Commissioner of Education Michael Williams has formally proposed a long-awaited set of new professional standards for teachers this week. If adopted, the new rules containing the standards will take effect in March 2014 and will reside in Title 19, Chapter 149, of the Texas Administrative Code. Texas Education Agency (TEA) officials have said that the new standards will be used to "inform the development" of a new state teacher appraisal system, which the commissioner agreed to create as a condition of the NCLB waiver granted to Texas this year. Several ATPE members served on a TEA teacher stakeholder committee that worked this fall to develop recommendations for the new teacher standards. The standards are intended to provide guidance on best practices in the areas of instructional planning and delivery, knowledge of students and student learning, content knowledge and expertise, learning environment, data-driven practice, and professional practices and responsibilities. The public is invited to submit comments on the proposed standards to TEA via email (rules@tea.state.tx.us). The public comment period runs from Dec. 13 through Jan. 28.