SECTION 234.9. Certification of Military Veterans, Peace Officers, Fire Protection Personnel, and Emergency Medical Services Personnel

(a) Effective September 1, 2023, military veterans, peace officers, fire protection personnel, and emergency medical services personnel as defined in §234.3 of this title (relating to Definitions) shall be issued a one-time, nonrenewable, three-year temporary certificate for career and technology education if they meet the following:

(1) has served in the armed forces of the United States and was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty; or

(2) has served as a first responder and, while in good standing not because of pending or final disciplinary actions or a documented performance problem, retired, resigned, or separated from employment as a first responder; and

(A) has an associate degree from an accredited institution of higher education and 48 months of active duty military service or service as a first responder; or

(B) a bachelor's degree, which includes 60 semester credit hours completed at a public or private institution of higher education with a minimum grade point average of at least 2.50 on a four-point scale and military service or service as a first responder.

(b) A school district shall assign a mentor teacher to a classroom teacher who has been issued a temporary certificate to teach career and technology education under Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.0444, for at least two school years. A teacher assigned as a mentor must:

(1) to the extent practicable, teach in the same school;

(2) to the extent practicable, teach the same subject or grade level, as applicable; and

(3) meet the qualifications prescribed by commissioner of education rules adopted under TEC, §21.458(b), or §153.1011 of Part 2 of this title (relating to Mentor Program Allotment).

(c) An individual who meets the qualifications specified in subsection (a) of this section and who is interested in obtaining the three-year, nonrenewable temporary certificate, may submit the following items to the Texas Education Agency staff:

(1) a completed application;

(2) verification of military veteran status or licensure as a peace officer, fire protection services personnel, or emergency medical services personnel; and

(3) an official transcript showing degree conferred and conferral date, or successful completion of college coursework.

(d) A military veteran, peace officer, fire protection personnel, and emergency services personnel must enroll in a Texas-approved educator preparation program to complete requirements for issuance of the standard certificate.

Source Note: The provisions of this §234.9 adopted to be effective March 7, 2024, 49 TexReg 1278