The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) held a two-day meeting Thursday and Friday. The board’s agenda included several items up for discussion only, including revisions to the teacher pedagogy standards, special education certification rules, and rules regarding disciplinary proceedings against educators, as well as three items up for board action, which were approved.  

The board discussed how special education teachers of record could demonstrate content proficiency, the core issue behind changes to 19 TAC Ch. 231, which covers special education-related services personnel assignments. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave testified, thanking TEA staff for allowing her to serve on the special populations working group tasked with building the content competency rubrics and asking that staff consider allowing closely related experience in college and in the classroom to count toward demonstrating competency. The board showed hesitancy in approving the content competency rubrics as currently constituted, showing special concern around the point values for professional development versus college credit hours, and clearly communicating a desire to have college credit hours be weighted more heavily as well as to allow points for closely related field experience, such as a biology teacher shifting to chemistry or a government teacher shifting to U.S. history. Board members expressed that they wanted greater assurances of the quality of any professional development that would count and also that it would be content-based.  

TEA staff also gave an update on the development of a Texas-specific teacher performance assessment (TPA). The board had previously directed staff to pursue a development path that involved allowing the testing development vendor and educator preparation programs (EPPs) to jointly develop the TxTPA exam. Staff laid out its proposed implementation plan and plans for assignment of tasks between the EPPs and the testing vendor. TEA shared market research results after conducting research with 18 EPPs concerning the timeline, structure, roles and responsibilities of development team members, compensation for content developers, and assessment design parameters. Staff presented an updated development plan based on the research results that allows for a longer timeline for EPPs to apply to be developers; allowing six to eight, rather than five, EPPs to serve as developers; allowing for three-year terms for content developers; and expanding opportunities for EPP and district participation in the development process. TEA plans to roll out the new TxTPA exam in the 2027-28 school year. The agency plans to launch the application process for EPPs in early 2025. Board members asked that the EPPs selected have diverse representation that reflects the students of the state and it be ensured the EPPs chosen are in good standing with TEA.  

ATPE Managing Attorney Lance Cain testified on behalf of the association against some of the proposed changes to TAC Ch. 249, rules regarding disciplinary proceedings, sanctions, and contested cases. Cain expressed concern with the removal of discretionary language from the definition of what constitutes evidence of solicitation, a change that could allow innocent behaviors, such as a teacher tutoring a student after school or providing lunch money for a student who doesn’t have any, to be used to pursue a charge of solicitation of a romantic relationship with a student. Additionally, Cain testified against some of the language regarding “grooming behaviors,” arguing that many, such as showing a student special attention or meeting behind closed doors with a student, are often innocent behaviors that do not indicate an inappropriate teacher/student relationship. Finally, Cain asked that TEA not remove intent language from the test security violations portion of the disciplinary standards. Cain expressed concern that removal of this language could open teachers who committed accidental or unintentional testing violations to disciplinary action.  

TEA Associate Commissioner Nicholas Keith spoke to the board about House Bill (HB) 1605 and how that statute was being worked into the new teacher pedagogy standards, 19 TAC Ch. 235. Cave also testified on revisions to the teacher pedagogy standards, asking for clarity around key terms used in the discussions, including lesson design, lesson planning, and instructional materials. Additionally, she submitted written testimony proposing specific changes to the standards to remove language emphasizing the use of open educational resource (OER) materials and high quality instructional materials (HQIM) over other materials, including district- and teacher-designed materials. Deputy Commissioner Kelvey Osser told the board the emphasis on OER and HQIM was intentional and research-based. This was after questioning from board members concerning whether teachers would be evaluated on the proposed standards. Osser replied that while the commissioner’s rules upon which T-TESS is based on are separate (TAC Chapter 149), the goal is to align those with the proposed standards. SBEC Vice Chair Scott Muri expressed concern as well about the loss of district autonomy in selection and development of materials. In response, Osser stated that HB 1605 requires EPPs to instruct educator candidates on use of OER, regardless of where they work and whether state-approved OER is available to them in their district. Concern was also expressed about overemphasizing these materials at a time when only reading/language arts and math materials are available and only for certain grade levels. (Social studies and science materials are not expected to be available until 2030.) 

Three proposal items received final approval from the board. These included amendments to 19 TAC Ch. 229, Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs), which includes the performance standards under which EPPs are rated by the state; amendments to 19 TAC Ch. 228, Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs, which were small clarifying amendments to allow additional flexibility for educator candidates in fine arts as well as updates to the implementation timelines; and amendments to 19 TAC Ch. 234, Military Spouses, Service Members, and Veterans, which expands portability of licenses for active-duty servicemembers and their spouses.  

SBEC will next meet Dec. 5–6.