TITLE 19.EDUCATION

Part 7. STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION

Chapter 241. PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATE

19 TAC §241.25, §241.30

The State Board for Educator Certification adopts the amendments to the following section of 19 TAC Chapter 241: §241.25 and §241.30, relating to Principal Certificate.

The proposed amendments to §241.25 and §241.30 were published in the December 3, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 11244).

The adopted amendments add new §241.25(4) which specifically states that a principal certificate candidate must complete a principal preparation program. In addition they would amend §241.30(b) and §241.30(e)(1) to clarify language regarding the holder of a Standard Principal Certificate or Standard Mid-Management certificate who is employed as a principal or assistant principal. The individual must select an approved assessment during the first year of employment and in the fist year of each five-year period of employment. This will separate the assessment from the renewal requirement.

The State Board for Educator Certification received one public comment, from Regional Education Service Center VI, suggesting the proposed amendment to §241.30(b) be made more flexible by adding the phrase, "prior to employment or" before the phrase, "the first year of employment." The board accepts the comment and hereby adopts §241.30 with change and §241.25 is adopted without change.

The amendments to §241.25 and §241.30 are 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.

§241.30.Requirements to Renew the Standard Principal Certificate.

(a) Each individual who holds the Standard Principal or Mid-Management Certificate, issued on or after September 1, 1999, is subject to Chapter 232, Subchapter R of this title (relating to Certificate Renewal and Continuing Professional Education Requirements), except that 200 hours of continuing professional education must be completed every five years.

(b) Individuals holding the Standard Principal Certificate or Standard Mid-Management and who are employed as a principal or assistant principal must select an assessment from the list approved under §241.35 of this title and should participate in the assessment the first year of employment as a principal or assistant principal. Follow-up assessments should be completed in the first year of each five-year period of employment. The individual is solely responsible for selecting the assessment used to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.

(c) Based on the results of the assessment required under subsection (b) of this section, each individual shall develop a professional growth plan which is directly related to the standards identified in §241.15 of this title (relating to Standards for the Principal Certificate), and must allow for the prioritization of professional growth needs.

(d) Consistent with TEC §21.054(b), the results of the individual assessment and the professional growth plan shall be used exclusively for professional growth purposes, and may only be released with the approval of the individual assessed.

(e) An individual who holds a valid Texas professional administrator certificate issued prior to September 1, 1999, and who is employed as a principal or assistant principal or fulfills the functions of a principal or assistant principal:

(1) must complete an assessment approved under §241.35 of this title (relating to Assessment Process Definition and Approval of Individual Assessments) and develop a professional growth plan as described in subsection (c) no later than August 31, 2004 and once in each subsequent five year period of employment as a principal or assistant principal; and

(2) may voluntarily comply with the requirements of subsection (a) under procedures adopted by the executive director under Subchapter R, §232.810 of this title (relating to Voluntary Renewal of Current Texas Educators). The executive director shall report to the employing school district those individuals who choose to renew under this subsection.

(f) An individual who holds a valid Texas professional administrator certificate issued prior to September 1, 1999, and who is not employed as an assistant principal or principal may voluntarily comply with the requirements of this section under procedures adopted by the executive director under Subchapter R, §232.810 of this title.

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 June 1, 2005.

TRD-200502207

Herman L. Smith, Ph.D.

Executive Director

State Board for Educator Certification

Effective date: June 21, 2005

Proposal publication date: December 3, 2004

For further information, please call: (512) 936-8304