Bill Caption

Relating to the preparation, certification, and classification of public school educators.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB 1839, Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($595,888) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019, assuming that the Legislature makes an appropriation for the implementation of the program. The agency is not required to implement the program in the absence of an appropriation.

Bill Analysis

The bill would require TEA to collect and provide data relating to improving the design and effectiveness of educator preparation programs (EPPs). The bill provides the commissioner with the authority to exempt individuals certified in other states working to gain a Texas educator certification from certain examination requirements.

The bill creates an early childhood certification "to ensure that there are teachers with special training in early childhood education focusing on prekindergarten through grade three." The certification would be voluntary and would not be required to teach those grade levels.

The bill would also repeal references to highly qualified teachers under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Vote Recommendation Notes

We support provisions of this bill to make it easier for out of state teachers to become certified in Texas. We are skeptical of the provision to create an early childhood education certification because it seems likely that while it would be voluntary to start out with it would later become a requirement which would increase the occupational licensure burden for affected teachers. For these reasons we remain neutral on SB 1839.