19 TAC §§239.100 - 239.103
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) proposes
new Subchapter E, related to the master teacher certificates, of 19 TAC Chapter
239, related to student services certificates. The following new sections
are proposed: §239.100, related to general provisions for master teacher
certificates; §239.101, related to master reading teacher certification; §239.102,
related to master mathematics teacher certification; and §239.103, related
to master technology teacher certification.
Although the statutes establishing master teacher certification for reading,
mathematics, and technology are detailed, the legislation requires SBEC to
propose rules regarding the certificates. SBEC has taken this opportunity
to clarify certain issues related to the statutory provisions through the
proposed rules.
The standards for each master teacher certificate reflect the statutory
requirements for the knowledge and skills for which the master teacher will
be responsible in each respective field. For each certificate, SBEC convened
a committee composed of content and instruction experts representing Texas
public schools, educator preparation programs, Texas citizens, and governmental
policymakers that met several times to formulate the draft standards. (A single
committee addressed all three levels of Master Mathematics certification.)
At each meeting, the respective committees refined the standards further,
providing additional detail and specificity. The standards were posted on
the SBEC web site for 30 days to expand opportunities for public review and
comment, and copies were distributed to the SBOE and commissioner of education.
Additional reviews of the standards were elicited from state and national
experts to further broaden the scope and perspective of comments received.
Master Reading Teacher: HB 2307, 76th Texas Legislature, 1999, required
the creation of the Master Reading Teacher (MRT) Certificate and the development
of certificate standards and examination. SBEC approved MRT standards at its
January 2000 board meeting. As of November 8, 2002, SBEC had approved 53 programs
to prepare master reading teachers. The MRT certification examination was
first administered in February 2001. As of December 2, 2002, SBEC had issued
1,274 MRT certificates.
Master Mathematics Teacher: HB 1144, 77th Texas Legislature, required the
creation of three levels of Master Mathematics Teacher (MMT) certification
at Grades EC-4, 4-8, and 8-12 and the development of related standards and
examinations for each of the three levels of certification. SBEC approved
MMT standards at its January 2002 board meeting. As of November 8, 2002, SBEC
had approved two entities offering four programs to prepare master mathematics
teachers. The examinations for the three levels of MMT certification will
be administered for the first time in June 2003.
Master Technology Teacher: HB 1475, 77th Texas Legislature, required the
creation of the Master Technology Teacher (MTT) Certificate and the development
of related certificate standards and examination. SBEC approved MTT standards
at its January 2002 board meeting. As of November 8, 2002, SBEC had approved
three programs to prepare master technology teachers. The examination for
MTT certification is scheduled to be given for the first time during the summer
of 2003 but may be delayed pending approval of adequate sites to administer
the exam on-line.
Proposed new 19 TAC §239.100 would clarify the statutory provisions
as follows:
1. all proposals for master teacher programs must be approved by the SBEC;
2. the curriculum must be based on the standards for the respective master
teacher certificate;
3. any course of instruction required for certification must be completed
through an SBEC-approved preparation program;
4. for candidates who do not already hold qualified certification that
exempts them from the requirement, a field-based practicum must be completed
through an SBEC-approved program; and
5. the master teacher candidate must satisfy other requirements generally
applicable to any certificate issued by SBEC, such as paying a certification
fee and clearing a criminal history check.
Current SBEC rule 19 TAC §232.851(f) already requires a holder of
a master teacher certificate to complete 200 clock hours of continuing professional
education every five years.
Steve Wright, Chief Financial Officer, State Board for Educator Certification,
has determined that, for the first five-year period the rules are in effect,
enforcing or administering the proposed rule would not have foreseeable implications
relating to cost or revenues of state or local governments.
Dan Junell, General Counsel, State Board for Educator Certification, has
determined that, for each year of the first five years the rules are in effect,
the public benefits expected as a result of adoption of the proposed rules
will be to provide qualified master teachers who will enhance instruction
in reading, mathematics, and technology in Texas public schools.
In accordance with Section 2001.022, Government Code, SBEC has determined
that the adopted rule will not impact local economies and, therefore, has
not filed a request for a local employment impact statement with the Texas
Workforce Commission.
Implementation of the proposed rules will not affect small or micro businesses.
If adopted, the proposed rule would be a governmental action regulating
issuance of an educator certificate, a statutory privilege, issued by SBEC
under Chapter 21, Subchapter B, Education Code, and therefore would not affect
private real property under the Private Real Property Preservation Act (Chapter
2007, Government Code).
Comments regarding the proposed amendments may be submitted to Dan Junell,
General Counsel, State Board for Educator Certification, 4616 West Howard
Lane, Suite 120, Austin, Texas 78728, by facsimile transmission at (512) 238-3201,
or by e-mail at "dan.junell@sbec.state.tx.us."
The rules are proposed under the statutory authority of the following
sections of the Education Code: §21.031(a), which vests SBEC with the
authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of the certification, continuing
education, and standards of conduct of public school educators; §21.041(b)(1),
Education Code, which requires SBEC to propose rules that provide for the
regulation of educators and the general administration of Chapter 21, Subchapter
B, in a manner consistent with that subchapter; §21.041(b)(2), which
requires SBEC to specify the classes of certificates to be issued; §21.041(b)(3),
which requires SBEC to specify the period for which each class of educator
certificate is valid; §21.041(b)(4), which requires SBEC to specify the
requirements for the issuance and renewal of an educator certificate; §21.041(b)(9),
which requires SBEC provide for continuing education requirements; §21.042,
which requires SBEC to submit proposed rules to the State Board of Education
for review prior to adoption; §21.048, which requires SBEC to propose
rules prescribing comprehensive examinations for each class of certificate
issued by SBEC; §21.0481, which requires SBEC to establish a master reading
teacher certificate; §21.0482, as added by HB 1144, 77th Texas Legislature,
2001, which requires SBEC to establish a master mathematics teacher certificate; §21.0482,
as added by HB 1475, 77th Texas Legislature, 2001, which requires SBEC to
establish a master technology teacher certificate.
No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by the proposed amendments.
§239.100.General Provisions for Master Teacher Certificates.
(a)
An entity must obtain approval from the State Board for
Educator Certification (board) under Section 228.10 of this title (relating
to Approval Process) according to board guidelines before it may offer a program
to prepare candidates to be certified master teachers.
(b)
Standards approved by board shall be the basis for a program
that prepares individuals to be certified as master teachers. An entity operating
a program shall periodically measure the individual's progress and needed
improvement using benchmarks and structured assessments based on the appropriate
master teacher certificate standards.
(c)
A field-based practicum required by this subchapter shall
be structured to provide the individual relevant experiences in a variety
of educational settings with diverse student populations. The practicum experience
shall require the individual to demonstrate proficiency in each of the applicable
standards.
(d)
To take a course through an approved master teacher preparation
program an individual must meet the following requirements:
(1)
hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
of higher education; and
(2)
satisfy other requirements established by the program to
appropriately determine the individual's qualifications for the master teacher
certificate sought.
§239.101.Master Reading Teacher Certification.
(a)
To ensure that there are teachers with special training
to work with other teachers and with students in order to improve student
reading performance, the board shall establish a master reading teacher certificate.
(b)
The board shall issue a master reading teacher certificate
to each eligible person.
(c)
To be eligible for a master reading teacher certificate,
a person must:
(1)
hold a reading specialist certificate issued under this
title and satisfactorily complete a course of instruction as prescribed under
paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection through a preparation program approved
by the board and satisfy any other requirement generally applicable to a certificate
issued under this title; or
(2)
hold a teaching certificate issued under this title and:
(A)
have at least three years of teaching experience;
(B)
satisfactorily complete a knowledge-based and skills-based
course of instruction through a preparation program approved by the board
on the science of teaching children to read that includes training in:
(i)
effective reading instruction techniques, including effective
techniques for students whose primary language is a language other than English;
(ii)
identification of dyslexia and related reading disorders
and effective reading instruction techniques for students with those disorders;
and
(iii)
effective professional peer mentoring techniques;
(C)
satisfactorily complete a field-based practicum prescribed
by preparation program approved by the board;
(D)
perform satisfactorily on the master reading teacher certification
examination prescribed by the board; and
(E)
satisfy any other requirement generally applicable to a
certificate issued under this title.
§239.102.Master Mathematics Teacher Certification.
(a)
To ensure that there are teachers with special training
to work with other teachers and with students in order to improve student
mathematics performance, the board shall establish:
(1)
a master mathematics teacher certificate to teach mathematics
in early childhood programs through grade four;
(2)
a master mathematics teacher certificate to teach mathematics
in grades four through eight; and
(3)
a master mathematics teacher certificate to teach mathematics
in grades eight through twelve.
(b)
The board shall issue the appropriate master mathematics
teacher certificate to each eligible person.
(c)
To be eligible for a master mathematics teacher certificate,
a person must:
(1)
hold a teaching certificate issued under this title;
(2)
have at least three years of teaching experience;
(3)
satisfactorily complete a knowledge-based course of instruction
through a preparation program approved by the board on the science of teaching
children mathematics that includes training in mathematics instruction and
professional peer mentoring techniques that, through scientific testing, have
been proven effective;
(4)
satisfactorily complete a field-based practicum prescribed
by a preparation program approved by the board;
(5)
perform satisfactorily on the appropriate master mathematics
teacher certification examination prescribed by the board; and
(6)
satisfy any other requirement generally applicable to certificates
issued under this title.
(d)
The course of instruction prescribed under subsection (c)(3)
of this section shall be developed by the board in consultation with mathematics
and science faculty members at institutions of higher education.
§239.103.Master Technology Teacher Certification.
(a)
To ensure that there are teachers with special training
to work with other teachers and with students in order to increase the use
of technology in each classroom, the board shall establish a master technology
teacher certificate.
(b)
The board shall issue a master technology teacher certificate
to each eligible person.
(c)
To be eligible for a master technology teacher certificate,
a person must:
(1)
hold a technology applications or technology education
certificate issued under this title and:
(A)
satisfactorily complete the course of instruction as prescribed
under paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection through a preparation program approved
by the board;
(B)
satisfactorily perform on the examination prescribed under
paragraph (2)(D) of this subsection;
(C)
satisfactorily complete a field-based practicum prescribed
by a preparation program approved by the board; and
(D)
satisfy any other requirement generally applicable to certificates
issued under this title; or
(2)
hold a teaching certificate issued under this title and:
(A)
have at least three years of teaching experience;
(B)
satisfactorily complete a knowledge-based and skills-based
course of instruction on interdisciplinary technology applications and the
science of teaching technology through a preparation program approved by the
board that includes training in:
(i)
effective technology instruction techniques, including
applications designed to meet the educational needs of students with disabilities;
(ii)
classroom teaching methodology that engages student learning
through the integration of technology;
(iii)
digital learning competencies, including Internet research,
graphics, animation, website mastering, and video technologies;
(iv)
curriculum models designed to prepare teachers to facilitate
an active student learning environment; and
(v)
effective professional peer mentoring techniques;
(C)
satisfactorily complete a field-based practicum prescribed
by a preparation program approved by the board;
(D)
satisfactorily perform on an examination developed in cooperation
with the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board and administered at
the conclusion of the course of instruction prescribed under subparagraph
(B) of this paragraph; and
(E)
satisfy any other requirement generally applicable to certificates
issued under this title.
(d)
The board may provide technology applications training
courses under subsection (c)(2)(B) of this section and a field-based practicum
under subsection (c)(2)(C) of this section in cooperation with:
(1)
regional education service centers; and
(2)
other public or private entities, including any state council
on technology.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been
reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority
to adopt.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on February 24, 2003.
TRD-200301394
William Franz
Executive Director
State Board for Educator Certification
Earliest possible date of adoption: April 6, 2003
For further information, please call: (512) 238-3211