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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating a special education certification to teach |
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students with disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.04892 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.04892. SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION. (a) To |
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ensure that there are teachers with special training in providing |
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instruction to students with disabilities, the board shall |
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establish a special education certificate. |
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(b) To be eligible for a certificate established under this |
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section, a person must: |
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(1) satisfactorily complete the coursework for that |
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certificate in an educator preparation program, including a |
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knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction and |
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field-based experience in providing instruction to students with |
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disabilities; |
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(2) perform satisfactorily on a special education |
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certificate examination prescribed by the board; and |
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(3) satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the |
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board. |
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(c) If the board determines that there is a shortage of |
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teachers who hold special education certificates, the board may |
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offer incentives to teachers to become certified under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. The State Board for Educator Certification shall |
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propose rules: |
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(1) establishing requirements and prescribing an |
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examination for a special education certificate examination as |
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required by Section 21.04892, Education Code, as added by this Act; |
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and |
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(2) establishing standards to govern the approval and |
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renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for special |
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education certification. |
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SECTION 3. Beginning on or after January 1, 2025, a person |
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must satisfy the requirements for certification under Section |
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21.04892, Education Code, as added by this Act, to receive a |
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certification in special education. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |