85R23385 MM-F     By: Bohac H.B. No. 4064       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to staff development and continuing education   requirements for public school educators regarding digital   education methods.          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 21.044, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c-2) 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.          SECTION 3.  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 4.  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 5.  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 6.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018   school year.          SECTION 7.  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.