TCTA testifies on special education content competency at September SBEC meeting

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met Sept. 19-20 in Austin to hear testimony on a number of items. 

TCTA Legislative Liaison Quinn McCall testified on proposed changes to rules surrounding the ways in which special education teachers can demonstrate content competency in core subjects for their teaching assignments.

As part of ongoing discussion on changes to how special education teachers can demonstrate competency, McCall testified to thank TEA staff for their open communication with stakeholders to refine the content competency worksheet to include TCTA’s suggestions and to offer more suggestions to finalize the worksheet for SBEC approval. 

First, TCTA suggested that experience in “closely-related fields” be counted for college credit hours, teaching experience and professional development. As it stands, only experiences directly related to the core content area are counted. SBEC members were receptive to TCTA’s suggestions and directed TEA staff to include them in the next draft of the worksheet.

Second, TCTA cautioned SBEC against removing language that would grandfather special education teachers who demonstrated content competency under any previous framework. TEA plans to use only the new content competency worksheet to grandfather current special education teachers instead of allowing both the rule text and the new worksheet to coexist. Again, SBEC was receptive to TCTA’s suggestions.

SBEC's next meeting is Dec. 5-6. TCTA will continue to monitor these items and provide updates. 

During the September meeting, TCTA staff attorney Julie Leahy also testified regarding proposed changes to rules for disciplinary proceedings against educators. For more on her testimony, click here.