(-a-) observation of classroom teaching techniques
as given by a licensed instructor; and
(-b-) classroom practice student teaching under the
supervision and observation of a licensed instructor.
(C) Supervising instructor development course. The
supervising driver education instructor development program instructional
objectives must be equivalent to six semester hours or 90 clock hours
of driver and traffic safety education instructor training and shall
include:
(i) training in administering driver education programs
and supervising and administering traffic safety education;
(ii) Supervising Instructor I--minimum of 45 clock
hours. Instructional objectives: the instructor shall acquire the
knowledge, skills, and understanding to instruct trainees in the reduced-risk
driving practices in the HTS in accordance with the standards for
minor and adult driver education and traffic safety. Instruction shall
address the following topics:
(I) overview of Supervising Instructor I;
(II) minor and adult driver education curriculum overview
and course goals;
(III) rules, codes, and standards for driver education
programs;
(IV) learning styles;
(V) factors that influence learning and habit formation;
(VI) vocabulary and communication;
(VII) lesson plan development;
(VIII) classroom management and student discipline;
and
(IX) classroom progress examination for Supervising
Instructor I.
(iii) Supervising Instructor II--minimum of 45 clock
hours. Instructional objectives: the instructor shall acquire the
knowledge, skills, and understanding to instruct trainees in the reduced-risk
driving practices in the HTS in accordance with the standards for
minor and adult driver education and traffic safety. Instruction shall
address the following topics:
(I) overview of Supervising Instructor II;
(II) student evaluation and assessment;
(III) commentary driving techniques;
(IV) in-car debriefing techniques;
(V) scheduling driver education programs;
(VI) proper record keeping and maintenance;
(VII) school and instructor liability and responsibility;
(VIII) instructor conduct, including professionalism
and public relations;
(IX) risk management;
(X) simulation theory and multicar range;
(XI) professional growth;
(XII) classroom progress examination for Supervising
Instructor II; and
(XIII) classroom laboratory, including:
(-a-) observation of nine-semester-hour driver education
instructor development course classroom teaching techniques as given
by a licensed instructor; and
(-b-) classroom practice student teaching of a nine-semester-hour
driver education instructor development course under the supervision
and observation of a licensed instructor.
(2) Prior to enrolling as a trainee in a driver education
instructor development course, the school owner or representative
must obtain proof that the enrollee has a high school diploma or equivalent.
A copy of the evidence must be placed on file with the school. Further,
the school shall obtain and evaluate the current official driving
record from the enrollee for the preceding 36-month period prior to
enrollment. The school must use the standards set forth in §84.50(b)(3)
when determining the qualifications for a trainee's enrollment.
(3) Instruction records shall be maintained by the
school for each instructor trainee and shall be available for inspection
by authorized department representatives at any time during the training
period and/or for license investigation purposes. The instruction
record shall include the trainee's name, address, driver's license
number, and other pertinent data; name and instructor license number
of the person conducting the training; and dates of instruction, lesson
time, and subject taught during each instruction period. Each record
shall also include grades or other means of indicating the trainee's
aptitude and development. Upon satisfactory completion of the training
course, the supervising teacher conducting the training will certify
one copy of the instruction record for attachment to the trainee's
application for licensing, and one copy will be maintained in a permanent
file at the school.
(4) All instructor trainee instruction records submitted
for the approved instructor development courses shall be original
documents.
(5) A licensed supervising teacher shall teach the
instructor development courses. The supervising teacher may allow
a driver education teacher, or teaching assistant to provide training
under the direction of the supervising teacher in areas appropriate
for their level of certification and/or licensure.
(6) The supervising teacher is responsible for certifying
all independent study and research assignments that shall not exceed
25 percent of the total training program time.
(d) This subsection contains requirements for driver
education continuing education courses.
(1) Driver education school owners may receive an approval
for a four-hour continuing education course and provide the approved
course to instructors to ensure that instructors meet the requirements
for continuing education.
(2) The request for course approval shall contain the
following:
(A) a description of the plan by which the course will
be presented;
(B) the subject of each unit;
(C) the educational objectives of each unit;
(D) time to be dedicated to each unit;
(E) instructional resources for each unit, including
names or titles of presenters and facilitators; and
(F) a plan by which the school owner will monitor and
ensure attendance and completion of the course by the instructions
within the guidelines set forth in the course.
(3) A continuing education course may be approved if
the department determines that:
(A) the course constitutes an organized program of
learning that enhances the instructional skills, methods, or knowledge
of a licensed driver education instructor;
(B) the course pertains to subject matters that relate
directly to the practice of driver education instruction, instruction
techniques, or driver education-related subjects; and
(C) the entire course shall be taught by individuals
with recognized experience or expertise in the area of driver education
or related subjects. The department may request evidence of the individuals'
experience or expertise.
(4) Driver education school owners may not offer the
same continuing education course to instructors each year. In order
to continue to offer a course, a new or revised continuing education
course shall be submitted to the department for approval.
(e) A branch school may offer only a course that is
approved for the primary school.
(f) Schools applying for approval of additional courses
after the original approval has been granted shall submit the documents
designated by the department with the appropriate fee. Courses shall
be approved before soliciting students, advertising, or conducting
classes. An approval for an additional course shall not be granted
if the school's compliance is in question at the time of application.
(g) If an approved course is discontinued, the department
shall be notified within five days of discontinuance and furnished
with the names and addresses of any students who could not complete
the course because it was discontinued. If the school does not make
arrangements satisfactory to the students and the department for the
completion of the courses, the full amount of all tuition and fees
paid by the students are due and refundable. If arrangements are not
made satisfactory to the students and the department, the refunds
must be made no later than thirty (30) days after the course was discontinued.
Any course discontinued shall be removed from the school's approval.
(h) If, upon review and consideration of an original,
renewal, or amended application for course approval, the department
determines that the applicant does not meet the legal requirements,
the department shall notify the applicant, setting forth the reasons
for denial in writing.
(i) The department may revoke approval of a school's
courses under certain circumstances, including, but not limited to,
the following.
(1) Information contained in the application for the
course approval is found to be untrue.
(2) The school has failed to maintain the instructors,
facilities, equipment, or courses of study on the basis of which approval
was issued.
(3) The school offers a course which has not been approved
or for which there are no instructors or equipment.
(4) The school has been found to be in violation of
TEC, Chapter 1001, and/or this chapter.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §84.500 adopted to be effective April 1, 2017, 42 TexReg 1400; amended to be effective March 15, 2018, 43 TexReg 1431; amended to be effective July 1, 2018, 43 TexReg 3875; amended to be effective March 15, 2020, 45 TexReg 1698; amended to be effective September 1, 2020, 45 TexReg 6069; amended to be effective September 1, 2021, 46 TexReg 5394; amended to be effective May 1, 2022, 47 TexReg 2522 |