82R15505 PAM-D
 
  By: Villarreal H.B. No. 135
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 135:
 
  By:  Hochberg C.S.H.B. No. 135
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to field experience requirements for educator
  certification.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.051, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 21.051.  RULES REGARDING FIELD EXPERIENCE AND OPTIONS
  FOR FIELD EXPERIENCE AND INTERNSHIPS. (a) In this section,
  "teacher of record" means a person employed by a school district who
  teaches the majority of the instructional day in an academic
  instructional setting and is responsible for evaluating student
  achievement and assigning grades.
         (b)  Before a school district may employ a candidate for
  certification as a teacher of record, the candidate must complete
  at least 15 hours of field experience in which the candidate is
  physically present in a classroom assisting with instruction of
  students by preparing lesson plans and delivering instruction to
  students under the supervision of a teacher of record at:
               (1)  a public school campus accredited for the purpose
  by the agency; or
               (2)  a private school recognized for the purpose by the
  agency.
         (c)  Subsection (b) does not affect the period within which
  an individual must complete field experience hours as determined by
  board rule if the individual is not accepted into an educator
  preparation program before the deadline prescribed by board rule
  and is hired for a teaching assignment by a school district after
  the deadline prescribed by board rule.
         (d)  The board shall propose rules relating to the field
  experience required by Subsection (b).  The commissioner by rule
  shall adopt procedures and standards for recognizing a private
  school under Subsection (b)(2).
         (e)  The board shall propose rules providing flexible
  options for persons for any field experience or internship required
  for certification.
         SECTION 2.  On or before January 1, 2012, the State Board for
  Educator Certification shall propose rules relating to educator
  certification as prescribed by Section 21.051, Education Code, as
  amended by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.