Military Connected, Texas Legislative Updates
SB 587, 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017
Texas Virtual School Network
Amends Texas Education Code §§30A.002(b) and 30A.052(c)
This bill permits a student who is a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who has been deployed or transferred to Texas and who has enrolled in a publicly funded school outside of Texas in the preceding school year to now enroll full-time in the Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) without having been enrolled in a public school in Texas in the preceding school year.
Effective Date: May 26, 2017
SB 1901, 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2017
Statute adds new Texas Education Code §29.9071
This bill establishes Texas Military Heroes Day in public schools and requires appropriate instruction as determined by each school district.
Effective Date: June 12, 2017; applies beginning with 2017-2018 school year.
Texas Military Heroes Day Proclamation
Certification of Military Service Members, Military Spouses, and Military Veterans
Texas Administrative Code §234.5
Fee waived for application and exams
Military service members and military veterans are exempt from certification application fees that are paid to the state that lead to initial certification. These members of the military community are exempt from paying the portion of the examination registration fee that is paid to the TEA.
Military spouses are exempt from certification application fees that are paid to the state that lead to initial certification resulting from a review of credentials, three-year temporary certificate, or out-of-state standard certificate. These members of the military community are exempt from paying the portion of the examination registration fee that is paid to the TEA.
Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements for Military Service Members, Military Spouses, and Military Veterans
Texas Administrative Code §234.7
A military service member pursuing certification in career and technical education must meet requirements for the certificate, but for career and technical education certificate areas requiring experience and licensure, the military service member shall be entitled to substitute military experience in the trade for the required license or professional credential for the specific trade.
You need to identify the legislative session for each of these bills since the bill numbers alone don’t identify a bill. I’ve inserted it for the two bills that fall under our department, but you’ll need to check for the others.