| 4 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 5 | 7 | | relating to instruction in educator training programs regarding |
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| 6 | 8 | | digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual instruction. |
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| 7 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 8 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended by |
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| 9 | 11 | | adding Subdivisions (4) and (5) to read as follows: |
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| 10 | 12 | | (4) "Virtual instruction" means instructional |
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| 11 | 13 | | activities delivered to students primarily over the Internet. |
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| 12 | 14 | | (5) "Virtual learning" means digital learning |
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| 13 | 15 | | facilitated by virtual instruction. |
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| 14 | 16 | | SECTION 2. Section 21.044(c-2), Education Code, is amended |
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| 15 | 17 | | to read as follows: |
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| 16 | 18 | | (c-2) Any minimum academic qualifications for a certificate |
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| 17 | 19 | | specified under Subsection (a) that require a person to possess a |
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| 18 | 20 | | bachelor's degree must also require that the person receive, as |
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| 19 | 21 | | part of the training required to obtain that certificate, |
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| 20 | 22 | | instruction in digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual |
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| 21 | 23 | | instruction, including a digital literacy evaluation followed by a |
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| 22 | 24 | | prescribed digital learning curriculum. The instruction required |
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| 23 | 25 | | must: |
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| 24 | 26 | | (1) be aligned with the International Society for |
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| 25 | 27 | | Technology in Education's standards for teachers; |
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| 26 | 28 | | (2) provide effective, evidence-based strategies to |
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| 27 | 29 | | determine a person's degree of digital literacy; [and] |
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| 28 | 30 | | (3) cover best practices in: |
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| 29 | 31 | | (A) assessing students receiving virtual |
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| 30 | 32 | | instruction, based on academic progress; and |
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| 31 | 33 | | (B) developing a virtual learning curriculum; |
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| 32 | 34 | | and |
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| 33 | 35 | | (4) include resources to address any deficiencies |
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| 34 | 36 | | identified by the digital literacy evaluation. |
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| 35 | 37 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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| 36 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 37 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 38 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 226 passed the Senate on |
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| 39 | | - | April 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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| 40 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 41 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 42 | | - | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 226 passed the House on |
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| 43 | | - | May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 130, Nays 17, two |
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| 44 | | - | present not voting. |
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| 45 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 46 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 47 | | - | Approved: |
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| 48 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | | - | Date |
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| 50 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 51 | | - | Governor |
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