TITLE 19.EDUCATION

Part 2. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

Chapter 89. ADAPTATIONS FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS

Subchapter DD. COMMISSIONER'S RULES CONCERNING HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PROGRAMS

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) adopts amendments to §§89.1403, 89.1405, 89.1409, and 89.1417 and the repeal of §89.1421, concerning high school equivalency programs. The sections establish definitions, requirements, and procedures for implementation of an in-school General Educational Development (GED) program. The amendments and repeal implement provisions relating to in-school GED programs, in accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §29.087, as amended by Senate Bill (SB) 1470, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003. The amendments to §89.1403 and §89.1405 and the repeal to §89.1421 are adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 16, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 437) and will not be republished. The amendments to §89.1409 and §89.1417 are adopted with changes to the proposed text as published in the January 16, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 437).

TEC, §29.087, was amended by SB 1470, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003, to specify that any school district or open-enrollment charter school is eligible to apply to the commissioner of education to operate an in-school GED program.

Language added in §89.1403 implements provisions in TEC, §29.087(d), relating to changes in student eligibility requirements.

Language modified in §89.1405 implements requirements in TEC, §29.087(b), which establish the authority for any school district or open-enrollment charter school to operate a program under this section. As a part of the application process, the commissioner shall require a district or charter school to provide information regarding the operations of any similar programs during the preceding five years.

Language modified in §89.1409, in accordance with TEC, §29.087(f), requires a student participating in an approved high school equivalency program to take the assessment instruments specified by TEC, §39.023(a), for Grade 9 and to take each grade level assessment instrument administered during the period in which the student is enrolled in the program. A student participating in the program may not take the high school equivalency examinations unless the student has taken the assessment instrument required by this subsection. Subsequent to filing the proposal, a technical edit was made to subsection (e) to clarify that students are required to test on grade level while in the program.

Language added in §89.1417 implements the provision in TEC, §29.087(b-1), that a school district or open-enrollment charter school authorized by the commissioner on or before August 31, 2003, to operate a program under this section may continue to operate that program. New language also addresses reporting requirements. Subsequent to filing the proposal, a technical edit was made to subsection (e) to clarify that students must meet the assessment requirements specified in §89.1409.

Section 89.1421 is repealed in accordance with the repeal of TEC, §29.087(o).

No comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments and repeal.

19 TAC §§89.1403, 89.1405, 89.1409, 89.1417

The amendments are adopted under the Texas Education Code, §29.087, amended by Senate Bill 1470, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003, which authorizes the commissioner of education to adopt rules to implement the requirement that the agency develop a process by which a school district or open-enrollment charter school may apply to the commissioner for authority to operate a program to prepare eligible students to take a high school equivalency examination.

The amendments implement the Texas Education Code, §29.087.

§89.1409.Assessment.

(a) A student entering a High School Equivalency Program (HSEP) must take:

(1) the Grade 9 assessment required by Texas Education Code, §39.025(a), prior to entering the program;

(2) each grade level assessment instrument administered during the period in which the student is enrolled in the program; and

(3) the assessment instruments required by this subsection before taking the high school equivalency examination.

(b) A student entering an HSEP by order of the court pursuant to the Code of Criminal Proceedings, Article 45.054, or by order of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), is exempt from the assessment requirements specified in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The school district or open-enrollment charter school operating an approved HSEP must present to the General Educational Development (GED) testing center, on a form provided by the agency, proof that a student has been administered the assessment instruments required by TEC, §39.025(a) and §39.023(a). GED testing centers will not allow an HSEP student to take the high school equivalency examination without proof from the approved HSEP that the student has been administered the required assessment instruments. A student who is enrolled in an HSEP as described in this section and withdraws from the HSEP before taking the assessment instruments required by this subsection cannot take the GED until after the individual's 18th birthday.

(d) The school district or open-enrollment charter school operating an approved HSEP must inform each student who has completed the program of the time and place at which the student may take the high school equivalency examination as authorized by TEC, §7.111. A student must be over 17 years of age or meet other requirements specified in TEC, §7.111, to take the high school equivalency examination.

(e) If a student took the Grade 9 or higher grade level assessment instrument required by TEC, §39.025(a), prior to enrollment in the HSEP program, the student has met the enrollment and assessment requirement established by subsection (a)(1) of this section.

§89.1417.Conditions of Program Operation.

(a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school operating a High School Equivalency Program (HSEP) must comply with all assurances in the program application. Approved HSEPs will be required to submit annually one progress report on a form to be provided by the General Educational Development Testing Service (GEDTS) to the agency. The data in the progress reports must be disaggregated by ethnicity, age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Approved HSEPs will submit data as stated in the assurances section of the program application.

(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school authorized by the commissioner on or before August 31, 2003, to operate a program in accordance with this subchapter may continue to operate that program in accordance with this section.

(c) Enrollment in an HSEP may not exceed by more than 5% the total number of students enrolled in a similar program operated by the district or charter school during the 2000 - 2001 school year.

(d) A student enrolled in an HSEP must be offered a seven-hour school day and a 180-day instructional year calendar.

(e) Beginning with the 2003 - 2004 school year, a student may be enrolled in an HSEP that was authorized by the commissioner on or before August 31, 2003; however, the student can not take any portion of the GED test after September 1, 2003, without meeting the assessment requirements specified in §89.1409 of this title (relating to Assessment).

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 April 12, 2004.

TRD-200402429

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Effective date: May 2, 2004

Proposal publication date: January 16, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497


19 TAC §89.1421

The repeal is adopted under the Texas Education Code, §29.087, amended by Senate Bill 1470, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003, which authorizes the commissioner of education to adopt rules to implement the requirement that the agency develop a process by which a school district or open-enrollment charter school may apply to the commissioner for authority to operate a program to prepare eligible students to take a high school equivalency examination.

The repeal implements the Texas Education Code, §29.087.

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 April 12, 2004.

TRD-200402430

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Effective date: May 2, 2004

Proposal publication date: January 16, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497


Chapter 102. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Subchapter CC. COMMISSIONER'S RULES CONCERNING COORDINATED HEALTH PROGRAMS

19 TAC §102.1031

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) adopts new §102.1031, concerning coordinated health programs for elementary school students, without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 30, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 752) and will not be republished. The new section establishes criteria for evaluating school health programs in accordance with the Texas Education Code, §38.013, as amended by Senate Bill (SB) 1357, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003.

SB 19, 77th Texas Legislature, 2001, requires school districts to implement coordinated school health programs by 2007. In 2002, the TEA organized a committee to develop criteria for evaluating programs that were submitted for approval. Two programs were approved for use in complying with SB 19.

SB 1357, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003, amended TEC, §38.013, to require the commissioner of education to include, in rule, the criteria for evaluating school health programs. In August 2003, a new committee was formed to review the criteria used in the 2002 evaluation and recommend modifications if needed. The revised criteria will be used to evaluate new programs that are submitted for use in the schools. In accordance with SB 1357, the criteria have been developed in consultation with the Texas Department of Health's School Health Advisory Committee.

Adopted new 19 TAC §102.1031 requires that the Texas Education Agency make available to each school one or more coordinated health programs; establishes the criteria for evaluating school health programs; and addresses health programs developed by schools, submission of programs for evaluation, and availability of programs.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the new section.

The new section is adopted under the Texas Education Code, §38.013, as amended by SB 1357, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003, which authorizes the commissioner to by rule adopt criteria for evaluating a coordinated health program

The new section implements the Texas Education Code, §38.013 and §38.014.

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 April 12, 2004.

TRD-200402431

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Effective date: May 2, 2004

Proposal publication date: January 30, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497


Part 7. STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION

Chapter 230. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR PREPARATION AND CERTIFICATION

Subchapter M. CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATORS IN GENERAL

19 TAC §230.413

The State Board for Educator Certification adopts an amendment to 19 TAC §230.413, relating to the general requirements for certificates issued by the State Board for Educator Certification. The proposed amendment is being adopted without change. Section 230.413 was published on February 27, 2004 (28 TexReg 1803) in the Texas Register .

The adopted amendment to §230.413 will provide that qualification for a new credential, the temporary teacher certificate, satisfies one element of the general requirements for certification as a Texas educator.

The State Board for Educator Certification received no public comments regarding the proposed amendments.

The proposed amendment to §230.413 is adopted under the statutory authority of the following Education Code sections: Section 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; and Section 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; and Section 21.041(b)(2), which requires SBEC to specify the classes of certificates to be issued.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by the proposed amendments.

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 April 5, 2004.

TRD-200402329

Ron Kettler

Interim Executive Director

State Board for Educator Certification

Effective date: April 25, 2004

Proposal publication date: February 27, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 238-3200


Subchapter N. CERTIFICATE ISSUANCE PROCEDURES

19 TAC §230.436

The State Board for Educator Certification adopts amendments to 19 TAC §230.436, relating to the schedule of fees for certification services provided by the State Board for Educator Certification. The amendments to §230.436 are being adopted without change. The proposed amendments were published in the February 27, 2004 issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 1805).

The adopted amendment to §230.436 will establish a fee of $50 for a temporary certificate based on a recommendation by an approved teacher preparation entity or a Texas public school district. The adopted amendment will also establish a $175 fee for the review of credentials requiring the analysis and research of college and university transcripts and degrees for the issuance of a new credential, the temporary teacher certificate.

The State Board for Educator Certification received no comments regarding the proposed rule.

The amendment to §230.436 is adopted under the statutory authority of Section 21.041(c), Education Code, which provides that SBEC shall propose rules adopting a fee for the issuance and maintenance of an educator certificate, including an emergency permit, that is adequate to cover the costs of administration of Chapter 21, Subchapter B, in a manner consistent with that subchapter.

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 April 5, 2004.

TRD-200402328

Ron Kettler

Interim Executive Director

State Board for Educator Certification

Effective date: April 25, 2004

Proposal publication date: February 27, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 238-3200


Chapter 232. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO ALL CERTIFICATES ISSUED

Subchapter A. TYPES AND CLASSES OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED

19 TAC §232.1, §232.5

The State Board for Educator Certification adopts amendments to 19 TAC §232.1, relating to the types of certificates issued by the State Board for Educator Certification. The State Board for Educator Certification adopts the following new section to Chapter 232: §232.5, relating to the creation of a temporary teacher certificate for grades 8 through 12. The proposed amendment and new rule are being adopted without change. Sections 232.1 and 232.5 were published on February 27, 2004 (29 TexReg 1809) in the Texas Register .

The adopted amendments to §232.1 will clarify the effective periods for certificates issued by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

The adoption of §232.5 creates a new certificate to be issued by SBEC: the temporary teacher certificate. Specifically, the proposed new §232.5 creates an alternate route to certification for individuals meeting the following three (3) criteria:

(1.) The individual must possess a baccalaureate degree or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education with an academic major or interdisciplinary academic major, including reading, other than education, that is related to at least one area of the curriculum prescribed by Subchapter A, Chapter 28 of the Texas Education Code;

(2.) performs satisfactorily on the appropriate certification examinations prescribed under §21.048 of the Texas Education Code; and

(3.) passes a criminal history background check.

Adopted new §232.5 provides that an individual seeking to obtain a temporary teacher certificate shall pay a fee equal to that required of applicants for a probationary certificate issued by SBEC.

The holder of the temporary teacher certificate adopted in §232.5 may teach only grades 8-12 in a subject area of the curriculum in which the individual possesses an academic major. The temporary teacher certificate is valid for a term not to exceed two (2) academic years.

As adopted, §232.5 states that individuals possessing the temporary teacher credential may only be employed by a Texas public school district under a probationary contract, and employing school districts must provide holders of this credential with intensive support, mentoring and pre-service training during the individual's employment with the district, with guidelines for the support to be promulgated by SBEC's Executive Director.

Upon completion of two years of employment under the temporary teacher certificate, the holder of this credential may apply for a standard certificate issued by SBEC. In order to obtain the standard teaching certificate, the individual must meet the following requirements:

(1.) The individual held a temporary teacher certificate;

(2.) The individual was continuously employed as a teacher of record in a public school district for two academic years; and

(3.) The employing district must favorably review the person's performance and must base the review of the person's performance on the increase in achievement of those students which the person has had charge.

(4.) The employing school district is required to recommend the individual and provide evidence of intensive support to that person; however, the proposed rule §232.5 stipulates that the employing school district may require the holder of a temporary teacher certificate to complete a teacher training program.

The State Board for Educator Certification received no public comments regarding the proposed amendments to §232.1 or §232.5.

The adopted amendments to §232.1 and new §232.5 are being adopted under the statutory authority of the following Education Code sections: Section 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; and Section 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; and Section 21.041(b)(2), which requires SBEC to specify the classes of certificates to be issued.

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 April 5, 2004.

TRD-200402330

Ron Kettler

Interim Executive Director

State Board for Educator Certification

Effective date: April 25, 2004

Proposal publication date: February 27, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 238-3200