather than a bachelor's degree received with an academic major, or interdisciplinary academic major, including reading, other than education, that is related to the curriculum as prescribed under Subchapter A (Essential Knowledge and Skills; Curriculum), Chapter 28.

(b) Requires SBEC to provide for a minimum number of semester credit hours of field‑based experience or internship to be included in the credit hours needed for certification. Deletes existing text prohibiting SBEC from requiring more than 18 semester credit hours of education courses at the baccalaureate level for the granting of a teaching certification.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.