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 Text of proposed rules
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