TITLE 19.EDUCATION

Part 7. STATE BOARD FOR EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION

Chapter 230. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR PREPARATION AND CERTIFICATION

Subchapter J. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATORS OTHER THAN CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL AIDES

19 TAC §230.305

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) adopts an amendment to §230.305, relating to certification requirements for educators other than classroom teachers and educational aides. The amendment is adopted without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 24, 2006, issue of the Texas Register (31 TexReg 9566) and will not be republished. The section addresses the issuance of temporary certificates. The adopted amendment establishes a deadline of March 31, 2007, for issuing the temporary certificate for assistant principal, principal, and superintendent positions.

19 TAC §230.305, Temporary Certificate, provides for a five-year temporary certificate for school administrators in the positions of assistant principal, principal, and superintendent, while completing the certification requirements. Section 232.4, Probationary Certificates, adopted effective October 2003, provides for a probationary certificate for a person enrolled in an educator preparation program. The holder of a probationary principal or superintendent certificate would be enrolled in an educator preparation program and employed by an accredited Texas public or private school in a position appropriate for the certificate sought. The probationary certification process, which also includes mentoring support and internship, replaces the temporary certification process. The majority of administrators in Texas currently use the probationary and standard certificates. Although there is no specific probationary certificate for an assistant principal, the holder of a probationary principal certificate may be assigned as an assistant principal.

In May 2004, the SBEC approved an amendment to establish a deadline of May 31, 2005, to apply for the temporary certificate; however, the rule amendment was not subsequently filed as adopted as required and, therefore, automatically withdrawn by the Texas Register . In July 2005, the SBEC restarted the process for amending 19 TAC §230.305 by approving an amendment to establish a deadline of December 31, 2005, to apply for a temporary certificate; however, the rule was not subsequently filed with the Texas Register as required. Both efforts to amend 19 TAC §230.305 were reviewed by the State Board of Education and no action was taken.

The adopted amendment to 19 TAC §230.305 establishes a March 31, 2007, deadline in new subsection (d) for issuing a temporary certificate for the administrator positions of assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. Requirements for the temporary five-year administrator certificates are not aligned with current principal and superintendent standards and do not require supervision or mentoring of the beginning administrator. The adopted amendment also includes language to allow a temporary certificate issued on or before March 31, 2007, under §230.305 to remain effective until the certificate's stated expiration date.

Additional non-substantive, technical edits are also made to this section for consistency.

The following is a summary of the public comment received on the proposed amendment to 19 TAC §230.305 and the corresponding agency response.

Comment. An administrator of the Hudson Independent School District asked for clarification on whether temporary certificates issued prior to the 2007 date would be in effect until the stated expiration date.

Agency response. The agency offers the following clarification. The proposed rule text states that any certificate issued on or before March 31, 2007, will remain effective until its stated expiration date. No changes were made to the proposal in response to the comment.

The amendment is adopted under the Texas Education Code, §21.041(b)(2), which requires the SBEC to specify the classes of certificates to be issued.

The amendment implements Texas Education Code, §21.041(b)(2).

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 February 16, 2007.

TRD-200700552

Raymond Glynn

Acting Associate Commissioner, Educator Quality and Standards

State Board for Educator Certification

Effective date: March 8, 2007

Proposal publication date: November 24, 2006

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