Posted in [Recent Posts]

The Texas Tribune reported this weekend that for-profit, alternative teacher-preparation programs in the state are booming.  Last session I filed HB 135 to curb the disturbing trend of schools hiring teachers who never had a single day of hands-on student-teaching in the classroom.  Many traditional teacher certification programs require 400 or more hours of student-teaching in the classroom. The most disturbing news is this - alternative certified teachers are more likely to teach in impoverished, minority-populated schools with students who rank poorly on the TAKS test.
 
The bill I filed would have required a minimum of 15 hours of hands-on student-teaching in alternative certification programs.  Although it did not pass on its own, we managed to amend another bill to include a watered-down version requiring 15 hours of field-based experience involved in instructional activities.  It wasn't as much as I had hoped for, but it was a start.  
 
You can read my blog post from session about why I filed this bill here.