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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to teacher requirements for high quality prekindergarten |
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programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 29.167, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsections (b-1) and |
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(b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), each [Each] |
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teacher for a prekindergarten program class must: |
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(1) be certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; and |
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(2) have one of the following additional |
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qualifications: |
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(A) a Child Development Associate (CDA) |
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credential or another early childhood education credential |
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approved by the agency; |
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(B) certification offered through a training |
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center accredited by Association Montessori Internationale or |
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through the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher |
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Education; |
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(C) at least eight years' experience of teaching |
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in a nationally accredited child care program or a Texas Rising Star |
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Program; |
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(D) be employed as a prekindergarten teacher in a |
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school district that has received approval from the commissioner |
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for the district's prekindergarten-specific instructional training |
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plan that the teacher uses in the teacher's prekindergarten |
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classroom; or |
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(E) an equivalent qualification. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), each teacher for a |
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prekindergarten class provided by an entity with which a school |
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district contracts to provide a prekindergarten program must: |
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(1) be supervised by a person who meets the |
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requirements under Subsection (b); and |
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(2) have one of the qualifications described by |
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Subsection (b)(2). |
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(b-2) A person who supervises a prekindergarten teacher as |
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described by Subsection (b-1) may supervise multiple |
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prekindergarten classes. |
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(d) A school district or an entity with which the district |
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contracts to provide a prekindergarten program must attempt to |
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maintain an average ratio in any prekindergarten program class of |
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not less than one qualified [certified] teacher or teacher's aide |
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for each 11 students. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |