TCTA highlighted the need to provide special education teachers with ways other than obtaining content certification to demonstrate content proficiency to meet federal requirements, among the discussion items at the Feb. 16 State Board of Education Certification Conference. testified about.
TCTA's Quinn McCall pointed out to the SBEC that the TEA's current proposal would have required elementary and middle school special education teachers to obtain a content certification, while providing flexibility for high school teachers. . The rationale for the TEA's proposal was that, unlike the high school level, there would be generalist qualifications at the elementary and middle school levels, allowing teachers to teach a wide range of content. However, TCTA disagrees, pointing out that even in this case, elementary and middle school teachers would need to add content certification if they do not already have one. TCTA's testimony highlighted how this can place a significant burden on both veteran teachers and those just beginning their teaching careers, especially given the severe shortage of special education teachers.
The TCTA supports flexibility for high school teachers, but under current SBEC regulations, special education teachers at all grade levels must use a flexible method to demonstrate content competency (HOUSSE). and stressed that a similar flexible approach should continue to be allowed. To all special education teachers.
In particular, TCTA highlighted the fact that under current regulations, the HOUSSE option applies to all elementary school teachers and all secondary teachers (grades 6 to 12). Rather than attempting to distinguish between high school and middle school, characterizing “secondary education” in this way reflects the fluidity of teacher placement between middle school and high school, and what is considered locally determined middle and high school. We are aware of the varying configurations across the state of . In response, SBEC Chair Gene Streepy thanked TCTA for raising the issue and noted that moving teacher placement between middle and high schools is a common practice that should be considered. agreed.
TEA staff emphasized that they will continue to work with stakeholders to arrive at a workable approach to propose to the SBEC at its April meeting.
The question of how special education teachers can meet federal requirements for content competency is that the long-standing rule allowing special education teachers to demonstrate competency through HOUSSE when teaching content is no longer allowed. It was first brought by the TEA in October 2023 after it determined that it had not. Federal law. Current regulations state that “If an individual provides content instruction in a special education classroom, they must also have a valid certificate that matches the subject and grade level of the assignment. must demonstrate competency through the highest performance in the “Objective Uniform State Evaluation Standards (HOUSSE) for Elementary and Secondary Special Education Teachers.”
TCTA is one of several groups that TEA has invited to join stakeholder groups in an effort to develop new ways for special education teachers to demonstrate content competency. TCTA has consistently maintained throughout this process that no proposal should require special education teachers to obtain additional certifications and that many of the components of HOUSSE should be included in the new proposal. . Such factors include that teachers can meet the criteria by accumulating a certain number of points in any combination of years of experience, university coursework in the subject taught or related subjects, and professional development .
TCTA remains engaged and will work to ensure that the new regulations do not require additional certifications for special education teachers.
Click here for more information on SBEC's February 2024 meeting.
