TITLE: Relating to the issuance of school district teaching permits to persons who teach career and technical education.

SUMMARY: Relating to the issuance of school district teaching permits to persons who teach career and technical education.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the issuance of school district teaching permits to persons who teach career and technical education. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 21.055, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: (b) To be eligible for a school district teaching permit under this section, a person must hold a baccalaureate degree. [This subsection does not apply to a person who will teach only career and technology education.] (d-1) Subsections (b), (c), and (d) do not apply to a person who will teach only noncore academic career and technical education courses. A school district board of trustees may issue a school district teaching permit to a person who will teach courses only in career and technical education based on qualifications certified by the superintendent of the school district. Qualifications must include demonstrated subject matter expertise such as professional work experience, formal training and education, holding an active professional relevant industry license, certification, or registration, or any combination of work experience, training and education, or industry license, certification, or registration, in the subject matter to be taught. The superintendent of the school district shall certify to the board of trustees that a new employee has undergone a criminal background check and is capable of proper classroom management. A school district shall require a new employee to obtain at least 20 hours of classroom management training and to comply with continuing education requirements as determined by the board of trustees. A person may teach a career and technical education course immediately upon issuance of a permit under this subsection. Promptly after employing a person who qualifies under this subsection, the board of trustees shall send to the commissioner a written statement identifying the person, the course the person will teach, and the person's qualifications to teach the course. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. SECTION 3. 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.