By: Guillen, Ramos, Muñoz, Jr. H.B. No. 1207
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to additional optional training and course work for public
school principals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.0461 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.0461. SCHOOL TURNAROUND SPECIALIST ENDORSEMENT TO
PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATE. (a) The board shall propose rules
establishing the training requirements and course work a principal
must successfully complete to receive a school turnaround
specialist endorsement as an addendum to a principal certificate.
In proposing the rules, the board shall ensure that each person who
receives the endorsement:
(1) demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to
significantly improve teacher and student performance at a campus
assigned an overall performance rating of F under Section 39.054;
(2) has served as a principal at a campus that has
successfully implemented a campus turnaround plan under Subchapter
C, Chapter 39A; and
(3) did not serve as a principal at a campus that was
assigned an overall performance rating of F under Section 39.054
for two or more consecutive school years.
(b) The board shall solicit proposals for a school
turnaround specialist endorsement program from appropriate
educator preparation programs. From among school turnaround
specialist endorsement programs proposed to the board that are
capable of satisfying the requirements prescribed by Subsection
(c), the board may select not more than three of the programs that
may be offered to principals.
(c) A school turnaround specialist endorsement program
under this section must:
(1) partner with one or more school districts that
need principals with the training and education necessary to
significantly improve teacher and student performance at one or
more campuses assigned an overall performance rating of F under
Section 39.054;
(2) have appropriately qualified faculty to:
(A) conduct a campus leadership-needs analysis;
(B) develop and provide the training and course
work required by rules proposed under this section; and
(C) provide necessary support to program
candidates;
(3) establish a selective admissions process to ensure
that each principal admitted to the program:
(A) possesses a significant knowledge of
educational organizations, educational instruction, and teacher
professional development;
(B) demonstrates the ability to develop and
implement campus-based systems that result in increased capacity
for improving student learning; and
(C) demonstrates the attributes of principals
who have significantly improved teacher and student performance at
underperforming campuses;
(4) offer a full-time internship that continues for at
least one semester and provides meaningful interaction with the
central administrative office of a school district; and
(5) collaborate with school districts to provide
program participants who complete the program continued support for
at least two years after the participants' initial assignment to a
campus.
(d) To be eligible for admission to a school turnaround
specialist endorsement program under this section, a principal
must:
(1) hold a principal certificate;
(2) have served as a principal or assistant principal
for at least three school years before applying to the program;
(3) demonstrate significant knowledge of educational
organizations, educational instruction, and teacher professional
development;
(4) demonstrate the attributes of principals who have
significantly improved teacher and student performance at
underperforming campuses; and
(5) provide evidence of the ability to develop and
implement campus-based systems that result in increased capacity
for improving student learning.
(e) The board shall periodically evaluate school turnaround
specialist endorsement programs selected under this section. For
purposes of evaluating the programs, the board shall require each
program to submit data, as determined appropriate by the board, for
each year and at each five-year interval.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the State
Board for Educator Certification shall propose rules relating to
the school turnaround specialist endorsement to the school
principal certificate as provided by Section 21.0461, Education
Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than March 1, 2022, the State Board for
Educator Certification shall solicit proposals for a school
turnaround specialist endorsement program as provided by Section
21.0461, Education Code, as added by this Act.
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, 2021.