88R9522 AMF-F
By: Lozano H.B. No. 2929
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to continuing education and training requirements for
classroom teachers and public school counselors.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 21.054(d), Education Code, as amended by
Chapters 1045 (S.B. 1267) and 973 (S.B. 2066), Acts of the 87th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is reenacted and amended to
read as follows:
(d) Subject to Subsection (d-1), continuing [Continuing]
education requirements for a classroom teacher may not require
[must provide] that [not] more than [at least] 25 percent of the
training required every five years include instruction regarding:
(1) collecting and analyzing information that will
improve effectiveness in the classroom;
(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a
student may be at risk of dropping out of school;
(3) digital learning, digital teaching, and
integrating technology into classroom instruction;
(4) educating diverse student populations, including:
(A) [students who are eligible to participate in
special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29;
[(B) students who are eligible to receive
educational services required under Section 504, Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794);
[(C) students with mental health conditions or
who engage in substance abuse;
[(D) students with intellectual or developmental
disabilities;
[(E)] students who are educationally
disadvantaged;
[(F) emergent bilingual students;] and
(B) [(G)] students at risk of dropping out of
school; and
(5) understanding appropriate relationships,
boundaries, and communications between educators and students [;
and
[(6) how mental health conditions, including grief and
trauma, affect student learning and behavior and how
evidence-based, grief-informed, and trauma-informed strategies
support the academic success of students affected by grief and
trauma].
SECTION 2. Section 21.054, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d-2) and amending Subsection (f) to read as
follows:
(d-2) Training in a topic of instruction described by
Subsection (d) attended by a classroom teacher in excess of an
amount of hours equal to 25 percent of the training required of the
teacher every five years shall be counted toward the teacher's
overall training requirements.
(f) Continuing education requirements for a counselor must
provide that at least [not more than] 25 percent of training
required every five years include instruction regarding:
(1) assisting students in developing high school
graduation plans;
(2) implementing dropout prevention strategies;
(3) informing students concerning:
(A) college admissions, including college
financial aid resources and application procedures; and
(B) career opportunities;
(4) counseling students concerning mental health
conditions and substance abuse, including through the use of
grief-informed and trauma-informed interventions and crisis
management and suicide prevention strategies; and
(5) effective implementation of a comprehensive
school counseling program under Section 33.005.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
school year.
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.