Notice of State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) Rules Filings and Change to Rule Review Plan

The following rule actions were filed with the Texas Register on Friday, December 18, 2015, for publication in the January 1, 2016, issue:

Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 231, Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments, Subchapter B, Prekindergarten-Grade 6 Assignments, Subchapter C, Grades 6-8 Assignments, Subchapter D, Electives, Disciplinary Courses, Local Credit Courses, and Innovative Courses, Grades 6-12 Assignments, and Subchapter E, Grades 9-12 Assignments
Summary: The proposed amendments to 19 TAC §§231.5, 231.11, 231.77, 231.91, 231.209, 231.253, 231.257, 231.333, 231.335, 231.337, 231.481, 231.483, 231.489, and 231.579 would clarify the appropriate credential for placement in a particular teaching assignment and implement applicable requirements from the 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2015.
Public Comment Period: The public comment period on the proposal begins January 1, 2016, and ends February 1, 2016. Comments on the proposal may be submitted to sbecrules@tea.texas.gov. The SBEC will take registered oral and written comments on the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 231, Subchapters B-E, at the February 12, 2016 meeting in accordance with the SBEC board operating policies and procedures.
Earliest Possible Date of Adoption by SBEC: February 12, 2016
Earliest Possible Date for Review by State Board of Education: April 6-8, 2016
Proposed Effective Date: 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register.

Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 233, Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates
Summary: The proposed amendments to 19 TAC §§233.1, 233.3-233.5, 233.7, 233.10, 233.14, and 233.15 would update the list of classroom certificates that either are eligible for issuance or that would continue to be recognized if they were issued prior to being phased out. Proposed new 19 TAC §233.17 would establish a new Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps: Grades 6-12 certificate.
Public Comment Period: The public comment period on the proposal begins January 1, 2016, and ends February 1, 2016. Comments on the proposal may be submitted to sbecrules@tea.texas.gov. The SBEC will take registered oral and written comments on the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 233 at the February 12, 2016 meeting in accordance with the SBEC board operating policies and procedures.
Earliest Possible Date of Adoption by SBEC: February 12, 2016
Earliest Possible Date for Review by State Board of Education: April 6-8, 2016
Proposed Effective Date: 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register.

Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 249, Disciplinary Proceedings, Sanctions, and Contested Cases, Subchapter A, General Provisions, §249.5, Purpose; Policy Governing Disciplinary Proceedings; Subchapter B, Enforcement Actions and Guidelines, §249.15, Disciplinary Action by State Board for Educator Certification, and §249.17, Decision-Making Guidelines; and Subchapter D, Hearing Procedures, §249.35, Disposition Prior to Hearing; Default
Summary: The proposed amendments to 19 TAC §§249.5, 249.15, 249.17, and 249.35 would create more specific penalty guidelines for Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff to follow in settling or prosecuting educator discipline cases. In addition, the proposed amendments would set out the process that the SBEC will use when the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) dismisses and remands a case in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.058(d-1), as amended by House Bill (HB) 2154, 84th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, after a respondent fails to appear for a contested case hearing.
Public Comment Period: The public comment period on the proposal begins January 1, 2016, and ends February 1, 2016. Comments on the proposal may be submitted to sbecrules@tea.texas.gov. The SBEC will take registered oral and written comments on the proposed amendments to 19 TAC §§249.5, 249.15, 249.17, and 249.35 at the February 12, 2016 meeting in accordance with the SBEC board operating policies and procedures.
Earliest Possible Date of Adoption by SBEC: February 12, 2016
Earliest Possible Date for Review by State Board of Education: April 6-8, 2016
Proposed Effective Date: 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register.


Revised 2015-2018 State Board for Educator Certification Rule Review Plan

The SBEC approved the revised 2015-2018 rule review plan for SBEC rules at its December 11, 2015 meeting. The plan was revised to modify the review date for Chapter 239 to begin the review in April 2016 instead of March 2017. Please see the TEA website to view the revised rule review plan, which is available by chapter or by begin review date.

Please see the TEA website to view SBEC rules. Unforeseen circumstances may delay publication of the SBEC rules in the Texas Register. The SBEC Rules website will be updated to reflect any changes.

Please contact us if you have any questions. Thank you.

Rulemaking
Texas Education Agency
(512) 475-1497