By: Paxton S.B. No. 226

(In the Senate - Filed December 2, 2020; March 3, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 6, 2021, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 6, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 226 By: Paxton

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to instruction in educator training programs regarding digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual instruction.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended by adding Subdivisions (4) and (5) to read as follows:

(4) "Virtual instruction" means instructional activities delivered to students primarily over the Internet.

(5) "Virtual learning" means digital learning facilitated by virtual instruction.

SECTION 2. Section 21.044(c-2), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c-2) Any minimum academic qualifications for a certificate specified under Subsection (a) that require a person to possess a bachelor's degree must also require that the person receive, as part of the training required to obtain that certificate, instruction in digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual instruction, including a digital literacy evaluation followed by a prescribed digital learning curriculum. The instruction required must:

(1) be aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education's standards for teachers;

(2) provide effective, evidence-based strategies to determine a person's degree of digital literacy; [and]

(3) cover best practices in:

(A) assessing students receiving virtual instruction, based on academic progress; and

(B) developing a virtual learning curriculum; and

(4) include resources to address any deficiencies identified by the digital literacy evaluation.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

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