Review of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 228, Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs, §228.2, Definitions, and §228.35, Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training
July 20, 2012
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the State Board of Education (SBOE) an opportunity to review the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rule actions that would amend 19 TAC Chapter 228, Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs, §228.2, Definitions, and §228.35, Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training. The proposed amendments would be necessary as a result of Senate Bill (SB) 8, 82nd Texas Legislature, First Called Session, 2011, which requires flexible options for any field-based experience or internship required for certification, and SB 866, 82nd Texas Legislature, 2011, which requires dyslexia training in undergraduate university programs. The proposed amendments to 19 TAC §228.2 and §228.35 would also update the rules to comply with new statutory requirements for educator preparation programs to include dyslexia training and to clarify field-based experiences that must be completed prior to becoming a teacher of record under a probationary certificate.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The statutory authority for the proposed amendments to 19 TAC §228.2 and §228.35 is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§21.031; 21.044; 21.045(a); 21.050(a) and (c); and 21.051.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the amendments to 19 TAC §228.2 and §228.35 would be August 19, 2012.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: None.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In response to SB 8, 82nd Texas Legislature, First Called Session, 2011, and SB 866, 82nd Texas Legislature, 2011, the proposed amendments to 19 TAC §228.2 and §228.35, shown in Attachment II, would add new requirements of the TEC, §21.044, and §21.051, regarding dyslexia training and field-based experiences that must be completed prior to becoming a teacher of record under a probationary certificate. Following is a description of the proposed amendments to 19 TAC §228.2 and §228.35.
§228.2. Definitions
The definition of "field-based experiences" in 19 TAC §228.2(9) would be amended to specify that field-based experiences required by the TEC, §21.051, and 19 TAC §228.35(a)(3) must include 15 clock-hours in which the candidate is actively engaged in instructional or educational activities under supervision.
§228.35. Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training
Language in 19 TAC §228.35(a)(3) would be amended to add the requirement of the TEC, §21.051, that, prior to being employed as a teacher of record, a candidate who is not a late hire and who is issued a probationary certificate after September 1, 2012, must receive a minimum of 15 clock-hours of field-based experience, student teaching, or clinical teaching in which the candidate is actively engaged in instructional or educational activities under supervision. Language would also be amended to clarify the requirements that must be completed prior to any student teaching, clinical teaching, or internship, unless the candidate qualifies as a late hire.
Proposed §228.35(a)(4) would be added to comply with the requirement of the TEC, §21.044, that traditional university undergraduate educator preparation programs provide candidates with instruction in detection and education of students with dyslexia. The remaining provisions in subsection (a) would be renumbered accordingly.
Language in 19 TAC §228.35(c) would be amended to clarify that, if a candidate qualifies as a late hire, the pre-internship training and field-based experience required prior to being employed as a teacher of record may be completed within 90 school days of assignment. Also, a technical edit would be made to rename subsection (c) to Late Hire Provisions.
SBOE Review of Proposed SBEC Rules
Under the TEC, §21.042, the SBEC must submit a written copy of each rule it proposes to adopt to the SBOE for review. The SBOE may reject the proposed rules by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the SBOE present and voting, but may not modify a rule. The rules take effect as rules of the SBEC if the SBOE fails to review the rules contained in this item by July 27, 2012, which is the 90th day after the date the SBOE first received these proposed rules.
FISCAL IMPACT: The TEA staff have determined that there are no additional costs to persons or entities required to comply with the proposed amendments. In addition, there is no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses and microbusinesses; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: The public and student benefit anticipated as a result of the proposed amendments would be the development of clear, updated minimum educator preparation program requirements that would ensure educators are prepared to positively impact the performance of the diverse student population of this state.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: There are no new procedural and reporting implications for school districts and educators. An educator preparation program would continue to follow the procedures established in 19 TAC §228.35(d)(4), which would include required elements to be submitted when requesting approval for schools as sites for field-based experiences, internship, clinical teaching, student teaching, or practicum experience.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The TEA staff have determined that there are no locally maintained paperwork requirements to school districts and educators.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education:
Take no action on the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 228, Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs, §228.2, Definitions, and §228.35, Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible:
Ann Smisko, Associate Commissioner
Educator Leadership and Quality
Janice Lopez, Director
Educator Certification and Standards
Andrew Allen, Assistant Counsel
Legal Services
Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations (PDF, 146KB)
II. Text of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 228, Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs, §228.2, Definitions, and §228.35, Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training (PDF, 48KB)