Introduction
Happy New Year to all our educator preparation program colleagues across Texas! As we kick off 2021, the month ahead is full of multiple training opportunities delivered through webinars and training sessions listed in the upcoming events. We look forward to an energizing January full of opportunities to collaborate with all of you.
1/13/2021: Applications (Class/Categories) Webinar: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (more information and link below)
1/15/2021: edTPA Pilot Year 3 Application Webinar (New applicants): 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
(more information and link below)
1/22/2021: Oral and Written Communication STR Deep Dive: 10:00 - 12:00 p.m.
(registration link here)
1/25/2021: ResultsAnalyzer® Training Webinar Provided by Pearson: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
(more information below)
1/28/2021: ResultsAnalyzer® Training Webinar Provided by Pearson: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
(more information below)
2/1/2021: ResultsAnalyzer® Training Webinar Provided by Pearson: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
(more information below)
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
Additional Information about Deactivated STR Applications
The 12/31 deadline for the issuance of HB3-impacted fields without the STR exam has passed. Applications that were not complete by the deadline, either because fees are missing, fingerprinting was not completed, appropriate tests were not passed, or other certification requirements were not met, have been deactivated. TEA has run a report of these deactivated applications for each EPP with impacted candidates and distributed to EPPs. These spreadsheets provide clear information about why the certificate did not issue. These incomplete applications can no longer be completed. If these candidates wish to obtain their certificate in an HB3-impacted field, they will now need to complete the STR exam requirement.
We encourage you to work directly with your candidates who did not submit a complete application to identify their next steps, including pursuing completion of the STR testing requirement, and working with districts for certification options if necessary.
A few candidates completed their fingerprinting prior to the deadline, but the results were delayed in being reported to TEA. These timelines have been manually reviewed and, where eligible, the certificates have been issued. Additionally, a small number of the deactivated applications have a status of “Not Eligible – contact TEA directly.” These applications are still being processed by TEA and may still issue. This processing is generally complete within 10 days. Some applications may take longer to process if we obtain information from the background check that requires further investigation.
Updated - Applications (Class/Categories) Webinar on January 13th
This webinar will provide Educator Preparation Program staff with an overview of the application process and guidance to successfully complete the applications to add a new certificate route or class, along with an overview of the Intensive Pre-Service (IPS) and out-of-state applications. The intended audience for this webinar includes program staff and/or instructors at EPPs interested in adding a new certificate route or class, applying for Intensive Pre-Service, or applying for an out-of-state candidate placement. Instructors who develop coursework for a new certificate area will benefit from attending this webinar by getting a better understanding of what is expected when applying for a new certificate. You can sign up for the webinar here.
Title II Draft Reporting Guidance: Comment Period Open
TEA has been informed that draft Title II COVID-19 guidance was released in the Federal Register in December. The guidance is intended to support teacher preparation providers and states in the upcoming IPRC data collection. The draft guidance is currently going through the Department’s approval process, which includes an opportunity for you to review and provide public comment.
The direct link to the draft guidance is here. The link to the posting on the Federal Register is here. To formally submit a comment about the draft guidance, please click on the link above for the Federal Register posting and click the green “Submit a Formal Comment” button on that page. The public comment period will close on February 8, 2021.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
Reminder-- Oral and Written Communication STR Deep Dive on 1/22/21, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Registration is still open here to sign up for the upcoming training in our STR Deep Dive series. We look forward to engaging in this learning opportunity with you next week.
Newly Launched Certification Exams: Test Administration and Score Reporting Windows
Beginning in January 2021, four new TExES exams are now live. These exams include:
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293 Science of Teaching Reading TExES
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292 Early Childhood: PK-3 TExES
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253 Educational Diagnostician TExES
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391 Core Subjects EC-6 TExES.
The first test administration window and score reporting dates can be found below. The score reporting date is the earliest date that a candidate could receive a score report for an exam taken during the administration date range shown. Please note that as results from the initial administration of the 293 STR exam will not be available until early February, HB-3 impacted certificates will not be able to issue until February 2021.
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Core Subjects: EC-6 (391)
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Science of Teaching Reading
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Educational Diagnostician
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Save the Date: ResultsAnalyzer® Training Webinars Provided by Pearson
On December 13, 2020, Pearson released an upgrade to the ResultsAnalyzer® software, the valuable online data analysis tool that enables EPPs to access, sort, and analyze program testing data. The update introduces changes to the user interface intended to make the software and menus easier to use, and a new user guide is available.
To support ongoing access to and understanding of your testing data, Pearson is hosting three upcoming webinars focused on orientation to ResultsAnalyzer®. Attendees will be introduced to the basic features of the three primary data streams in ResultsAnalyzer®. We will focus on a particular technique for comparing results across exam fields. Each of the three sessions will be delivered live (not recorded) and cover the same content.
The webinars are open to EPP-designated primary score reporting contacts and additional EPP-based users for whom they have granted access. Please note registration is required in advance. Invitations to register are being delivered directly to primary score reporting contacts at each EPP. Registration links are also now embedded in the dates and times below:
Seeking Standard Setting Committee Members for STR, Educational Diagnostician, and Early Childhood: PK-3 Exams
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Evaluation Systems group of Pearson are currently seeking Texas educators to participate in a Marker Selection and Standard Setting Conference for the Texas Educator Certification Examination program. Below are brief descriptions of the test development activities that approved committee members will be asked to take part in during this conference:
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Marker Selection: The role of the Marker Selection committee is to review examples of responses to pilot tested constructed response items. Committee members will select and approve a set of responses that illustrate each score point on the scoring scale.
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Standard Setting: The role of the Standard Setting Committee is to examine each question included on an exam form and provide standard setting judgments that will be considered by the Texas Education Agency in determining the passing standard for the exam.
Participants have the opportunity to make a difference in Texas teacher development and performance, engage in professional growth and collaboration with educators in their field, and earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.
The committee meetings will be held in mid-late February. To get involved, you may do any of the following listed below:
Apply—Click here to complete an application for consideration for committee participation.
Nominate—Click here to submit your nominations of colleagues who may be interested in participating.
Share— Share this newsletter message with other educators to share with colleagues.
edTPA Pilot Year 3 Application Launch
At the October 2020 SBEC meeting, the SBEC approved the extension of the Texas edTPA pilot for a third year, the 2021-2022 academic year. We are excited to announce
that the Year 3 edTPA pilot is open to any additional educator preparation program
who is interested in beginning implementation of the edTPA and becoming a part of the collaborative edTPA community. To participate in the edTPA pilot, preparation programs must complete the edTPA Pilot Year 3 Application. The application window is now open, and you can view and download the application linked here.
The application closes February 15, 2021 with an announcement of programs accepted
into the pilot on February 26, 2021. Programs should send their completed applications to DeMarco Pitre (demarco.pitre@tea.texas.gov). If you have any questions or would like to schedule a one-on-one conversation to discuss the edTPA pilot and application process, please contact DeMarco.
Please note the application process timeline below:
edTPA Pilot Year 3 Application Process Timeline
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Year 3 application goes live
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Year 3 application closes
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Year 3 programs announced
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Save the Date: edTPA Year 3 Application Informational Webinar
This January, please join the Texas edTPA Pilot community for the edTPA Year 3 Application Informational Webinar. During this time, we will dive deep into the edTPA Year 3 Pilot application, walking through program requirements and expectations while also answering any questions brought to the virtual space. See link to join the final edTPA Year 3 Application Webinar for new applicants below:
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edTPA Year 3 Application Webinar (New applicants): January 15, 2021: 2:00-3:30 pm, click here
DID YOU KNOW?
The Core Subjects EC–6 #291 exam is being made available through December 31, 2021 to provide additional opportunities to test for candidates whose first attempt was prior to January 01, 2021 but did not pass all subtests.
A passing score on the TExES #291 exam can be used for issuance of the Core Subjects with the Science of Teaching Reading: EC-6 no later than December 30, 2022. Note that the TExES #291 and #391 are separate exams and passing scores on subject exams of one exam cannot be combined with passing scores on subject exams of the other exam. In addition, candidates can continue to submit Test Limit Waivers for TExES #291 throughout the operation of the exam.
Information and updates related to Educator Certification
Candidate applications for certificates are processed immediately once the applications are complete. Once a certificate has issued, candidates and programs should allow approximately 15 minutes for updates to the online virtual certificate information.
Earlier in this newsletter we shared that applications for certificates in the HB3 impacted fields that were not complete by 11:59 pm on 12/31/2020 were deactivated.
While we recognize this may be challenging news in some cases, we ask that you please handle the next steps with your candidates locally. TEA staff will be routing candidates back to their educator preparation programs to obtain appropriate guidance on the best next steps in the preparation and certification processes.
Educator Certification staff look forward to supporting candidates and programs in the timely issuance of certificates. Please continue to submit certification-specific inquiries to Educator Certification via Help Desk Ticket, or call our office directly at 512-936-8400, option 2, Monday through Friday, from 8-4:30 pm.
Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
There is no new information to share at this time.
Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: I have a candidate that passed the 291 and started an internship in spring 2021 but will not finish the internship requirement until spring 2022. Will the candidate be able to use the 291 for a standard certificate in spring 2022?
A: Yes, a passing score on the TExES #291 can be used for issuance of the Core Subjects with the Science of Teaching Reading: EC-6 through December 30, 2022.
Programs can find additional STR FAQs here.
Q: My EPP has candidates completing internships that have been issued WINT certificates and field supervisors are observing them. Does my EPP have to report the observations in ASEP?
A: Yes, all candidates completing clinical teaching, internships, or practicums, including candidates holding WINTs, must be observed according to the observation schedule in 19 TAC 228.35(g) or 228.35(h), as applicable, and those observations must be reported in ASEP in the year in which the observations occur. TEA strongly encourages EPPs to upload observations as they occur throughout the year.
Your best source for information and support at the TEA
As an Educator Preparation Program, your main point of contact is your Program Specialist.
To view a list of EPPs and their associated Program Specialist, please click here.
Information regarding the Science of Teaching Reading Exam can be accessed at tea.texas.gov/str.
Information regarding edTPA 2020-2021 information opportunities can be accessed here.
Information and updates regarding the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) can be accessed at the Important Updates link.
Updated information related to the COVID-19 response can be accessed here.
When possible, we present updates and shared practices from EPPs around Texas. If you have information you would like to share in this space, please reach out to your program specialist.
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