TITLE: Relating to the establishment by regional education service centers of committees to evaluate teacher shortages.

SUMMARY: Relating to the establishment by regional education service centers of committees to evaluate teacher shortages.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the establishment by regional education service centers of committees to evaluate teacher shortages. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 8, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 8.063 to read as follows: Sec. 8.063. REGIONAL TEACHER SHORTAGES EVALUATION COMMITTEE. (a) The executive director of each regional education service center shall establish a committee to: (1) evaluate teacher shortages in the committee's region; and (2) determine the need for the center, independently or in collaboration with public schools in the committee's region, to offer an educator preparation program to facilitate the recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers. (b) If an educator preparation program has already been established in a region served by a regional education service center, the committee established for that region shall evaluate the effectiveness of the educator preparation program and make recommendations for improving the program. (c) The committee is composed of nine members appointed by the executive director of each regional education service center as follows: (1) three members who are superintendents employed by a school district served by the center; (2) three members who are teachers employed by a public school served by the center; and (3) three members who are parents of students enrolled in a public school served by the center. (d) Not later than November 1, 2024, each committee established under Subsection (a) shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the commissioner, the Senate Education Committee, and the House Public Education Committee a report that includes the committee's findings under this section. (e) This section expires November 1, 2025. SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, each executive director of a regional education service center shall appoint the members of the center's regional teacher shortage evaluation committee, as required by Section 8.063, Education Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.