H.B. No. 2039
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating an early childhood certification to teach
  students in prekindergarten through grade three.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.0489 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.0489.  EARLY CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATION. (a) To
  ensure that there are teachers with special training in early
  childhood education focusing on prekindergarten through grade
  three, the board shall establish an early childhood certificate.
         (b)  A person is not required to hold a certificate
  established under this section to be employed by a school district
  to provide instruction in prekindergarten through grade three.
         (c)  To be eligible for a certificate established under this
  section, a person must:
               (1)  either:
                     (A)  satisfactorily complete the course work for
  that certificate in an educator preparation program, including a
  knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction on early
  childhood education that includes:
                           (i)  teaching methods for:
                                 (a)  using small group instructional
  formats that focus on building social, emotional, and academic
  skills;
                                 (b)  navigating multiple content
  areas; and
                                 (c)  managing a classroom environment
  in which small groups of students are working on different tasks;
  and
                           (ii)  strategies for teaching fundamental
  academic skills, including reading, writing, and numeracy; or
                     (B)  hold an early childhood through grade six
  certificate issued under this subchapter and satisfactorily
  complete a course of instruction described by Paragraph (A);
               (2)  perform satisfactorily on an early childhood
  certificate examination prescribed by the board; and
               (3)  satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the
  board.
         (d)  The criteria for the course of instruction described by
  Subsection (c)(1)(A) shall be developed by the board in
  consultation with faculty members who provide instruction at
  institutions of higher education in education preparation programs
  for an early childhood through grade six certificate.
         SECTION 2.  The State Board for Educator Certification shall
  propose rules:
               (1)  establishing requirements and prescribing an
  examination for an early childhood certificate examination as
  required by Section 21.0489, Education Code, as added by this Act;
  and
               (2)  establishing standards to govern the approval and
  renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for early
  childhood certification.
         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, 2017.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2039 was passed by the House on May 3,
  2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 120, Nays 26, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2039 was passed by the Senate on May
  24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 23, Nays 8.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor