Review of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 239, Student Services Certificate,
Subchapter E, Master Teacher Certificate, §239.101, Master Reading Teacher Certification
and §239.103, Master Technology Teacher Certification
November 5, 2004
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the State Board of Education (SBOE) an opportunity to review
proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 239, Student Services Certificate, Subchapter E,
Master Teacher Certificate, §239.101, Master Reading Teacher Certification and §239.103,
Master Technology Teacher Certification, approved by the State Board for Educator Certification
(SBEC) on May 21, 2004. This item would specify the assignment eligibility for the holders of
the Master Reading Teacher Certificate and the Master Technology Teacher Certificate. The
proposed amendments will establish criteria for the assignment of educators who hold the Master
Reading Teacher Certificate and the Master Technology Teacher Certificate. The holder of the
Master Reading Teacher Certificate will be able to serve as a reading teacher mentor to other
teachers and teach reading to students in early childhood through grade 12. The holder of the
Master Technology Teacher Certificate will be able to serve as a technology training mentor.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§21.031(a), 21.041(b)(1)-(4),
21.0481 and 21.0483.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The projected implementation date is fall 2004.
BOARD RESPONSE: The item is presented for review and comment.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBEC discussed this matter on April 2, 2004. The Board
approved the Master Reading Teacher standards in January 2000. The Board approved the
Master Technology Teacher standards in January 2002. The Board adopted 19 TAC Chapter 239,
Subchapter E, §239.101 Master Reading Teacher Certification and §239.103 Master Technology
Teacher Certification in May 2003.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: Under TEC, §21.042, the SBEC must submit a written copy
of each rule it proposes to adopt to the SBOE for review. The SBOE may reject the proposed rule
by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the SBOE present and voting. If the SBOE
fails to reject the rules contained in the proposal before the 90th day after the date on which it
receives the rules, the rules take effect as rules of the SBEC as provided by the Texas
Government Code, Chapter 2001. The SBOE may not modify a rule proposed by the SBEC. The
proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 239, Subchapter E, §239.101 Master Reading Teacher
Certification and §239.103 Master Technology Teacher Certification were approved by the SBEC
on May 21, 2004. The SBOE received the proposed amendments on August 9, 2004, making the
90th day November 7, 2004. The proposed amendments will be presented to the SBOE for action
at the November 2004 meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The Master Reading
Teacher Certificate was created by the 76th Texas Legislature and codified in statute as Texas
Education Code (TEC), Section 21.0481. Additionally, TEC §21.410, relating to Master Reading
Teacher Grant Program, gives authority to the commissioner of education to establish a master
reading teacher grant program to encourage teachers to become certified master reading teachers.
Funds from this program are used by school districts to pay stipends only to certified master
reading teachers who teach on high needs campuses and whose primary duties include teaching
reading and serving as a reading teacher mentor to other teachers. The Master Technology
Teacher Certificate was created by the 77th Texas Legislature and codified in statute as TEC,
Section 21.0482 (Version 2). Additionally, TEC, Section 21.411 (Version 2) relating to Master
Technology Teacher Grant Program, gives authority to the commissioner of education to
establish a master technology teacher grant program to encourage teachers to become certified as
master technology teachers. Funds from this program are used by school districts to pay stipends
only to certified master technology teachers whose primary duties include serving as a technology
training mentor to other teachers for the amount of time and in the manner established by the
district and by rule adopted by the commissioner. The Board adopted rules for Master Reading
Teacher Certificate, Master Technology Teacher, and Master Mathematics Teacher Certificate in
May 2003. The requirements for these certificates are located in 19 TAC, Chapter 239, Master
Teacher Certificates. Although the Board has approved rules for the assignment of other
professional and paraprofessional personnel and for the three levels of the Master Mathematics
Teacher Certificate, the rules for the Master Reading Teacher and Master Technology Teacher
certificates do not include the assignment criteria for the holders of these certificates. The
proposed amendments outline the assignment possibilities for the holders of the Master Reading
Teacher and Master Technology Teacher Certificates. These amendments were drafted based on
the language in statute and input from staff in the Division of Curriculum at the Texas Education
Agency.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed amendments would not result in a fiscal impact.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Implementation of the rules would not impact the public
and students.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: Current rules would remain in effect.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
Respectfully submitted,
Shirley J. Neeley, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible: Herman L. Smith, Ph.D., Executive Director
State Board for Educator Certification
Robert Scott, Chief Deputy Commissioner
Texas Education Agency
Attachments: Letter dated August 9, 2004, and text of proposed amendments to 19 TAC
Chapter 239, Subchapter E, §239.101 Master Reading Teacher Certification and
§239.103 Master Technology Teacher Certification
August 9, 2004
The Honorable Geraldine Miller, Chair
And Members of the State Board of Education
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701
Re: Proposed SBEC Rules – Assignment of Master Teachers
Dear Ms. Miller and Members:
As required by Section 21.042 of the Texas Education Code, the attached text of a proposed rule
amendment are submitted for your review. On May 21, 2004, the State Board for Educator
Certification (SBEC) proposed amendments to the following rules:
Propose Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 239, Subchapter E, §239.101 Master Reading
Teacher Certification and §239.103 Master Technology Teacher Certification.
The proposed rule amendments would specify the assignment eligibility for the holders of the
Master Reading Teacher Certificate and the Master Technology Teacher Certificate.
As you know, the SBOE may reject the proposed rule by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
members of the SBOE present and voting. The SBOE has until November 7, 2004 to review the
proposed amendment. The proposed amendments will be presented to the SBOE for discussion
and action at your September 2004 meeting.
If you have any questions about the proposed rules, please contact me at 936-8400. When this
issue is placed on your agenda, I or an SBEC staff member will be present should any questions
arise. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Herman L. Smith, Ph.D.
Executive Director
State Board for Educator Certification
c: Shirley J. Neeley, Ed.D., Commissioner
SBEC Members
Attachments: Text of proposed rules