This section requires bilingual and ESL teachers to be properly certified and lets the board issue teaching certificates and emergency endorsements.
Sec. 29.061. BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM TEACHERS. (a) The State Board for Educator Certification shall provide for the issuance of teaching certificates appropriate for bilingual education instruction to teachers who possess a speaking, reading, and writing ability in a language other than English in which bilingual education programs are offered and who meet the general requirements of Chapter 21. The board shall also provide for the issuance of teaching certificates appropriate for teaching English as a second language. The board may issue emergency endorsements in bilingual education and in teaching English as a second language. (b) A teacher assigned to a bilingual education program using one of the following program models must be appropriately certified for bilingual education by the board: (1) transitional bilingual/early exit program model; or (2) transitional bilingual/late exit program model. (b-1) A teacher assigned to a bilingual education program using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program model must be appropriately certified by the board for: (1) bilingual education for the component of the program provided in a language other than English; and (2) bilingual education or English as a second language for the component of the program provided in English. (b-2) A school district that provides a bilingual education program using a dual language immersion/one-way or two-way program model may assign a teacher certified under Subsection (b-1)(1) for the language other than English component of the program and a different teacher certified under Subsection (b-1)(2) for the English language component. (c) A teacher assigned to an English as a second language program must be appropriately certified for English as a second language by the board. (d) A school district may compensate a bilingual education or special language teacher for participating in a continuing education program that is in addition to the teacher's regular contract. The continuing education program must be designed to provide advanced bilingual education or special language program endorsement or skills. (e) The State Board for Educator Certification and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall develop a comprehensive plan for meeting the teacher supply needs created by the programs outlined in this subchapter. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 453 (H.B. 218), Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2015.