April 2015 Committee on School Initiatives Item 3

Review of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 233, Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates, §§233.3, 233.4, 233.5, and 233.14

April 17, 2015

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 233, Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates, §233.3, English Language Arts and Reading; Social Studies; §233.4, Mathematics; Science; §233.5, Technology Applications and Computer Science; and §233.14, Career and Technical Education (Certificates requiring experience and preparation in a skill area). The proposed amendments to 19 TAC §§233.3-233.5 and 233.14 would add deadlines for completion and submission requirements for specific Grades 8-12 certificates in the subject areas of English Language Arts and Reading, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Technology Applications and Computer Science, and Career and Technical Education (Certificates requiring experience and preparation in a skill area).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The statutory authority for 19 TAC §§233.3-233.5 and 233.14 is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§21.003(a), 21.031, 21.041(b)(1)-(4) and (6), 21.044(e) and (f), 21.048(a), 21.050, and 22.0831(f).

EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed amendments to 19 TAC §§233.3-233.5 and 233.14 would be May 24, 2015.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: None.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The TEC, §21.041(b)(1), authorizes the SBEC to propose rules that provide for the regulation of educators. Sections 233.3, English Language Arts and Reading; Social Studies; 233.4, Mathematics; Science; 233.5, Technology Applications and Computer Science; and 233.14, Career and Technical Education (Certificates requiring experience and preparation in a skill area), address the source of general authority for 19 TAC Chapter 233, Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates, and establish teaching assignment certificates for English Language Arts and Reading, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Technology Applications and Computer Science, and Career and Technical Education (Certificates requiring experience and preparation in a skill area). The following changes, shown in Attachment II, would establish deadlines to complete all requirements for the issuance of the last group of those certificates the SBEC will issue and establish a deadline for candidates and educator preparation programs (EPPs) to submit completed applications to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

In 19 TAC §233.3(d), (f), and (h), language would be amended to remove provisions for expiration of those subsections of the rule and, instead, provide a deadline of August 31, 2015, for candidates to complete all requirements for issuance of the last group of English Language Arts and Reading: Grades 8-12; Social Studies: Grades 8-12; and History: Grades 8-12 certificates the SBEC will issue. Language would also be amended to provide a deadline of October 30, 2015, for candidates and EPPs to submit completed applications to the TEA. In 19 TAC §233.3(j), language would be amended to remove provisions for expiration of the subsection and, instead, provide a deadline of August 31, 2016, for candidates to complete all requirements for issuance of the last group of Journalism: Grades 8-12 certificate the SBEC will issue and a deadline of October 30, 2016, for candidates and EPPs to submit completed applications to the TEA. In addition, §233.3(m) would be deleted since the Speech: Grades 8-12 examination was administered for the last time on August 31, 2011.

In 19 TAC §233.4(d), (f), (h), (j), and (p), language would be amended to remove provisions for expiration of those subsections of the rule and, instead, provide a deadline of August 31, 2015, for candidates to complete all requirements for issuance of the last group of Mathematics: Grades 8-12; Science: Grades 8-12; Life Science: Grades 8-12; Physical Science: Grades 8-12; and Chemistry: Grades 8-12 certificates the SBEC will issue and a deadline of October 30, 2015, for candidates and EPPs to submit completed applications to the TEA. In §233.4(l) and (n), language would be amended to remove provisions for expiration of the subsections and, instead, provide a deadline of August 31, 2016, for candidates to complete all requirements for issuance of the last group of Physics/Mathematics: Grades 8-12 and Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering: Grades 8-12 certificates the SBEC will issue and a deadline of October 30, 2016, for candidates and EPPs to submit completed applications to the TEA.

Development of the new technology applications educator standards for the Technology Applications: Grades 7-12 certificate is currently underway, and TEA staff anticipates that the new examination would be available in fall 2016. The current examination would be administered for the last time in summer 2017. As a result, language would be amended in 19 TAC §233.5(a) to remove the provision for expiration of the subsection of the rule and, instead, provide a deadline of August 31, 2018, for candidates to complete all requirements for issuance of the last group of Technology Applications: Grades 8-12 certificates the SBEC will issue and a deadline of October 30, 2018, for candidates and EPPs to submit completed applications to the TEA.

In 19 TAC §233.14(b) and (d), language would be amended to remove provisions for expiration of those subsections of the rule and, instead, provide a deadline of August 31, 2017, for candidates to complete all requirements for issuance of the last group of Marketing Education: Grades 8-12 and Health Science Technology Education: Grades 8-12 certificates the SBEC will issue and a deadline of October 30, 2017, for candidates and EPPs to submit completed applications to the TEA. In §233.14(f), language would be amended to remove the provision for expiration of the subsection and, instead, provide a deadline of August 31, 2016, for candidates to complete all requirements for issuance of the last group of Trade and Industrial Education: Grades 8-12 certificates the SBEC will issue and a deadline of October 30, 2016, for candidates and EPPs to submit completed applications to the TEA.

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 April 23, 2015, which is the 90th day after the date the SBOE first received the proposed rules.

FISCAL IMPACT: The TEA staff has determined that there is no additional fiscal impact on state and local governments and 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 continuation of guidelines for categories of classroom teaching certificates and clarification of the courses that can be taught by the holders of these certificates.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The proposed amendments would have no procedural and reporting implications.

LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed amendments would have no locally maintained paperwork requirements.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

ALTERNATIVES: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Take no action on the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 233, Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates, §233.3, English Language Arts and Reading; Social Studies; §233.4, Mathematics; Science; §233.5, Technology Applications and Computer Science; and §233.14, Career and Technical Education (Certificates requiring experience and preparation in a skill area).

Staff Members Responsible:
Ryan Franklin, Associate Commissioner
Educator Leadership and Quality

Marilyn Cook, Director
Educator Certification

Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations (PDF, 24KB)
II. Text of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 233, Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates, §233.3, English Language Arts and Reading; Social Studies; §233.4, Mathematics; Science; §233.5, Technology Applications and Computer Science; and §233.14, Career and Technical Education (Certificates requiring experience and preparation in a skill area) (PDF, 63KB)