TITLE: Relating to creating a special education certification to teach students with disabilities.

SUMMARY: Relating to creating a special education certification to teach students with disabilities.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to creating a special education certification to teach students with disabilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.04891 to read as follows: Sec. 21.04891. SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION. (a) To ensure that there are teachers with special training in providing instruction to students with disabilities, the board shall establish a special education certificate. (b) To be eligible for a certificate established under this section, a person must: (1) satisfactorily complete the course work for that certificate in an educator preparation program, including a knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction and field-based experience in providing instruction to students with disabilities; (2) perform satisfactorily on a special education certificate examination prescribed by the board; and (3) satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the board. (c) If the board determines that there is a shortage of teachers who hold special education certificates, the board may offer incentives to teachers to become certified under this section. SECTION 2. The State Board for Educator Certification shall propose rules: (1) establishing requirements and prescribing an examination for a special education certificate examination as required by Section 21.04891, Education Code, as added by this Act; and (2) establishing standards to govern the approval and renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for special education certification. SECTION 3. Beginning on or after January 1, 2021, a person must satisfy the requirements for certification under Section 21.04891, Education Code, as added by this Act, to receive a certification in special education. SECTION 4. 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.