Texas. State Board for Educator Certification

The Texas State Board for Educator Certification was created in 1995 (Senate Bill 1, 74th Texas Legislature, Regular Session) to regulate the preparation, certification, continuing education, and standards of conduct for public school educators in Texas, functions that previously had been the responsibility of the Texas Education Agency, overseen by the Texas State Board of Education. The certification board provides guidance in program development, approval, and implementation to entities preparing educators for certification in Texas, including (as of February 2007) 70 universities, 16 community colleges, 30 alternative teacher certification programs, and 11 alternative administrator certification programs. The certification board manages the development and administration of the examinations of five testing programs. It monitors the quality of educator preparation at university and alternative certification programs through the Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP). The certification board issues educator credentials. And it ensures that Texas educators meet the highest standards of professionalism and ethical behavior, by enforcement of disciplinary rules and the Educators' Code of Ethics, and investigation of allegations of educator misconduct.

The Texas State Board for Educator Certification was originally composed of 15 members (14 members since 2003). Twelve of these (eleven since 2003) are voting members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate for overlapping six-year terms, and include the following: four teachers employed in public schools, two public school administrators, one public school counselor, and five public members (four since 2003) not employed either by a public school district, or by an educator preparation program in an institution of higher education (two of the five/one of the four never so employed). The other three members are nonvoting members, and include the following: a dean of a Texas college of education appointed by the governor; an employee of the Texas Education Agency appointed by the commissioner of education; and an employee of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board appointed by the commissioner of higher education. The only change to the composition of the board was in 2003 (Senate Bill 287, 78th Texas Legislature, Regular Session), when the number of public members was reduced to four, making for 11 voting members (an odd number, to avoid tie votes) and 14 members in all. The board selects a presiding officer for a two-year term.

(Sources include: Guide to Texas State Agencies, 11th edition (2001); the agency web site (http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/about/agencywork.asp) (accessed February 2007); V.T.C.A., Education Code, Section 21.033; and the enabling legislation, 1995 and 2003.)