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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to instruction in educator training programs regarding |
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digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual instruction. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivisions (4) and (5) to read as follows: |
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(4) "Virtual instruction" means instructional |
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activities delivered to students primarily over the Internet. |
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(5) "Virtual learning" means digital learning |
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facilitated by virtual instruction. |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.044(c-2), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c-2) Any minimum academic qualifications for a certificate |
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specified under Subsection (a) that require a person to possess a |
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bachelor's degree must also require that the person receive, as |
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part of the training required to obtain that certificate, |
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instruction in digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual |
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instruction, including a digital literacy evaluation followed by a |
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prescribed digital learning curriculum. The instruction required |
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must: |
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(1) be aligned with the International Society for |
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Technology in Education's standards for teachers; |
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(2) provide effective, evidence-based strategies to |
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determine a person's degree of digital literacy; [and] |
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(3) cover best practices in: |
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(A) grading students receiving virtual |
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instruction, based on academic progress; and |
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(B) developing a virtual learning curriculum |
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that includes synchronous and asynchronous virtual instruction; |
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and |
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(4) include resources to address any deficiencies |
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identified by the digital literacy evaluation. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |