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The Committee of School Initiatives met on April 7 to discuss proposed rules, reappointments, and updates to certification and trainings processes. An archive video of this meeting can be found here.

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Item 1: Recommendation for One Reappointment to the Boys Ranch Independent School District Board of Trustees

  • TEA Staff – One of the terms is expiring; suggested that George Owen be reappointed to serve a 2-year term
  • Reappointment is approved

 

Item 2: Recommendation for One Reappointment and One Appointment to the Fort Sam Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees

  • TEA Staff – Reappointment necessary because term of office is expiring, and appointment is necessary because one board member has retired
  • Reappointment of Richard G. Kling III and appointment of Latoya Saizer are approved

 

Item 3: Rule Review of 19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter A, Board of Trustees Relationship, and Subchapter B, Special Purpose School Districts

  • TEA Staff – 30-day public comment period following today’s discussion
  • SBOE Member Will Hickman – Are there any changes proposed?
    • That is the existing rule; June will be your opportunity to make changes
  • Hickman – Does staff recommend any changes?
    • No

 

Item 4: Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter A, Board of Trustees Relationship, §61.3, School Safety Training for School Board Members

  • TEA Staff – Approved for first reading in January
  • Public comment period from February to April and received no comments
  • SBOE Member Aicha Davis – Did we decide it will be an annual training? When will updates occur?
    • Lucas – Every two years; updates will occur every legislative session
  • Proposed new chapter is adopted

 

Item 5: Open-Enrollment Charter School Generation 27 Application Updates

Kara Belew, TX Public Charter School Association

  • Worksheet provided lists number of students in each district on charter school waitlists
  • SBOE Member Ruben Cortez – Do you have it broken down by which of the charter schools have a waitlist? There are some charters that have vacant seats
    • Belew – The legislature passed a bill and TEA is required to prepare a detailed waitlist report which includes information about schools and waitlist; I will send you a copy of that report
  • SBOE Member Matt Robinson – Would it be possible to produce those waitlists? Most parents will apply to more than one so therefore the waitlist number would be a lot less.
    • Belew – TEA made huge efforts to make sure the waitlist number is not duplicated; that number of 58,000 students; if you want to understand the mechanics, they can answer that
    • Marketing efforts are necessary because some parents don’t know all of their options
  • Robinson – How many on waitlist are currently enrolled in another charter school?
    • Belew – I will research that
  • Davis – Most serve students of color because they’re targeting those communities. How is it that you have so many schools that are lacking the number of students but then come here and say there are waitlists? You have a waitlist, you have empty schools, why aren’t you working together?
    • Belew – Parents have options; 58,000 are the number of students sitting for a charter school
  • TEA Staff – 9/18 applications will be moving forward; 9 capacity interviews will take place via Zoom welcoming any SBOE member to participate
  • Cortez – Why will they still be held via Zoom?
    • TEA Staff – Allows a more robust set of people to participate; ability to ask more individuals better questions
  • SBOE Member Jay Johnson – How many would be back from last year?
    • TEA Staff – 1 Heritage Classical will be returning; the others didn’t make it to capacity interviews
  • Hickman – Last year, how many capacity interview candidates and how many came to SBOE?
    • TEA Staff – There were 12 candidates and 7 came to SBOE
  • Cortez – How can we do a better job of ensuring what makes it out to an external review process?
    • TEA Staff – We conduct a simultaneous internal review making sure they’re an eligible entity and meet submission timeline
  • Cortez – Is that something we can add to Generation 28 so we don’t have to deal with any embarrassing situations where we have to bring up things unpleasant to applicants?
    • TEA Staff – We’re working on adding questions like have you worked with any other state agencies and been responsible for children
  • Davis – Generation 27 will be publicly available right?
    • TEA Staff – Yes, like last year

 

Item 6: Open-Enrollment Charter School Generation 28 Application Updates

  • Belew – We want this to conform with the law/statute which says there are many reasons to open a charter school
  • TEA Staff – Requests from members in the past to bring process at a earlier date
    • Focus on streamline design, reducing a knowledge gap, clarifying questions to get shorter responses
    • In the middle of a robust feedback collective process; resource pages useful, narrative prompts clearly stated, easier layout
    • Areas of growth: longer completion window, PDF adjustments
    • Currently in process of collecting stakeholder feedback, incorporating it in May and launching application in July due at beginning of November
  • Robinson – We talked about having more specific criteria, if we were to do that in September?
    • TEA Staff – If you as a committee want to identify criteria, we could potentially polish that up
  • Cortez – At June meeting you’ll show us the questions on the application?
    • TEA Staff – Yes
  • Hickman – As someone who’s used this application, I would love a cap of 100 pages
    • TEA Staff – We’ve continued to reduce the size making sure the narrative is tight and coherent; the attachments add to the length
  • Hickman – Could you provide information about performance of students and establishing need that we can use?
    • TEA Staff – We have applications address community need and we’ll provide that to you

 

Item 7: Review of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 228, Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs, §228.2, Definitions, §228.10, Approval Process, §228.30, Educator Preparation Curriculum, and §228.35, Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training

  • TEA Staff – Proposed amendments would implement the following bills from the 87(R) session:
    • SB 1590 – Updating educator preparation programs training requirements allowing flexibility for virtual option
    • SB 226 – Providing training for all educators regarding students with disabilities
    • HB 159 – Specify training for all educators in virtual instruction/learning
    • HB 139 – Allows for service members, spouses, and veterans to get credit for their educator preparation requirements for clinical or professional experiences
  • Hickman – These are all SBEC recommendations?
    • Correct
  • Motion to take no action passes

 

Item 8: Review of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 230, Professional Educator Preparation and Certification, Subchapter H, Texas Educator Certificates Based on Certification and College Credentials from Other States or Territories of the United States

  • TEA Staff – Are technical edits, removing an outdated reference to a certificate entitlement card
    • Clarification to direct individuals to right section of commissioner’s rules that may get them an exemption to exams
    • Clarification if trying to add a supplemental certification you must have a base certification
  • Hickman – Chairman Ellis mentioned edTPA yesterday
    • TEA – That will be an item on April 29th SBEC agenda
  • Motion to take no action passes

 

Item 9: Review of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 245, Certification of Educators from Other Countries

  • TEA Staff – Removing outdated reference
  • Adding clarification to demonstrate English proficiency before 1-year certificate can be issued
  • Recommended removal a letter of professional standing; this piece has prevented certifications in the past
  • Davis – How are you able to see if a certificate has been revoked?
    • TEA Staff – In the foreign credential evaluation; removing the letter won’t give us that verification; we’ve never had a letter come through that says certificate is in bad standing; there is also a criminal background check
  • Hickman – If I was certified in another state what are the requirements versus another country?
    • Certified in another state – need certificate and official transcript
    • Have opportunity to apply for a 1-year certificate; if they’re already tested they could apply for exemption
    • For out of country we’re looking for foreign credential evaluation or their portfolio showing education/experience and English language proficiency
  • Motion to take no action passes

 

Item 10: Review of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 232, General Certification Provisions, Subchapter A, Certificate Renewal and Continuing Professional Education Requirements

  • TEA – Implements SB 199, 1267 and 2066 which specifies topics but also gives educators discretion/flexibility and adds training for students with disabilities and external defibrillator trainings
    • Another thing is certification renewal for educators coming back from retirement or circumstances which caused them to leave
  • Hickman – Could you walk through where the hardship was spelled out?
    • Hardship exemption will be owned by school district; they have to be desired and this provides more flexibility
  • Motion to take no action passes