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Committee recommends veto of TEA's proposed special-education personnel assignment rules; members cite concerns about a national-certification path
Summary
The committee voted to recommend vetoing TEA's proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 231 governing special-education personnel assignments, after an exchange over a newly proposed route using National Board certification as a qualifying credential on a district-level Texas competency worksheet.
TEA staff presented proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 231 (requirements for public-school personnel assignments, subchapter F) that would replace an older federal "house" worksheet with a new Texas Content Competency Worksheet for special-education teachers of record.
Jessica McLaughlin and director DeMarco Petrie said the new worksheet is intended to clarify which educators are required to demonstrate content competency (teachers of record specifically) and to ensure content competency is demonstrated at the student's grade level rather than allowing an elementary-level demonstration for a high-school placement. TEA staff said the worksheet will be maintained at the district level and described point-based pathways for educators who do not hold a standard grade-level content certificate. Staff said prior HOUS-qualifying teachers would be able to continue in their placements through a September 1, 2025 deadline for the transition.
Discussion became contentious when committee members asked about the inclusion of National Board Certification as a qualifying route on the worksheet. Member Pickering said parts of the National Board materials include content she believes violates state law (she cited material she described as addressing gender identity and sexual orientation and said that portion amounts to about 10% of training). Some members asked whether the board had reviewed the National Board curriculum to ensure compliance with state law. Staff said the National Board path was added to provide flexibility for districts and acknowledged the addition was made following stakeholder requests; staff said the change would expand options for educators who already hold National Board credentials.
After discussion, a committee motion to recommend veto of the proposed Chapter 231 revisions passed on a 3'2 vote. Committee members said they would forward the recommendation that the full State Board of Education reject the proposed rule changes.
