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               AN ACT
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            relating to instruction in educator training programs regarding  | 
         
         
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            digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual instruction. | 
         
         
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                   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 1.  Section 21.001, Education Code, is amended by  | 
         
         
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            adding Subdivisions (4) and (5) to read as follows: | 
         
         
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                         (4)  "Virtual instruction" means instructional  | 
         
         
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            activities delivered to students primarily over the Internet. | 
         
         
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                         (5)  "Virtual learning" means digital learning  | 
         
         
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            facilitated by virtual instruction. | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 2.  Section 21.044(c-2), Education Code, is amended  | 
         
         
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            to read as follows: | 
         
         
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                   (c-2)  Any minimum academic qualifications for a certificate  | 
         
         
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            specified under Subsection (a) that require a person to possess a  | 
         
         
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            bachelor's degree must also require that the person receive, as  | 
         
         
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            part of the training required to obtain that certificate,  | 
         
         
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            instruction in digital learning, virtual learning, and virtual  | 
         
         
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            instruction, including a digital literacy evaluation followed by a  | 
         
         
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            prescribed digital learning curriculum.  The instruction required  | 
         
         
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            must: | 
         
         
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                         (1)  be aligned with the International Society for  | 
         
         
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            Technology in Education's standards for teachers; | 
         
         
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                         (2)  provide effective, evidence-based strategies to  | 
         
         
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            determine a person's degree of digital literacy; [and] | 
         
         
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                         (3)  cover best practices in: | 
         
         
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                               (A)  assessing students receiving virtual  | 
         
         
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            instruction, based on academic progress; and | 
         
         
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                               (B)  developing a virtual learning curriculum;  | 
         
         
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            and | 
         
         
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                         (4)  include resources to address any deficiencies  | 
         
         
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            identified by the digital literacy evaluation. | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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               President of the Senate | 
            Speaker of the House      | 
         
         
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                   I hereby certify that S.B. No. 226 passed the Senate on     | 
         
         
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            April 19, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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            Secretary of the Senate     | 
         
         
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                   I hereby certify that S.B. No. 226 passed the House on         | 
         
         
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            May 26, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 130, Nays 17, two  | 
         
         
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            present not voting. | 
         
         
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            ______________________________ | 
         
         
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            Chief Clerk of the House    | 
         
         
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            Approved: | 
         
         
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            ______________________________  | 
         
         
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                        Date | 
         
         
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            ______________________________  | 
         
         
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                      Governor |