Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1839 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 1839
	1	+	85R31083 MEW-F
	2	+	By: Hughes, et al. S.B. No. 1839
	3	+	(Koop)
	4	+	Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1839: No.
2	5
3	6
	7	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	8		AN ACT
5	9		relating to the preparation, certification, and classification of
6		-	~~and professional development for~~ public school educators.
	10	+	public school educators.
7	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8		-	SECTION 1. Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended to
9		-	read as follows:
10		-	Sec. 21.001. DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this chapter:
11		-	(1) "Commissioner"[, "commissioner"] includes a
12		-	person designated by the commissioner.
13		-	(2) "Digital learning" means any type of learning that
14		-	is facilitated by technology or instructional practice that makes
15		-	effective use of technology.
16		-	(3) "Digital literacy" means having the knowledge and
17		-	ability to use a range of technology tools for varied purposes. The
18		-	term includes the capacity to use, understand, and evaluate
19		-	technology for use in education settings.
20		-	SECTION 2. Section 21.043, Education Code, is amended to
	12	+	SECTION 1. Section 21.043, Education Code, is amended to
21	13		read as follows:
22	14		Sec. 21.043. ACCESS TO PEIMS DATA. (a) The agency shall
23	15		provide the board with access to data obtained under the Public
24	16		Education Information Management System (PEIMS).
25	17		(b) The agency shall provide educator preparation programs
26	18		with data based on information reported through the Public
27	19		Education Information Management System (PEIMS) that enables an
28	20		educator preparation program to:
29	21		(1) assess the impact of the program; and
30	22		(2) revise the program as needed to improve the design
31	23		and effectiveness of the program.
32	24		(c) The agency in coordination with the board shall solicit
33	25		input from educator preparation programs to determine the data to
34	26		be provided to educator preparation programs.
35		-	SECTION 3. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended by
36		-	adding Subsections (c-2) and (f-1) to read as follows:
37		-	(c-2) Any minimum academic qualifications for a certificate
38		-	specified under Subsection (a) that require a person to possess a
39		-	bachelor's degree must also require that the person receive, as
40		-	part of the training required to obtain that certificate,
41		-	instruction in digital learning, including a digital literacy
42		-	evaluation followed by a prescribed digital learning curriculum.
43		-	The instruction required must:
44		-	(1) be aligned with the International Society for
45		-	Technology in Education's standards for teachers;
46		-	(2) provide effective, evidence-based strategies to
47		-	determine a person's degree of digital literacy; and
48		-	(3) include resources to address any deficiencies
49		-	identified by the digital literacy evaluation.
50		-	(f-1) Board rules addressing ongoing educator preparation
51		-	program support for a candidate seeking certification in a
52		-	certification class other than classroom teacher may not require
53		-	that an educator preparation program conduct one or more formal
54		-	observations of the candidate on the candidate's site in a
55		-	face-to-face setting. The rules must permit each required formal
56		-	observation to occur on the candidate's site or through use of
57		-	electronic transmission or other video-based or technology-based
58		-	method.
59		-	SECTION 4. Section 21.045, Education Code, is amended by
	27	+	SECTION 2. Section 21.045, Education Code, is amended by
60	28		adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
61	29		(d) To assist an educator preparation program in improving
62	30		the design and effectiveness of the program in preparing educators
63	31		for the classroom, the agency shall provide to each program data
64	32		that is compiled and analyzed by the agency based on information
65	33		reported through the Public Education Information Management
66	34		System (PEIMS) relating to the program.
67		-	SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
	35	+	SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
68	36		amended by adding Section 21.0489 to read as follows:
69	37		Sec. 21.0489. EARLY CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATION. (a) To
70	38		ensure that there are teachers with special training in early
71	39		childhood education focusing on prekindergarten through grade
72	40		three, the board shall establish an early childhood certificate.
73	41		(b) A person is not required to hold a certificate
74	42		established under this section to be employed by a school district
75	43		to provide instruction in prekindergarten through grade three.
76	44		(c) To be eligible for a certificate established under this
77	45		section, a person must:
78	46		(1) either:
79	47		(A) satisfactorily complete the course work for
80	48		that certificate in an educator preparation program, including a
81	49		knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction on early
82	50		childhood education that includes:
83	51		(i) teaching methods for:
84	52		(a) using small group instructional
85	53		formats that focus on building social, emotional, and academic
86	54		skills;
87	55		(b) navigating multiple content
88	56		areas; and
89	57		(c) managing a classroom environment
90	58		in which small groups of students are working on different tasks;
91	59		and
92	60		(ii) strategies for teaching fundamental
93	61		academic skills, including reading, writing, and numeracy; or
94	62		(B) hold an early childhood through grade six
95	63		certificate issued under this subchapter and satisfactorily
96	64		complete a course of instruction described by Paragraph (A);
97	65		(2) perform satisfactorily on an early childhood
98	66		certificate examination prescribed by the board; and
99	67		(3) satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the
100	68		board.
101	69		(d) The criteria for the course of instruction described by
102	70		Subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be developed by the board in
103	71		consultation with faculty members who provide instruction at
104	72		institutions of higher education in educator preparation programs
105	73		for an early childhood through grade six certificate.
106		-	SECTION 6. Section 21.051, Education Code, is amended by
107		-	amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
108		-	follows:
109		-	(b) Before a school district may employ a candidate for
110		-	certification as a teacher of record and, except as provided by
111		-	Subsection (b-1), after the candidate's admission to an educator
112		-	preparation program, the candidate must complete at least 15 hours
113		-	of field-based experience in which the candidate is actively
114		-	engaged in instructional or educational activities under
115		-	supervision at:
116		-	(1) a public school campus accredited or approved for
117		-	the purpose by the agency; or
118		-	(2) a private school recognized or approved for the
119		-	purpose by the agency.
120		-	(b-1) A candidate may satisfy up to 15 hours of the
121		-	field-based experience requirement under Subsection (b) by serving
122		-	as a long-term substitute teacher as prescribed by board rule.
123		-	Experience under this subsection may occur after the candidate's
124		-	admission to an educator preparation program or during the two
125		-	years before the date the candidate is admitted to the program. The
126		-	candidate's experience in instructional or educational activities
127		-	must be documented by the educator preparation program and must be
128		-	obtained at:
129		-	(1) a public school campus accredited or approved for
130		-	the purpose by the agency; or
131		-	(2) a private school recognized or approved for the
132		-	purpose by the agency.
133		-	SECTION 7. Section 21.052, Education Code, is amended by
134		-	adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as
135		-	follows:
	74	+	SECTION 4. Section 21.052, Education Code, is amended by
	75	+	adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
136	76		(a-1) The commissioner may adopt rules establishing
137	77		exceptions to the examination requirements prescribed by
138	78		Subsection (a)(3) for an educator from outside the state to obtain a
139	79		certificate in this state.
140		-	(e) An educator who has submitted all documents required by
141		-	the board for certification and who receives a temporary
142		-	certificate as provided by Subsection (c) [(a)] must perform
143		-	satisfactorily on the examination prescribed under Section 21.048
144		-	not later than the first anniversary of the date the board completes
145		-	the review of the educator's credentials and informs the educator
146		-	of the examination or examinations under Section 21.048 on which
147		-	the educator must perform successfully to receive a standard
148		-	certificate.
149		-	SECTION 8. Sections 21.054(d) and (e), Education Code, are
150		-	amended to read as follows:
151		-	(d) Continuing education requirements for a classroom
152		-	teacher must provide that not more than 25 percent of the training
153		-	required every five years include instruction regarding:
154		-	(1) collecting and analyzing information that will
155		-	improve effectiveness in the classroom;
156		-	(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a
157		-	student may be at risk of dropping out of school;
158		-	(3) digital learning, digital teaching, and
159		-	integrating technology into classroom instruction; and
160		-	(4) educating diverse student populations, including:
161		-	(A) students with disabilities, including mental
162		-	health disorders;
163		-	(B) students who are educationally
164		-	disadvantaged;
165		-	(C) students of limited English proficiency; and
166		-	(D) students at risk of dropping out of school.
167		-	(e) Continuing education requirements for a principal must
168		-	provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every
169		-	five years include instruction regarding:
170		-	(1) effective and efficient management, including:
171		-	(A) collecting and analyzing information;
172		-	(B) making decisions and managing time; and
173		-	(C) supervising student discipline and managing
174		-	behavior;
175		-	(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a
176		-	student may be at risk of dropping out of school;
177		-	(3) digital learning, digital teaching, and
178		-	integrating technology into campus curriculum and instruction; and
179		-	(4) educating diverse student populations, including:
180		-	(A) students with disabilities, including mental
181		-	health disorders;
182		-	(B) students who are educationally
183		-	disadvantaged;
184		-	(C) students of limited English proficiency; and
185		-	(D) students at risk of dropping out of school.
186		-	SECTION 9. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
187		-	amended by adding Section 21.0543 to read as follows:
188		-	Sec. 21.0543. CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR INSTRUCTION
189		-	RELATED TO DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. The board shall propose rules
190		-	allowing an educator to receive credit toward the educator's
191		-	continuing education requirements for completion of education
192		-	courses that:
193		-	(1) use technology to increase the educator's digital
194		-	literacy; and
195		-	(2) assist the educator in the use of digital
196		-	technology in learning activities that improve teaching,
197		-	assessment, and instructional practices.
198		-	SECTION 10. Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by
199		-	amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-3) to read as
200		-	follows:
201		-	(d) The staff development:
202		-	(1) may include training in:
203		-	(A) technology;
204		-	(B) conflict resolution;
205		-	(C) discipline strategies, including classroom
206		-	management, district discipline policies, and the student code of
207		-	conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; [and]
208		-	(D) preventing, identifying, responding to, and
209		-	reporting incidents of bullying; and
210		-	(E) digital learning;
211		-	(2) subject to Subsection (e) and to Section 21.3541
212		-	and rules adopted under that section, must include training that is
213		-	evidence-based [based on scientifically based research], as
214		-	defined by Section 8101, Every Student Succeeds Act [9101, No Child
215		-	Left Behind Act of 2001] (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), that:
216		-	(A) relates to instruction of students with
217		-	disabilities; and
218		-	(B) is designed for educators who work primarily
219		-	outside the area of special education; and
220		-	(3) must include suicide prevention training that must
221		-	be provided:
222		-	(A) on an annual basis, as part of a new employee
223		-	orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter
224		-	school educators; and
225		-	(B) to existing school district and
226		-	open-enrollment charter school educators on a schedule adopted by
227		-	the agency by rule.
228		-	(d-3) The digital learning training provided by Subsection
229		-	(d)(1)(E) must:
230		-	(1) discuss basic technology proficiency expectations
231		-	and methods to increase an educator's digital literacy; and
232		-	(2) assist an educator in the use of digital
233		-	technology in learning activities that improve teaching,
234		-	assessment, and instructional practices.
235		-	SECTION 11. Section 30A.112(b), Education Code, is amended
	80	+	SECTION 5. Section 30A.112(b), Education Code, is amended
236	81		to read as follows:
237	82		(b) The state virtual school network may provide or
238	83		authorize providers of electronic professional development courses
239	84		to provide professional development for:
240	85		(1) teachers who are teaching subjects or grade levels
241	86		for which the teachers are not certified; or
242	87		(2) [teachers who must become highly qualified under
243	88		Section 1119, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section
244	89		6319); or
245	90		[(3)] teachers who must become qualified under the
246	91		Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400
247	92		et seq.).
248		-	SECTION 12. The following provisions of the Education Code
	93	+	SECTION 6. The following provisions of the Education Code
249	94		are repealed:
250	95		(1) Section 21.005; and
251	96		(2) Section 21.052(g).
252		-	SECTION 13. The State Board for Educator Certification
253		-	~~shall~~ propose rules:
	97	+	SECTION 7. The State Board for Educator Certification shall
	98	+	propose rules:
254	99		(1) establishing requirements and prescribing an
255	100		examination for an early childhood certificate examination as
256	101		required by Section 21.0489, Education Code, as added by this Act;
257	102		and
258	103		(2) establishing standards to govern the approval and
259	104		renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for early
260	105		childhood certification.
261		-	SECTION 14. The commissioner of education is required to
	106	+	SECTION 8. The commissioner of education is required to
262	107		implement Sections 21.043(b) and (c) and 21.045(d), Education Code,
263	108		as added by this Act, only if the legislature appropriates money
264	109		specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not
265	110		appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner
266	111		of education may, but is not required to, implement those sections
267	112		using other appropriations available for the purpose.
268		-	SECTION 15. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
269		-	school year.
270		-	SECTION 16. This Act takes effect immediately if it
271		-	receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
272		-	house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
273		-	If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
274		-	effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
275		-	______________________________ ______________________________
276		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
277		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1839 passed the Senate on
278		-	May 4, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1; May 25, 2017,
279		-	Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested
280		-	appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2017, House granted
281		-	request of the Senate; May 28, 2017, Senate adopted Conference
282		-	Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1.
283		-	______________________________
284		-	Secretary of the Senate
285		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1839 passed the House, with
286		-	amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 137,
287		-	Nays 7, one present not voting; May 26, 2017, House granted request
288		-	of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
289		-	May 28, 2017, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
290		-	following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 8, two present not voting.
291		-	______________________________
292		-	Chief Clerk of the House
293		-	Approved:
294		-	______________________________
295		-	Date
296		-	______________________________
297		-	Governor
	113	+	SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.