1. (a) The provisions of this section are effective September 1, 2025, unless otherwise specified in rule.

2. (b) Subject to the requirements in subsection (d) of this section, an assignment of Special Education Teacher is allowed with one of the following SBEC-issued certificates:

   1. (1) Bilingual Special Education Supplemental: Early Childhood-Grade 12;
   2. (2) Core/Special Education with the Science of Teaching Reading: Early Childhood-Grade 6;
   3. (3) Deafblind Supplemental: Early Childhood-Grade 12;
   4. (4) Special Education Specialist: Early Childhood-Grade 12;
   5. (5) Special Education Supplemental (valid at grade level and subject area of the base certificate);
   6. (6) Special Education: Early Childhood-Grade 12;
   7. (7) Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments Supplemental: Early Childhood-Grade 12;
   8. (8) Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Early Childhood-Grade 12; or
   9. (9) any special education certificate issued before September 1, 2003, and deemed appropriate by the employing school district for placement into the assignment.
3. (c) The certificates specified in subsection (a) of this section are appropriate for a special education assignment in Prekindergarten-Grade 12 except where otherwise noted.

4. (d) If an individual in an assignment of special education teacher serves as the teacher of record and is responsible for evaluating student achievement and assigning grades, a valid certificate that matches the subject and grade level of the assignment is also required, or the individual must demonstrate content area competency through requirements as applicable in the figure provided in this subsection, the state's "Texas Content Competency Worksheet for Special Education Teachers of Record (Grades EC-12)."
   Attached Graphic
   

   1. (1) Individuals who previously demonstrated content competency through the state's 2010 and 2011 high objective uniform standard of evaluation for elementary and secondary special education teachers in an assignment of special education teacher of record before September 1, 2025, must hold a valid certificate that matches the subject and grade level of the assignment, or the individual must demonstrate content area competency as attested by the administrator in Sections A-B and F of Figure: 19 TAC §231.701(d).
   2. (2) Individuals who did not previously demonstrate content competency through the state's 2010 and 2011 high objective uniform standard of evaluation for elementary and secondary special education teachers of record before September 1, 2025, must hold a valid certificate that matches the subject and grade level of the assignment, or the individual must demonstrate content area competency through requirements as applicable in Sections A and C-E and Section F of Figure: 19 TAC §231.701(d).
5. (e) The employing school district should make every effort to secure educators trained in the specialized skills and knowledge needed to serve the special education needs of children. If a staff member does not have the skills and knowledge needed for the assignment, the school district is responsible for making provisions for the person to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge.

Source Note:The provisions of this §231.701 adopted to be effective May 18, 2025, 50 TexReg 2796.