HBA-MPM S.B. 998 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 998 By: Madla Public Education 5/6/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Alternative education programs (AEPs) are provided at another setting for students who have been removed from regular classrooms for discipline problems. A teacher in an AEP is not required to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification. Individuals who teach classes in alternative education programs must be effective in student discipline, class management, students' learning disabilities, and other special needs. Because of the complexity of the teaching environment, there is a high teacher turnover rate in such programs that may inhibit students from excelling. Providing incentives might encourage and reward teachers to work in alternative education programs for a longer period of time and help ensure the continuum of education currently received by students. Senate Bill 998 allows an uncertified teacher who has worked in an alternative education program for three years or more to take the alternative teacher certification test without completing the alternative certification program. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 998 amends the Education Code to prohibit the State Board for Educator Certification from requiring a person employed for at least three years as a teacher in an alternative education program or juvenile justice alternative education program to complete an alternative educator certification program before taking the appropriate certification examination. The bill specifies that a person's employment in such capacities before the 2001-2002 school year is not included in determining whether the person meets the requirements of the bill. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.