In Alief, the goal of Professional Learning is to increase student achievement by providing a rich variety of brain-friendly learning resources for all Alief staff members. While our staff are the ones required to attend/engage in professional learning, the students are the ones that ultimately benefit because teachers who know more have students who know more.

House Bill (HB) 159 was written to improve training and staff development for primary and secondary educators to enable them to more effectively serve all students, including students with disabilities. Under the terms of the bill, the State Board for Educator Certification would propose rules that specify what each educator is expected to know and be able to do, particularly regarding students with disabilities. Future educator certification will now require demonstration of the following skills/knowledge:

• Basic knowledge of each disability category under IDEA and how each category can affect student learning and development
• Basic knowledge of conditions that could be considered a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and how a condition can affect student learning and development
• Competence in the use of instructional planning techniques that:
  
  • Reduce barriers in instruction
  • Provide appropriate accommodations, supports, and challenges
  • Maintain high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students of limited English proficiency
• Competence in the use of evidence-based instructional practices, including:
  
  • General and special education collaborative and co-teaching models and approaches
  • Multitiered systems of support, including response to intervention strategies, classroom and school-level collaborative structures, and evidence-based strategies for intervention and progress monitoring systems
  • Classroom management techniques using evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies and supports
  • Appropriate adaptation strategies, including accommodations, modifications, and instruction in the use of assistive technology for instruction

Because we already have our teaching certificates, this bill influences staff development utilized by school districts. The bill also requires the qualification for principal certification to emphasize the principal’s ability to create an inclusive school environment and to foster parent involvement, as well as curriculum and instruction management for students with disabilities.