19 TAC §230.5
The State Board for Educator Certification adopts an amendment
to §230.5, relating to educator assessment, without changes to the proposed
text as published in the June 1, 2001, issue of the
Texas Register
(26 TexReg 3901) and will not be republished.
The amendment is designed to eliminate unnecessary barriers to candidates
seeking the standard educator. Under §230.5(c), educator preparation
programs currently determine the readiness of their candidates to take the
tests required for certification. Candidates are prohibited from taking certification
tests until the entity authorizes them to. However, many candidates who have
completed their program are being denied opportunities to take the tests even
after they have satisfied all other conditions for certification, such as
completing their coursework, student teaching/internship, and degree requirements.
The amendment is designed to provide the candidate with the right to take
the appropriate certification tests when deemed ready by the individual's
program or upon successful completion of the individual's program requirements,
whichever comes first. "Successful completion" means the candidate has completed
all of the program's requirements for certification except for taking the
necessary certification tests. However, many candidates do take all of their
tests prior to completing program requirements, and these individuals would
not be affected by this amended rule.
The effective date of the amendment is August 29, 2001, and so would apply
to the 2001-2002 school year.
No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendment.
The amendment is adopted under the authority of Education Code §21.048(a),
which requires the Board to propose rules prescribing comprehensive examinations
for each class of certificate. The amendment is also adopted under Education
Code §21.045(a)(1), which requires the Board to propose rules governing
the continuing accountability of all educator preparation programs based,
in part, on the results of the certification examinations prescribed under §21.048(a).
The Board also adopts the amended rule under Education Code §21.031,
which authorizes the Board to regulate and to oversee all aspects of the certification
of public school educators and to ensure that all candidates for certification
demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to improve student performance.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on August 9, 2001.
TRD-200104561
Pamela B. Tackett
Executive Director
State Board for Educator Certification
Effective date: August 29, 2001
Proposal publication date: June 1, 2001
For further information, please call: (512) 469-3011