S.B. No. 1839         AN ACT   relating to the preparation, certification, and classification of   and professional development for public school educators.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 21.001.  DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION]. In this chapter:                (1)  "Commissioner"[, "commissioner"] includes a   person designated by the commissioner.                (2)  "Digital learning" means any type of learning that   is facilitated by technology or instructional practice that makes   effective use of technology.                (3)  "Digital literacy" means having the knowledge and   ability to use a range of technology tools for varied purposes.  The   term includes the capacity to use, understand, and evaluate   technology for use in education settings.          SECTION 2.  Section 21.043, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 21.043.  ACCESS TO PEIMS DATA.  (a)  The agency shall   provide the board with access to data obtained under the Public   Education Information Management System (PEIMS).          (b)  The agency shall provide educator preparation programs   with data based on information reported through the Public   Education Information Management System (PEIMS) that enables an   educator preparation program to:                (1)  assess the impact of the program; and                (2)  revise the program as needed to improve the design   and effectiveness of the program.          (c)  The agency in coordination with the board shall solicit   input from educator preparation programs to determine the data to   be provided to educator preparation programs.          SECTION 3.  Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (c-2) and (f-1) to read as follows:          (c-2)  Any minimum academic qualifications for a certificate   specified under Subsection (a) that require a person to possess a   bachelor's degree must also require that the person receive, as   part of the training required to obtain that certificate,   instruction in digital learning, including a digital literacy   evaluation followed by a prescribed digital learning curriculum.   The instruction required must:                (1)  be aligned with the International Society for   Technology in Education's standards for teachers;                (2)  provide effective, evidence-based strategies to   determine a person's degree of digital literacy; and                (3)  include resources to address any deficiencies   identified by the digital literacy evaluation.          (f-1)  Board rules addressing ongoing educator preparation   program support for a candidate seeking certification in a   certification class other than classroom teacher may not require   that an educator preparation program conduct one or more formal   observations of the candidate on the candidate's site in a   face-to-face setting. The rules must permit each required formal   observation to occur on the candidate's site or through use of   electronic transmission or other video-based or technology-based   method.          SECTION 4.  Section 21.045, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:          (d)  To assist an educator preparation program in improving   the design and effectiveness of the program in preparing educators   for the classroom, the agency shall provide to each program data   that is compiled and analyzed by the agency based on information   reported through the Public Education Information Management   System (PEIMS) relating to the program.          SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 21.0489 to read as follows:          Sec. 21.0489.  EARLY CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATION. (a)  To   ensure that there are teachers with special training in early   childhood education focusing on prekindergarten through grade   three, the board shall establish an early childhood certificate.          (b)  A person is not required to hold a certificate   established under this section to be employed by a school district   to provide instruction in prekindergarten through grade three.          (c)  To be eligible for a certificate established under this   section, a person must:                (1)  either:                      (A)  satisfactorily complete the course work for   that certificate in an educator preparation program, including a   knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction on early   childhood education that includes:                            (i)  teaching methods for:                                  (a)  using small group instructional   formats that focus on building social, emotional, and academic   skills;                                  (b)  navigating multiple content   areas; and                                  (c)  managing a classroom environment   in which small groups of students are working on different tasks;   and                            (ii)  strategies for teaching fundamental   academic skills, including reading, writing, and numeracy; or                      (B)  hold an early childhood through grade six   certificate issued under this subchapter and satisfactorily   complete a course of instruction described by Paragraph (A);                (2)  perform satisfactorily on an early childhood   certificate examination prescribed by the board; and                (3)  satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the   board.          (d)  The criteria for the course of instruction described by   Subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be developed by the board in   consultation with faculty members who provide instruction at   institutions of higher education in educator preparation programs   for an early childhood through grade six certificate.          SECTION 6.  Section 21.051, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as   follows:          (b)  Before a school district may employ a candidate for   certification as a teacher of record and, except as provided by   Subsection (b-1), after the candidate's admission to an educator   preparation program, the candidate must complete at least 15 hours   of field-based experience in which the candidate is actively   engaged in instructional or educational activities under   supervision at:                (1)  a public school campus accredited or approved for   the purpose by the agency; or                (2)  a private school recognized or approved for the   purpose by the agency.          (b-1)  A candidate may satisfy up to 15 hours of the   field-based experience requirement under Subsection (b) by serving   as a long-term substitute teacher as prescribed by board rule.     Experience under this subsection may occur after the candidate's   admission to an educator preparation program or during the two   years before the date the candidate is admitted to the program.  The   candidate's experience in instructional or educational activities   must be documented by the educator preparation program and must be   obtained at:                (1)  a public school campus accredited or approved for   the purpose by the agency; or                (2)  a private school recognized or approved for the   purpose by the agency.          SECTION 7.  Section 21.052, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as   follows:          (a-1)  The commissioner may adopt rules establishing   exceptions to the examination requirements prescribed by   Subsection (a)(3) for an educator from outside the state to obtain a   certificate in this state.          (e)  An educator who has submitted all documents required by   the board for certification and who receives a temporary   certificate as provided by Subsection (c) [(a)] must perform   satisfactorily on the examination prescribed under Section 21.048   not later than the first anniversary of the date the board completes   the review of the educator's credentials and informs the educator   of the examination or examinations under Section 21.048 on which   the educator must perform successfully to receive a standard   certificate.          SECTION 8.  Sections 21.054(d) and (e), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (d)  Continuing education requirements for a classroom   teacher must provide that not more than 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; and                (4)  educating diverse student populations, including:                      (A)  students with disabilities, including mental   health disorders;                      (B)  students who are educationally   disadvantaged;                      (C)  students of limited English proficiency; and                      (D)  students at risk of dropping out of school.          (e)  Continuing education requirements for a principal must   provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every   five years include instruction regarding:                (1)  effective and efficient management, including:                      (A)  collecting and analyzing information;                      (B)  making decisions and managing time; and                      (C)  supervising student discipline and managing   behavior;                (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 campus curriculum and instruction; and                (4)  educating diverse student populations, including:                      (A)  students with disabilities, including mental   health disorders;                      (B)  students who are educationally   disadvantaged;                      (C)  students of limited English proficiency; and                      (D)  students at risk of dropping out of school.          SECTION 9.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 21.0543 to read as follows:          Sec. 21.0543.  CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR INSTRUCTION   RELATED TO DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. The board shall propose rules   allowing an educator to receive credit toward the educator's   continuing education requirements for completion of education   courses that:                (1)  use technology to increase the educator's digital   literacy; and                (2)  assist the educator in the use of digital   technology in learning activities that improve teaching,   assessment, and instructional practices.          SECTION 10.  Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-3) to read as   follows:          (d)  The staff development:                (1)  may include training in:                      (A)  technology;                      (B)  conflict resolution;                      (C)  discipline strategies, including classroom   management, district discipline policies, and the student code of   conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; [and]                      (D)  preventing, identifying, responding to, and   reporting incidents of bullying; and                      (E)  digital learning;                (2)  subject to Subsection (e) and to Section 21.3541   and rules adopted under that section, must include training that is   evidence-based [based on scientifically based research], as   defined by Section 8101, Every Student Succeeds Act [9101, No Child   Left Behind Act of 2001] (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), that:                      (A)  relates to instruction of students with   disabilities; and                      (B)  is designed for educators who work primarily   outside the area of special education; and                (3)  must include suicide prevention training that must   be provided:                      (A)  on an annual basis, as part of a new employee   orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter   school educators; and                      (B)  to existing school district and   open-enrollment charter school educators on a schedule adopted by   the agency by rule.          (d-3)  The digital learning training provided by Subsection   (d)(1)(E) must:                (1)  discuss basic technology proficiency expectations   and methods to increase an educator's digital literacy; and                (2)  assist an educator in the use of digital   technology in learning activities that improve teaching,   assessment, and instructional practices.          SECTION 11.  Section 30A.112(b), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The state virtual school network may provide or   authorize providers of electronic professional development courses   to provide professional development for:                (1)  teachers who are teaching subjects or grade levels   for which the teachers are not certified; or                (2)  [teachers who must become highly qualified under   Section 1119, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section   6319); or                [(3)]  teachers who must become qualified under the   Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400   et seq.).          SECTION 12.  The following provisions of the Education Code   are repealed:                (1)  Section 21.005; and                (2)  Section 21.052(g).          SECTION 13.  The State Board for Educator Certification   shall propose rules:                (1)  establishing requirements and prescribing an   examination for an early childhood certificate examination as   required by Section 21.0489, Education Code, as added by this Act;   and                (2)  establishing standards to govern the approval and   renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for early   childhood certification.          SECTION 14.  The commissioner of education is required to   implement Sections 21.043(b) and (c) and 21.045(d), Education Code,   as added by this Act, only if the legislature appropriates money   specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not   appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the commissioner   of education may, but is not required to, implement those sections   using other appropriations available for the purpose.          SECTION 15.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018   school year.          SECTION 16.  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, 2017.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1839 passed the Senate on   May 4, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1; May 25, 2017,   Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested   appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2017, House granted   request of the Senate; May 28, 2017, Senate adopted Conference   Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 1.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1839 passed the House, with   amendments, on May 23, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 137,   Nays 7, one present not voting; May 26, 2017, House granted request   of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;   May 28, 2017, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the   following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 8, two present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________               Date       ______________________________              Governor