88R7411 PRL-F
By: Goodwin H.B. No. 1814
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating a special education certification to teach
students with disabilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.04892 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.04892. SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION. (a) To
ensure that there are teachers with special training in providing
instruction to students with disabilities, the board shall
establish a special education certificate.
(b) To be eligible for a certificate established under this
section, a person must:
(1) satisfactorily complete the coursework for that
certificate in an educator preparation program, including a
knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction and
field-based experience in providing instruction to students with
disabilities;
(2) perform satisfactorily on a special education
certificate examination prescribed by the board; and
(3) satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the
board.
(c) If the board determines that there is a shortage of
teachers who hold special education certificates, the board may
offer incentives to teachers to become certified under this
section.
SECTION 2. The State Board for Educator Certification shall
propose rules:
(1) establishing requirements and prescribing an
examination for a special education certificate examination as
required by Section 21.04892, Education Code, as added by this Act;
and
(2) establishing standards to govern the approval and
renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for special
education certification.
SECTION 3. Beginning on or after January 1, 2025, a person
must satisfy the requirements for certification under Section
21.04892, Education Code, as added by this Act, to receive a
certification in special education.
SECTION 4. 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, 2023.