Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB159 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.B. No. 159
	1	+	By: González of El Paso, Harris, Ramos H.B. No. 159
	2	+	(Senate Sponsor - Lucio)
	3	+	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 5, 2021;
	4	+	May 10, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on
	5	+	Education; May 14, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:
	6	+	Yeas 8, Nays 2; May 14, 2021, sent to printer.)
	7	+	Click here to see the committee vote
2	8
3	9
	10	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	11		AN ACT
5	12		relating to improving training and staff development for primary
6	13		and secondary educators to enable them to more effectively serve
7	14		all students.
8	15		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	16		SECTION 1. Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended by
10	17		adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows:
11	18		(4) "Student with a disability" means a student who
12	19		is:
13	20		(A) eligible to participate in a school
14	21		district's special education program under Section 29.003;
15	22		(B) covered by Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of
16	23		1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794); or
17	24		(C) covered by the Individuals with Disabilities
18	25		Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.).
19	26		SECTION 2. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended by
20	27		amending Subsections (a), (b), (c-1), and (g) and adding Subsection
21	28		(a-1) to read as follows:
22	29		(a) The board shall propose rules:
23	30		(1) specifying what each educator is expected to know
24	31		and be able to do, particularly with regard to students with
25	32		disabilities;
26	33		(2) establishing the training requirements a person
27	34		must accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or
28	35		enter an induction-year program; and
29	36		(3) specifying[. The board shall specify] the minimum
30	37		academic qualifications required for a certificate.
31	38		(a-1) Any training requirements for a certificate specified
32	39		under Subsection (a) must require that the person demonstrate:
33	40		(1) basic knowledge of:
34	41		(A) each disability category under the
35	42		Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400
36	43		et seq.) and how each category can affect student learning and
37	44		development; and
38	45		(B) conditions that may be considered a
39	46		disability under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
40	47		Section 794), and how a condition covered by that section can affect
41	48		student learning and development;
42	49		(2) competence in the use of proactive instructional
43	50		planning techniques that:
44	51		(A) provide flexibility in the ways:
45	52		(i) information is presented;
46	53		(ii) students respond or demonstrate
47	54		knowledge and skills; and
48	55		(iii) students are engaged;
49	56		(B) reduce barriers in instruction;
50	57		(C) provide appropriate accommodations,
51	58		supports, and challenges; and
52	59		(D) maintain high achievement expectations for
53	60		all students, including students with disabilities and students of
54	61		limited English proficiency; and
55	62		(3) competence in the use of evidence-based inclusive
56	63		instructional practices, including:
57	64		(A) general and special education collaborative
58	65		and co-teaching models and approaches;
59	66		(B) multitiered systems of support, including
60	67		response to intervention strategies, classroom and school level
61	68		data-based collaborative structures, and evidence-based strategies
62	69		for intervention and progress monitoring systems in academic areas;
63	70		(C) classroom management techniques using
64	71		evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies and supports;
65	72		and
66	73		(D) appropriate adaptation strategies, including
67	74		accommodations, modifications, and instruction in the use of
68	75		assistive technology for instruction.
69	76		(b) The [Any] minimum academic qualifications for a
70	77		certificate specified under Subsection (a) [that require a person
71	78		to possess a bachelor's degree] must [also] require that the person
72	79		receive, as part of the training required to obtain that
73	80		certificate, instruction in detection and education of students
74	81		with dyslexia.
75	82		(c-1) The [Any] minimum academic qualifications for a
76	83		certificate specified under Subsection (a) [that require a person
77	84		to possess a bachelor's degree] must [also] require that the person
78	85		receive, as part of the training required to obtain that
79	86		certificate, instruction regarding mental health, substance abuse,
80	87		and youth suicide. The instruction required must:
81	88		(1) be provided through:
82	89		(A) a program selected from the list of
83	90		recommended best practice-based programs and research-based
84	91		practices established under Section 38.351; or
85	92		(B) a course offered by any accredited public or
86	93		private postsecondary educational institution as part of a degree
87	94		program; and
88	95		(2) include effective strategies, including
89	96		de-escalation techniques and positive behavioral interventions and
90	97		supports, for teaching and intervening with students with mental
91	98		health conditions or who engage in substance abuse.
92	99		(g) Each educator preparation program must provide
93	100		information regarding:
94	101		(1) the skills that educators are required to possess,
95	102		the responsibilities that educators are required to accept, and the
96	103		high expectations for all students, including students with
97	104		disabilities, in this state;
98	105		(2) the effect of supply and demand forces on the
99	106		educator workforce in this state;
100	107		(3) the performance over time of the educator
101	108		preparation program;
102	109		(4) the importance of building strong classroom
103	110		management skills;
104	111		(5) the framework in this state for teacher and
105	112		principal evaluation, including the procedures followed in
106	113		accordance with Subchapter H; and
107	114		(6) appropriate relationships, boundaries, and
108	115		communications between educators and students.
109	116		SECTION 3. Section 21.0443(b), Education Code, is amended
110	117		to read as follows:
111	118		(b) To be eligible for approval or renewal of approval, an
112	119		educator preparation program must:
113	120		(1) incorporate proactive instructional planning
114	121		techniques throughout course work and across content areas using a
115	122		framework that:
116	123		(A) provides flexibility in the ways:
117	124		(i) information is presented;
118	125		(ii) students respond or demonstrate
119	126		knowledge and skills; and
120	127		(iii) students are engaged;
121	128		(B) reduces barriers in instruction;
122	129		(C) provides appropriate accommodations,
123	130		supports, and challenges; and
124	131		(D) maintains high achievement expectations for
125	132		all students, including students with disabilities and students of
126	133		limited English proficiency;
127	134		(2) integrate inclusive practices for all students,
128	135		including students with disabilities, and evidence-based
129	136		instruction and intervention strategies throughout course work,
130	137		clinical experience, and student teaching;
131	138		(3) adequately prepare candidates for educator
132	139		certification; and
133	140		(4) meet the standards and requirements of the board.
134	141		SECTION 4. Section 21.045(a), Education Code, is amended to
135	142		read as follows:
136	143		(a) The board shall propose rules necessary to establish
137	144		standards to govern the continuing accountability of all educator
138	145		preparation programs based on the following information that is
139	146		disaggregated with respect to race, sex, and ethnicity:
140	147		(1) results of the certification examinations
141	148		prescribed under Section 21.048(a);
142	149		(2) performance based on the appraisal system for
143	150		beginning teachers adopted by the board;
144	151		(3) achievement, including improvement in
145	152		achievement, of all students, including students with
146	153		disabilities, taught by beginning teachers for the first three
147	154		years following certification, to the extent practicable;
148	155		(4) compliance with board requirements regarding the
149	156		frequency, duration, and quality of structural guidance and ongoing
150	157		support provided by field supervisors to candidates completing
151	158		student teaching, clinical teaching, or an internship; and
152	159		(5) results from a teacher satisfaction survey,
153	160		developed by the board with stakeholder input, of new teachers
154	161		performed at the end of the teacher's first year of teaching.
155	162		SECTION 5. Section 21.0453(a), Education Code, is amended
156	163		to read as follows:
157	164		(a) The board shall require an educator preparation program
158	165		to provide candidates for teacher certification with information
159	166		concerning the following:
160	167		(1) skills and responsibilities required of teachers
161	168		with regard to all students, including students with disabilities;
162	169		(2) expectations for student performance, including
163	170		students with disabilities, based on state standards;
164	171		(3) the current supply of and demand for teachers in
165	172		this state;
166	173		(4) the importance of developing classroom management
167	174		skills; and
168	175		(5) the state's framework for appraisal of teachers
169	176		and principals.
170	177		SECTION 6. Section 21.046(b), Education Code, is amended to
171	178		read as follows:
172	179		(b) The qualifications for certification as a principal
173	180		must be sufficiently flexible so that an outstanding teacher may
174	181		qualify by substituting approved experience and professional
175	182		training for part of the educational requirements. Supervised and
176	183		approved on-the-job experience in addition to required internship
177	184		shall be accepted in lieu of classroom hours. The qualifications
178	185		must emphasize:
179	186		(1) instructional leadership, including the ability
180	187		to create an inclusive school environment and to foster parent
181	188		involvement;
182	189		(2) administration, supervision, and communication
183	190		skills;
184	191		(3) curriculum and instruction management, including
185	192		curriculum and instruction management for students with
186	193		disabilities;
187	194		(4) performance evaluation;
188	195		(5) organization; and
189	196		(6) fiscal management.
190	197		SECTION 7. Section 21.047(c), Education Code, is amended to
191	198		read as follows:
192	199		(c) A center may develop and implement a comprehensive
193	200		field-based educator preparation program to supplement the
194	201		internship hours required in Section 21.050. This comprehensive
195	202		field-based teacher program must:
196	203		(1) be designed on the basis of current research into
197	204		state-of-the-art teaching practices applicable to all students,
198	205		including students with disabilities, curriculum theory and
199	206		application within diverse student populations, evaluation of
200	207		student outcomes, and the effective application of technology; and
201	208		(2) have rigorous internal and external evaluation
202	209		procedures that focus on content, delivery systems, and teacher and
203	210		student outcomes.
204	211		SECTION 8. Sections 21.051(b) and (f), Education Code, are
205	212		amended to read as follows:
206	213		(b) Before a school district may employ a candidate for
207	214		certification as a teacher of record and, except as provided by
208	215		Subsection (b-1), after the candidate's admission to an educator
209	216		preparation program, the candidate must complete at least 15 hours
210	217		of field-based experience in which the candidate is actively
211	218		engaged in instructional or educational activities involving a
212	219		diverse student population that, to the greatest extent
213	220		practicable, includes students with disabilities under supervision
214	221		at:
215	222		(1) a public school campus accredited or approved for
216	223		the purpose by the agency; or
217	224		(2) a private school recognized or approved for the
218	225		purpose by the agency.
219	226		(f) The board shall propose rules providing flexible
220	227		options for persons for any field-based experience or internship
221	228		required for certification. The options must, to the greatest
222	229		extent practicable, involve interaction with a diverse student
223	230		population, including students with disabilities.
224	231		SECTION 9. Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by
225	232		adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
226	233		(a-2) In designing the staff development described by
227	234		Subsection (a), a school district must use procedures that, to the
228	235		greatest extent possible, ensure the training included in the staff
229	236		development:
230	237		(1) incorporates proactive instructional planning
231	238		techniques using a framework that:
232	239		(A) provides flexibility in the ways:
233	240		(i) information is presented;
234	241		(ii) students respond or demonstrate
235	242		knowledge and skills; and
236	243		(iii) students are engaged;
237	244		(B) reduces barriers in instruction;
238	245		(C) provides appropriate accommodations,
239	246		supports, and challenges; and
240	247		(D) maintains high achievement expectations for
241	248		all students, including students with disabilities and students of
242	249		limited English proficiency; and
243	250		(2) integrates inclusive and evidence-based
244	251		instructional practices for all students, including students with
245	252		disabilities.
246	253		SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
247		-	______________________________ ______________________________
248		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
249		-	I certify that H.B. No. 159 was passed by the House on May 4,
250		-	2021, by the following vote: Yeas 103, Nays 42, 2 present, not
251		-	voting.
252		-	______________________________
253		-	Chief Clerk of the House
254		-	I certify that H.B. No. 159 was passed by the Senate on May
255		-	20, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 22, Nays 8, 1 present, not
256		-	voting.
257		-	______________________________
258		-	Secretary of the Senate
259		-	APPROVED: _____________________
260		-	Date
261		-	_____________________
262		-	Governor
	254	+	* * * * *