TITLE: Relating to staff development and continuing education requirements for public school educators regarding digital education methods.

SUMMARY: Relating to staff development and continuing education requirements for public school educators regarding digital education methods.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to staff development and continuing education requirements for public school educators regarding digital education methods. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c-2) to read as follows: (c-2) Any minimum academic qualifications for a certificate specified under Subsection (a) that require a person to possess a bachelor's degree must also require that the person receive, as part of the training required to obtain that certificate, instruction in digital learning, including a digital literacy evaluation followed by a prescribed digital learning curriculum. The instruction required must: (1) be aligned with the International Society for Technology in Education's standards for teachers; (2) provide effective, evidence-based strategies to determine a person's degree of digital literacy; and (3) include resources to address any deficiencies identified by the digital literacy evaluation. SECTION 2. Section 21.054, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: (d) Continuing education requirements for a classroom teacher must provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding: (1) collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom; (2) recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school; (3) digital learning, digital teaching, and integrating technology into classroom instruction; and (4) educating diverse student populations, including: (A) students with disabilities, including mental health disorders; (B) students who are educationally disadvantaged; (C) students of limited English proficiency; and (D) students at risk of dropping out of school. (e) Continuing education requirements for a principal must provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding: (1) effective and efficient management, including: (A) collecting and analyzing information; (B) making decisions and managing time; and (C) supervising student discipline and managing behavior; (2) recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school; (3) digital learning, digital teaching, and integrating technology into campus curriculum and instruction; and (4) educating diverse student populations, including: (A) students with disabilities, including mental health disorders; (B) students who are educationally disadvantaged; (C) students of limited English proficiency; and (D) students at risk of dropping out of school. SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.0543 to read as follows: Sec. 21.0543. CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT FOR INSTRUCTION RELATED TO DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. (a) The board shall propose rules allowing an educator to receive credit toward the educator's continuing education requirements for completion of education courses that: (1) use technology to increase the educator's digital literacy; and (2) assist the educator in the use of digital technology in learning activities that improve teaching, assessment, and instructional practices. SECTION 4. Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as follows: (b-1) The staff development described by Subsection (d)(1)(E) must: (1) discuss basic technology proficiency expectations and methods to increase an educator's digital literacy; and (2) assist an educator in the use of digital technology in learning activities that improve teaching, assessment, and instructional practices. (d) The staff development: (1) may include training in: (A) technology; (B) conflict resolution; (C) discipline strategies, including classroom management, district discipline policies, and the student code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; [and] (D) preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying; and (E) digital learning; (2) subject to Subsection (e) and to Section 21.3541 and rules adopted under that section, must include training that is evidence-based [based on scientifically based research],as defined by Section 8101, Every Student Succeeds Act [9101, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001] (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), that: (A) relates to instruction of students with disabilities; and (B) is designed for educators who work primarily outside the area of special education; and (3) must include suicide prevention training that must be provided: (A) on an annual basis, as part of a new employee orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter school educators; and (B) to existing school district and open-enrollment charter school educators on a schedule adopted by the agency by rule. SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.