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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to continuing education and training requirements for |
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classroom teachers and public school counselors. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.054(d), Education Code, as amended by |
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Chapters 1045 (S.B. 1267) and 973 (S.B. 2066), Acts of the 87th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is reenacted and amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) Subject to Subsection (d-1), continuing [Continuing] |
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education requirements for a classroom teacher may not require |
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[must provide] that [not] more than [at least] 25 percent of the |
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training required every five years include instruction regarding: |
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(1) collecting and analyzing information that will |
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improve effectiveness in the classroom; |
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(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a |
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student may be at risk of dropping out of school; |
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(3) digital learning, digital teaching, and |
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integrating technology into classroom instruction; |
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(4) educating diverse student populations, including: |
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(A) [students who are eligible to participate in |
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special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29; |
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[(B) students who are eligible to receive |
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educational services required under Section 504, Rehabilitation |
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Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794); |
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[(C) students with mental health conditions or |
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who engage in substance abuse; |
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[(D) students with intellectual or developmental |
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disabilities; |
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[(E)] students who are educationally |
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disadvantaged; |
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[(F) emergent bilingual students;] and |
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(B) [(G)] students at risk of dropping out of |
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school; and |
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(5) understanding appropriate relationships, |
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boundaries, and communications between educators and students [; |
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and |
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[(6) how mental health conditions, including grief and |
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trauma, affect student learning and behavior and how |
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evidence-based, grief-informed, and trauma-informed strategies |
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support the academic success of students affected by grief and |
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trauma]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.054, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d-2) and amending Subsection (f) to read as |
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follows: |
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(d-2) Training in a topic of instruction described by |
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Subsection (d) attended by a classroom teacher in excess of an |
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amount of hours equal to 25 percent of the training required of the |
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teacher every five years shall be counted toward the teacher's |
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overall training requirements. |
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(f) Continuing education requirements for a counselor must |
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provide that at least [not more than] 25 percent of training |
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required every five years include instruction regarding: |
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(1) assisting students in developing high school |
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graduation plans; |
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(2) implementing dropout prevention strategies; |
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(3) informing students concerning: |
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(A) college admissions, including college |
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financial aid resources and application procedures; and |
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(B) career opportunities; |
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(4) counseling students concerning mental health |
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conditions and substance abuse, including through the use of |
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grief-informed and trauma-informed interventions and crisis |
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management and suicide prevention strategies; and |
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(5) effective implementation of a comprehensive |
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school counseling program under Section 33.005. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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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. |