TCTA testifies against readopting Temporary Teacher Certification

TCTA has testified consistently against the Temporary Teacher Certification program as a mechanism to circumvent state educator certification and preparation requirements. Since the program was adopted in Spring 2004, only one TTC has been issued. Read more…

SBEC includes TCTA language for exceptions to deadlines for certain renewals

Following a motion by SBEC member and TCTA President Janie Baszile, SBEC unanimously approved TCTA language allowing exceptions in certain circumstances to a one-year limit on the time an individual has to apply to SBEC for a certificate that has been eliminated. Read more...

TCTA testifies before SBEC regarding mandatory, permanent certificate revocation

TCTA also testified before SBEC on a new rule that mandates permanent certificate revocation for educators who have been found to have engaged in certain types of misconduct. TCTA testified that the rule is inflexible and does not allow for the exercise of discretion when mitigating circumstances exist. SBEC considered the issue at the request of the SBOE, which asked SBEC to consider incorporating a more flexible standard in response to TCTA’s concerns. SBEC has decided to leave the mandatory standard intact. Read more…

Fingerprinting process begins

Mandatory fingerprinting for all educators certified prior to 2003 began on January 7 with the Austin ISD and will continue on a district-by-district basis. Districts will receive notification via e-mail from SBEC when it is time for employees to submit fingerprints. Once a district has been selected for fingerprinting, all certified educators are required to provide contact information, including a current e-mail address, to SBEC. SBEC will use that information to notify certified educators in the selected district of the obligation to submit fingerprints.

SBEC has announced that the next districts to undergo the process will be the North East and Northside school districts in Bexar County. The projected start date is early February. TCTA recommends that educators in those districts check their e-mail regularly and respond promptly to all requests for information from either the district or SBEC. TCTA will keep you updated as the process continues.

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As TCTA previously reported, the U.S. Congress did not act to reauthorize the NCLB Act during the 2007 Congressional session. Now, with the start of the 2008 Congressional session, national leaders have spoken publicly of the real need to address the Act by either changing many aspects of the act, or eliminating it completely. President George W. Bush recently explained his perspective on revising NCLB, specifically noting, “If Congress passes a bill that weakens the accountability system in the No Child Left Behind Act, I will strongly oppose it and veto it.”

Also, a lawsuit challenging the NCLB as an unfunded mandate on states has been revived. Although the case was originally dismissed by a federal district court, a recent appeal to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals resulted in the case being sent back to the district court to be heard. The case involves several plaintiffs, including eight school districts in Texas.

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Final 2007 AYP results and school improvement lists for both campuses and districts were released by TEA on Dec. 18, 2007. Read more…

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Legislation from the 2006 special session implemented a new system of accreditation standards and sanctions for school districts under the state accountability system. Final rules adopted by TEA address sanctions for persistently low-performing schools such as alternative management, reconstitution, and/or closure. TCTA gave extensive input on the rules, questioning why the sanctions were mandatory under the rules but not in the legislation, and also asking for language that would ensure decisions regarding reassignment or retention of educators at reconstituted campuses remain with the school board. Read more…

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Sharon Karriker, TCTA District 12 director, received the Dr. Patricia Potter Wilson School of Education Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship, awarded by the University of Houston-Clear Lake School of Education. The Killeen CTA member is studying online for her Masters of Instruction in Technology degree and is the first online student to receive this prestigious award.

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