Bill Text: TX HB2729 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to teacher requirements for high quality prekindergarten programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-13 - Effective on 9/1/23 [HB2729 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB2729-Comm_Sub.html
  88R19949 BDP-F
 
  By: Harris of Anderson H.B. No. 2729
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2729:
 
  By:  Buckley C.S.H.B. No. 2729
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to teacher requirements for high quality prekindergarten
  programs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 29.167, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
  (b-2) to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), each [Each]
  teacher for a prekindergarten program class must:
               (1)  be certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21; and
               (2)  have one of the following additional
  qualifications:
                     (A)  a Child Development Associate (CDA)
  credential or another early childhood education credential
  approved by the agency;
                     (B)  certification offered through a training
  center accredited by Association Montessori Internationale or
  through the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher
  Education;
                     (C)  at least eight years' experience of teaching
  in a nationally accredited child care program or a Texas Rising Star
  Program;
                     (D)  be employed as a prekindergarten teacher in a
  school district that has received approval from the commissioner
  for the district's prekindergarten-specific instructional training
  plan that the teacher uses in the teacher's prekindergarten
  classroom; or
                     (E)  an equivalent qualification.
         (b-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), each teacher for a
  prekindergarten class provided by an entity with which a school
  district contracts to provide a prekindergarten program must:
               (1)  be supervised by a person who meets the
  requirements under Subsection (b); and
               (2)  have one of the qualifications described by
  Subsection (b)(2).
         (b-2)  A person who supervises a prekindergarten teacher as
  described by Subsection (b-1) may supervise multiple
  prekindergarten classes.
         (d)  A school district or an entity with which the district
  contracts to provide a prekindergarten program must attempt to
  maintain an average ratio in any prekindergarten program class of
  not less than one qualified [certified] teacher or teacher's aide
  for each 11 students.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         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, 2023.
feedback