By: Huberty, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 2039
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2017;
May 11, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on
Education; May 22, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 7, Nays 2; May 22, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating an early childhood certification to teach
students in prekindergarten through grade three.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.0489 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.0489. EARLY CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATION. (a) To
ensure that there are teachers with special training in early
childhood education focusing on prekindergarten through grade
three, the board shall establish an early childhood certificate.
(b) A person is not required to hold a certificate
established under this section to be employed by a school district
to provide instruction in prekindergarten through grade three.
(c) To be eligible for a certificate established under this
section, a person must:
(1) either:
(A) satisfactorily complete the course work for
that certificate in an educator preparation program, including a
knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction on early
childhood education that includes:
(i) teaching methods for:
(a) using small group instructional
formats that focus on building social, emotional, and academic
skills;
(b) navigating multiple content
areas; and
(c) managing a classroom environment
in which small groups of students are working on different tasks;
and
(ii) strategies for teaching fundamental
academic skills, including reading, writing, and numeracy; or
(B) hold an early childhood through grade six
certificate issued under this subchapter and satisfactorily
complete a course of instruction described by Paragraph (A);
(2) perform satisfactorily on an early childhood
certificate examination prescribed by the board; and
(3) satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the
board.
(d) The criteria for the course of instruction described by
Subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be developed by the board in
consultation with faculty members who provide instruction at
institutions of higher education in education preparation programs
for an early childhood through grade six certificate.
SECTION 2. The State Board for Educator Certification shall
propose rules:
(1) establishing requirements and prescribing an
examination for an early childhood certificate examination as
required by Section 21.0489, Education Code, as added by this Act;
and
(2) establishing standards to govern the approval and
renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for early
childhood certification.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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