Sec. 21.054. CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) The board shall propose rules establishing a process for identifying continuing education courses and programs that fulfill educators' continuing education requirements, including opportunities for educators to receive micro-credentials in fields of study related to the educator's certification class as provided by Subsection (i).

(b) Continuing education requirements for an educator who teaches students with dyslexia must include training regarding new research and practices in educating students with dyslexia.

(c) The training required under Subsection (b) may be offered in an online course.

(d) Continuing education requirements for a classroom teacher must provide that at least 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding:

(1) collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom;

(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school;

(3) digital learning, digital teaching, and integrating technology into classroom instruction;

(4) educating diverse student populations, including:

(A) students who are eligible to participate in special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29;

(B) students who are eligible to receive educational services required under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794);

(C) students with mental health conditions or who engage in substance abuse;

(D) students with intellectual or developmental disabilities;

(E) students who are educationally disadvantaged;

(F) students of limited English proficiency; and

(G) students at risk of dropping out of school;

(5) understanding appropriate relationships, boundaries, and communications between educators and students; and

(6) how mental health conditions, including grief and trauma, affect student learning and behavior and how evidence-based, grief-informed, and trauma-informed strategies support the academic success of students affected by grief and trauma.

(d-1) The instruction required under Subsection (d) may include two or more listed topics together.

Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 464 (S.B. 11), Sec. 4

(d-2) The instruction required under Subsection (d)(6) must:

(1) comply with the training required by Section 38.036(c)(1); and

(2) be approved by the commissioner.

Text of subsection as amended by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 352 (H.B. 18), Sec. 1.04

(d-2) The instruction required under Subsection (d)(6) must be:

(1) based on relevant best practice-based programs and research-based practices; and

(2) approved by the commissioner, in consultation with the Health and Human Services Commission.

(e) Continuing education requirements for a principal must provide that at least 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding:

(1) effective and efficient management, including:

(A) collecting and analyzing information;

(B) making decisions and managing time; and

(C) supervising student discipline and managing behavior;

(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school;

(3) digital learning, digital teaching, and integrating technology into campus curriculum and instruction;

(4) effective implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program under Section 33.005;

(5) mental health programs addressing a mental health condition;

(6) educating diverse student populations, including:

(A) students who are eligible to participate in special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29;

(B) students with intellectual or developmental disabilities;

(C) students who are eligible to receive educational services required under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794);

(D) students with mental health conditions or who engage in substance abuse;

(E) students who are educationally disadvantaged;

(F) students of limited English proficiency; and

(G) students at risk of dropping out of school;

(7) preventing, recognizing, and reporting any sexual conduct between an educator and student that is prohibited under Section 21.12, Penal Code, or for which reporting is required under Section 21.006 of this code; and

(8) how mental health conditions, including grief and trauma, affect student learning and behavior and how evidence-based, grief-informed, and trauma-informed strategies support the academic success of students affected by grief and trauma.

(e-2) The instruction required under Subsection (e)(8) must be:

(1) based on relevant best practice-based programs and research-based practices; and

(2) approved by the commissioner, in consultation with the Health and Human Services Commission.

(f) Continuing education requirements for a counselor must provide that at least 25 percent of training required every five years include instruction regarding:

(1) assisting students in developing high school graduation plans;

(2) implementing dropout prevention strategies;

(3) informing students concerning:

(A) college admissions, including college financial aid resources and application procedures; and

(B) career opportunities;

(4) counseling students concerning mental health conditions and substance abuse, including through the use of grief-informed and trauma-informed interventions and crisis management and suicide prevention strategies; and

(5) effective implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program under Section 33.005.

(g) The board shall adopt rules that allow an educator to fulfill continuing education requirements by participating in an evidence-based mental health first aid training program or an evidence-based grief-informed and trauma-informed care program. The rules adopted under this subsection must allow an educator to complete a program described by this subsection and receive credit toward continuing education requirements for twice the number of hours of instruction provided under that program, not to exceed 16 hours. The program must be offered through a classroom instruction format that requires in-person attendance.

(h) Continuing education requirements for a superintendent must include at least 2-1/2 hours of training every five years on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children. For purposes of this subsection, "other maltreatment" has the meaning assigned by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code.

(i) The board shall propose rules establishing a program to issue micro-credentials in fields of study related to an educator's certification class. The agency shall approve continuing education providers to offer micro-credential courses. A micro-credential received by an educator shall be recorded on the agency's Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) and included as part of the educator's public certification records.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 675 (S.B. 143), Sec. 2, eff. June 17, 2005.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 596 (H.B. 200), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 895 (H.B. 3), Sec. 67(a), eff. June 19, 2009.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 635 (S.B. 866), Sec. 2, eff. June 17, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 638 (H.B. 642), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1306 (H.B. 3793), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1236 (S.B. 1296), Sec. 21.001(9), eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 178 (S.B. 7), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 522 (S.B. 179), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2017.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 757 (S.B. 1839), Sec. 8, eff. June 12, 2017.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 214 (H.B. 403), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 352 (H.B. 18), Sec. 1.04, eff. December 1, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 464 (S.B. 11), Sec. 4, eff. June 6, 2019.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1123 (H.B. 2424), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2019.