Introduction
“Leaders must either invest a reasonable amount of time attending to fears and feelings or squander an unreasonable amount of time trying to manage ineffective and unproductive behaviour .” - Brené Brown
We are bombarded daily with others fears and feelings. Education is a labor of love and a burning desire that most outside of the profession do not always understand. Each week, we come face to face with not only our own fears, but those of the ones we instruct. “Are we going to be good enough?", "Why are our students are struggling?”, “What could we be doing better?”, “Why does it feel like the harder I work, the more difficult things become?”. However, we also get to celebrate the successes such as watching a candidate walk across the graduation stage or seeing them receive job opportunities. The joys of reading a reflection that has taken you on a journey and made you reminisce about your own experience. As we begin to enter these final few weeks of the semester and feel the stress that comes with it, hold on to the knowledge that the work is worth it in the end as we work to cultivate new leaders. As we strive to support you in your endeavors,
we have compiled the most up-to-date information concerning what you need to know that impacts your candidates in the coming weeks. Please thoroughly read all the sections for reminders, upcoming events, to dos, and FAQs.
We hope that this newsletter provides clarity and platform for access to all the important updates.
| Topic |
Description |
Event Date |
Event Time |
| Special Education Educator Standards Overview |
Participants will collaboratively engage with the Special Education standards
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| PAIL Training: Performance Data to Inform Practice |
Participants will examine data
and unpack priority competencies to
inform planning
for practice-based
principal preparation
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| Topic |
Action Item |
Due Date |
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Title II IPRC Report
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Deadline for submission of Title II IPRC report through title2.ed.gov
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Waiver Probationary (WPRO) or Waiver Intern (WINT) Certificate
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Complete all Testing Requirements
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Before the WPRO or WINT certificate expires
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
Title II Reporting
With April comes Title II IPRC reporting season! This report is due by April 30, 2021. This federally required reporting happens annually, and programs update and submit their Title II IPRCs at title2.ed.gov. As a reminder, TEA does not oversee the Title II reporting website, but we are able to monitor completion of this reporting by EPPs. If you have questions or need assistance, or need log in information for the website, please reach out to title2@westat.com.
Title II Reporting Support Webinar
Thank you to all the programs that were able to attend the Title II Support and Training webinar on April 1. This webinar was recorded and will be posted on the TEA’s Program Provider Resources page soon. As a reminder, there are many more training materials available at title2.ed.gov (resource page). If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out to title2@westat.com.
Principal and Teacher Survey Distribution
On April 1, the 2020-2021 Principal Survey opened for completion by campus principals.
Principals complete this survey in ECOS and provide feedback regarding the preparation of the eligible teachers on their campus. Principals and other LEA staff are informed about the survey via a TAA letter and supporting information is available on the Principal
Survey webpage. The survey window is open between April 1 – June 15. As a reminder, principals complete surveys related to individuals completing their first year as a teacher of record.
Also, on April 1, the 2020-2021 Teacher Survey was emailed to teachers for completion. Teachers complete this survey by following a link in an email that is specifically addressed to them and provide feedback about their preparation. Teachers are informed about the survey via email and supporting information is available on the Teacher Survey
webpage. The survey window is open between April 1 – June 15. As a reminder, teachers who are completing their first year as a teacher of record under a standard certificate are those asked to complete this survey.
ASEP Mid-Year Webinar
The ASEP Mid-Year webinar, along with the related FAQ, is now posted to the Program Provider Resources page. This webinar was presented by TEA on March 24, 2021. The FAQ document includes questions submitted by EPPs during the webinar. We hope the webinar and FAQ document are helpful supplements to the Reporting Manual for EPPs as we enter the summer reporting season and look towards the September 15th ASEP reporting deadline.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: Representative Exams Now Available
The following three new Representative Examinations are now available for purchase.
- Science of Teaching Reading (293)
- Early Childhood: PK-3 (292)
-
Educational Diagnostician (253)
Representative Examinations are used at SBEC-approved EPPs throughout Texas and are designed exclusively to assist staff in measuring candidates' knowledge and skills in relation to the approved TExES exam frameworks.
To order a Representative Examination, authorized representatives from SBEC-approved EPPs can send a request for an order form to estestvoucher@pearson.com.
292 Early Childhood: PK-3 TExES Spring Exam Administration Window Update
The May window for the 292 Early Childhood: PK-3 TExES exam administration has been updated. Please see the updated administration and score report dates below.
*Note: All 2018-2021 Early Childhood Certification Support grantees should ensure candidates test by the 5/17/2021 - 5/30/2021 window, as communicated in previous direct communication.
Upcoming PAIL Training: Performance Data to Inform Practice: Save the Date
Please save the date for an upcoming PAIL training, during which participants will analyze trends in PAIL candidate performance data across the state, unpack priority competencies, and identify and share practice-based best practices to develop those competencies in aspiring school leaders. The training is scheduled for May 13, 2021 at 1:00-3:00 pm CST. Registration link coming soon!
Special Education Standards Overview: Save the Date
Please save the date for a Special Education Standards Overview training, during which we will deeply engage with the new special education standards for EC-6 and 6-12. We look forward to this collaborative opportunity on May 5, 2021 from 1:00-2:30 pm CST. Registration link coming soon!
Scorers Needed for STR
Pearson is always seeking experienced educators and administrators to work on a temporary basis as professional scorers in the regional scoring facility located in San Antonio (at this time, remote scoring is available). In particular, they are seeking additional scorers for the Science of Teaching Reading (293) exam that launched in January 2021. For information on scorer qualifications and the application for current opportunities, please share this link with colleagues and alumni who might be qualified and interested.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Teacher Certification Redesign page includes information about content assessments that will be updated. Information will be provided on this page regarding last operational and certificate submission dates. Any amendments will be made on the site.
DID YOU KNOW? [EDTPA EDITION]
The edTPA is a portfolio-based performance assessment designed to authentically capture a teacher candidate’s ability to effectively teach a classroom of students.
Candidates can choose from over 14 subject-specific handbooks ranging from World Language to Elementary Education, aligned with their certification field. The assessment is broken down into 3 tasks for candidates to demonstrate their skill in planning, instruction, and assessment. Each task is then broken down into 5 rubrics to help provide insight into a teacher candidate’s specific strengths and areas for growth. If you are interested in learning more about edTPA portfolios, tasks, and rubrics, become a member of the edTPA online community (click here) where you have access to an array of rich resources that explain in detail the components of edTPA. Becoming a member is free, and you do not need to be a pilot program to explore these resources.
Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: Can TEA clarify the difference between the Post-Baccalaureate and Alternative certification routes?
A: The Post-Baccalaureate route, as defined in 19 TAC §228.2(28), is a degree and certification seeking route. It is designed for those who are seeking an advanced degree (master’s or doctorate) and certification. Candidates certifying in this route are required to obtain the advanced degree before certification can occur.
The Alternative route, as defined in 19 TAC §228.2(3), is a certification seeking route only. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree, at minimum, to certify in this route; given that the candidate meets the program’s admission requirements.
Q: What happens if a school principal submits a non-recommendation for a teacher or principal candidate for certification as a result of the internship?
A: If the program receives a non-recommendation from the assigned field supervisor, cooperating teacher, mentor teacher, site supervisor, or campus supervisor, the person giving the non-recommendation is required to provide documentation to the program that supports the decision. Per 19 TAC §228.35(e)(2)(B)(v), the program would then require an additional internship and create a plan that addresses deficiencies identified in the first internship.
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.
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Practice based preparation resources for virtual field-based experience: Provides model lessons and video of instructional delivery.
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Practice based preparation resources for virtual field-based experience: Provides content neutral pedagogical skill building through observing a model of and practicing the same high leverage skill.
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Full scope and sequence of upcoming edTPA training opportunities.
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Get Connected—Collaborative STR Preparation Networking Group
Note: We received communication that the form linked below was not working. We have updated the link: https://forms.gle/fN8SozXfRQUc7SHM8
Are you interested in joining a collaborative network for learning about and preparing teachers for the STR exam? Share your contact information on this form to get the conversation started! Thank you to Melissa Stewart at Region 13 for driving this opportunity.
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