By: Guillen, Ramos, Muñoz, Jr. H.B. No. 1207
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to additional optional training and course work for public
  school principals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.0461 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.0461.  SCHOOL TURNAROUND SPECIALIST ENDORSEMENT TO
  PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATE. (a) The board shall propose rules
  establishing the training requirements and course work a principal
  must successfully complete to receive a school turnaround
  specialist endorsement as an addendum to a principal certificate.
  In proposing the rules, the board shall ensure that each person who
  receives the endorsement:
               (1)  demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to
  significantly improve teacher and student performance at a campus
  assigned an overall performance rating of F under Section 39.054;
               (2)  has served as a principal at a campus that has
  successfully implemented a campus turnaround plan under Subchapter
  C, Chapter 39A; and
               (3)  did not serve as a principal at a campus that was
  assigned an overall performance rating of F under Section 39.054
  for two or more consecutive school years.
         (b)  The board shall solicit proposals for a school
  turnaround specialist endorsement program from appropriate
  educator preparation programs. From among school turnaround
  specialist endorsement programs proposed to the board that are
  capable of satisfying the requirements prescribed by Subsection
  (c), the board may select not more than three of the programs that
  may be offered to principals.
         (c)  A school turnaround specialist endorsement program
  under this section must:
               (1)  partner with one or more school districts that
  need principals with the training and education necessary to
  significantly improve teacher and student performance at one or
  more campuses assigned an overall performance rating of F under
  Section 39.054;
               (2)  have appropriately qualified faculty to:
                     (A)  conduct a campus leadership-needs analysis;
                     (B)  develop and provide the training and course
  work required by rules proposed under this section; and
                     (C)  provide necessary support to program
  candidates;
               (3)  establish a selective admissions process to ensure
  that each principal admitted to the program:
                     (A)  possesses a significant knowledge of
  educational organizations, educational instruction, and teacher
  professional development;
                     (B)  demonstrates the ability to develop and
  implement campus-based systems that result in increased capacity
  for improving student learning; and
                     (C)  demonstrates the attributes of principals
  who have significantly improved teacher and student performance at
  underperforming campuses;
               (4)  offer a full-time internship that continues for at
  least one semester and provides meaningful interaction with the
  central administrative office of a school district; and
               (5)  collaborate with school districts to provide
  program participants who complete the program continued support for
  at least two years after the participants' initial assignment to a
  campus.
         (d)  To be eligible for admission to a school turnaround
  specialist endorsement program under this section, a principal
  must:
               (1)  hold a principal certificate;
               (2)  have served as a principal or assistant principal
  for at least three school years before applying to the program;
               (3)  demonstrate significant knowledge of educational
  organizations, educational instruction, and teacher professional
  development;
               (4)  demonstrate the attributes of principals who have
  significantly improved teacher and student performance at
  underperforming campuses; and
               (5)  provide evidence of the ability to develop and
  implement campus-based systems that result in increased capacity
  for improving student learning.
         (e)  The board shall periodically evaluate school turnaround
  specialist endorsement programs selected under this section. For
  purposes of evaluating the programs, the board shall require each
  program to submit data, as determined appropriate by the board, for
  each year and at each five-year interval.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the State
  Board for Educator Certification shall propose rules relating to
  the school turnaround specialist endorsement to the school
  principal certificate as provided by Section 21.0461, Education
  Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than March 1, 2022, the State Board for
  Educator Certification shall solicit proposals for a school
  turnaround specialist endorsement program as provided by Section
  21.0461, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.