Legislative Report on State Teacher Certification

1. Legislative Report on State Teacher Certification Council on Military Education in Texas and the South Dr. Millie Klein mklein0531@aol.com

2. State Board of Education • SBOE • State Board for Educator Certification • SBEC (4 legislative sessions ago)

3. Types of Teaching Certificates • Standard (Sept. 1, 1999) • Provisional (no longer issued) • Professional (no longer issued) • One-year • Probationary • Temporary • Emergency • School District Teaching Certificate

4. Routes to Educator Certification in Texas • University-based Programs • Delivered as part of a baccalaureate program • No state requirements on # of hours • Requires student teaching • Student must be recommended by the University • Student must pass both portions of state exam

5. Alternative Programs for Educator Preparation • Offered by universities, school districts and service centers • May include university courses • Require internship and mentoring by an experienced educator trained in mentoring • Must pass appropriate tests • Must pass criminal check

6. Additional Certification Based on Examination • Certified teacher may add additional certification by exam • Career and technology certification may be added based on skill and work experience

7. Certification Based on Credentials from Another State • May receive a one-year certificate based on SBEC review • Must pass appropriate exams during the validity of the certificate • Receives a standard certificate

8. Certification Based on Credentials from Another Country • SBEC evaluation (might need a deficiency plan) • Must be language proficient • Must pass appropriate exams

9. Teaching Without Certification • Emergency certificate • Requires university deficiency plan • Requires course work • Does not require student teaching • Student is employed while taking course work • Student must pass appropriate exams • Student receives a standard certificate • Must be initiated by a district

10. Proposed Certification Route(Temporary Certification HB 318) • Recommended by SBEC • Approved by the State Board of Education • Final review by the State Board of Educator Certification • Grades 8 – 12 (only) • Review April 2, 2004

11. Requirements • Baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution • An academic major or interdisciplinary academic major (other than education) • Major must be related to at least one area of the state curriculum • Pass required state exams • Pass a criminal history background check by submitting fingerprints for review

12. Employed under a probationary contract (for two years) • District(s) must provide SBEC evidence of the following training • Research-based mentoring

13. District pre-service (and on-going) training that includes • School policies and relevant state and federal law • Instructional methods and strategies • Curriculum organization, planning, and evaluation, including the TEKS (in appropriate subject area) • Classroom management

14. Sample concerns: • Encourages placement of untrained individuals in the classroom • Removes certification from the state level • Promotes high attrition • Creates substandard certification • Transfers training requirements to cash-strapped districts

15. Reaches beyond the scope of SBEC • Requires an unrealistic appraisal process • Allows temporary certificate holders to be assigned outside their areas of expertise • Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) • These issues are currently being addressed by SBEC rules

16. Texas Issues Related to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) • Highly Qualified Teachers • In the following areas: • English/Language Arts/Reading • Fine Arts • Math • Sciences • Social Studies • Foreign Languages • Consequence • Loss of all Title I monies

17. Federal definition of “Highly Qualified” • Bachelor’s degree • Full state certification • Demonstrated competence in the core academic subject area assigned (HOUSSE)

18. New elementary teachers • Hired after first day of instruction 02-03 must have: • Bachelor’s Degree, and • Certification in the area, and • Passed ExCET or TExES

19. Experienced elementary teachers, PK-6 • Bachelor’s Degree, and • Certified in the area, and • Passed ExCET or TExES, or • Meet High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE)

20. HOUSSE for elementary teachers • Option A—at least 1 creditable year of experience and a total of 24 points • 1 point for each year of teaching (12 pts. Max) • 1 point for each hour of college coursework in ELA, Mathematics, Science or Social Studies • 1 point for every 15 hrs. of professional development • Each subject must be represented in the 24 points

21. Elementary teachers (con’t.) • Option B—at least 1 creditable year of experience and a college major (24 hours with 12 being upper division) or the equivalent in the subject to be taught

22. Secondary teachers, grades 7 - 12 • All secondary teachers must have: • Bachelor’s degree • Certification in any area • And in the specific area assigned • Passed ExCET or TExES, or • Academic Major, or • Graduate Degree, or • Meet HOUSSE

23. HOUSSE for secondary teachers • At least 1 creditable year of experience and a total of 24 points • 1 point for each year of teaching (12 points maximum) • 1 point for each hour of college coursework in the subject to be taught or closely related field • 1 point for every 15 hours of professional development in the subject or closely related field • 6 points must represent the subject taught

24. Implications for school districts • HR departments must place a summary of the teacher option used to make each teacher highly qualified in the teacher’s permanent record

25. Missouri Site: • www.dese.state.mo.us • Louisiana Site: • www.doe.state.la.us • Texas • www.sbec.tx.us • NCLB • www.NoChildLeftBehind.gov