Introduction
“A little Madness in the Spring...[I]s wholesome even for the King.” — Emily Dickinson
Springtime always seems like the “busy” time in education. We work to finalize projects, complete deadlines, close out the school year and start preparing for the next semester on top of graduations. Even though spring may seem like a giant rush, or sprint to the finish, the spring also brings us a sense of newness. Warmer weather, flowers in bloom, and a feeling of being refreshed after a long winter. Remember that even in times of madness,
there is always a sense of hope and wonder, and a time of calm is coming. The newsletter serves as a support during the time of madness, by compiling 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 |
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Special Education Educator Standards Overview
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Participants will collaboratively engage with the Special Education standards.
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May 5, 2021
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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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May 13, 2021
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1:00-3:00 pm CST
Register Here
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TExES Exam in Focus: Educational Diagnostician (253)
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An in-depth look into the structure, content, and scoring of the newly launched exam.
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May 18, 2021
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EdTPA 101
Webinar
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Participants will be provided with an overview of the purpose, development, and design of edTPA.
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May 19, 2021
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EdTPA Supporting Candidates during Instruction and Implementation
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Participants will engage in learning where session facilitators identify strategies when supporting candidates during instruction and implementation.
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May 20, 2021
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ELAR 4-8 (217): Exam Framework Overview
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Participants will examine the framework for the redesigned ELAR 4-8 (217) content exam.
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June 3, 2021 |
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| Topic |
Action Item |
Due Date |
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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Principal and Teacher Survey Distribution
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Principals complete this survey in ECOS and provide feedback regarding the preparation of the eligible teachers on their campus. Supporting information is available on the Principal
Survey webpage.
Teachers are informed about the survey via email and supporting information is available on the Teacher
Survey webpage.
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Complete by June 15, 2021
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
New: Title II – Thank you!
A big thank you to all the programs that were able to complete the federally mandated Title II reporting by the deadline last week. If for any reason your EPP was unable to complete this report by the deadline, please email title2@westat.com immediately to seek resolution.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: 2021-2022 PASL Assessment Schedule
The PASL Assessment Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 dates have been posted on the ETS website – see links below.
Each year, ETS updates its website for the upcoming academic year. The updates will be published on Monday, July 19, 2021.
New: ELAR 4-8 (217): Save the Date: Exam Framework Overview
Join us for an ELAR 4-8 (217) exam framework overview on June 3, 2021, from 1:00-2:30 pm CST. The overview will provide participants with the opportunity to unpack the framework’s priority competencies to illuminate the knowledge, skills and mindsets that are most critical to develop in novice ELAR teachers during preservice preparation.
Updated: ELAR 4-8 (217): Pilot Testing
Pearson is currently conducting pilot testing for the redeveloped English Language Arts and Reading: Grades 4-8 exam. Pilot testing is available at Pearson VUE test centers throughout Texas now through May 24.
Registration is currently open at: https://home.pearsonvue.com/espilot
Pilot testing is an important step in the development of TExES certification exams. It is intended to collect information on the performance of exam questions to be used at future exam administrations. For information on eligibility, incentives, advantages of participation, scheduling, and registration for pilot tests, please visit the Pilot Testing website here: https://home.pearsonvue.com/espilot/tea.
TExES Exam in Focus: Educational Diagnostician (253)
The redeveloped Educational Diagnostician (253) exam launched on January 25, 2021. To support EPPs in preparing candidates for this new exam, the Texas Education Agency and Pearson are pleased to host a 90-minute webinar on May 18, 2021, from 1:00-2:30 CST, for an in-depth look into the structure, content, and scoring of the assessment.
Participants will review the exam framework, design, development process, and scoring. In addition, they will engage in walking through sample selected-response items, reviewing different approaches and formats common to the Educational Diagnostician exam, and diving deep into a sample constructed-response item. Participants will also review and discuss the rubric, model responses, and different approaches and strategies to help candidates respond to the charge. Time will be reserved for Q&A.
You may register in advance for this webinar here. You may submit questions and/or comments in advance through the registration page. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Early Childhood: PK-3 (292) TExES Spring Exam Administration Window Update & One Pager
Attached here is the Early Childhood: PK-3 (292) FAQ to address some common inquiries we have received from EPPs and candidates.
The May window for the 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.
DID YOU KNOW?
Pearson offers two different tutorials that can give candidates a sense of what they will see when they begin an exam for a computer-administered testing (CAT) test appointment.
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Web-Based CAT Tutorial
Preview the on-screen tutorial seen before an exam begins, which includes information about how to navigate through an exam, select answers, and end the exam.
Web-Based CAT Tutorial
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Interactive CAT Tutorial
Practice using the CAT functions that will be available during an exam, including navigating through the exam, selecting answers, and using on-screen calculators, accessibility features, and reference materials.
Interactive CAT Tutorial
In addition to the features described in the downloadable tutorials, the CAT exams will also offer candidates the ability to use highlighting and strikethrough tools. More information can be found here.
DID YOU KNOW? [EDTPA EDITION]
All Texas programs are invited to learn with the edTPA community. Each month Texas’s edTPA partners, Pearson and SCALE, offer development opportunities for all Texas programs. This month, if you are interested in learning more about how edTPA
supports teacher candidates during instruction and implementation, or if you are interested in learning more about edTPA in general, be sure to register for the webinars listed in the “Upcoming Events” section of the newsletter. Hope to see you there!
Educator Certification Payment Issue
During a recent system error, ECOS improperly issued certificates to candidates without receiving payment. The candidates submitted payment information, but payments were not processed, and candidates were not charged.
Educators and EPP candidates who were issued certificates during the time period of
March 28 - April 6, 2021 have been notified via email that, per 19 TAC §230.99(c), they have 60 calendar days from the date of the notification to resubmit online payment, or the certificate will be placed on inactive status. While the certificate is inactive, the educator or EPP candidate will be ineligible for employment in a Texas school district. The certificate will return to active status upon receipt of full payment of all applicable fees.
If your EPP did not receive an email related to this issue, TEA did not identify that any of your candidates were impacted. EPPs will not need to re-recommend certificates that previously issued incorrectly. Additionally, certificates that have been recommended by EPPs but have not issued for a variety of reasons will not issue until the candidates submit the required fees. TEA will continue to reach out with direct emails as appropriate with regard to this ongoing situation.
Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
The State Board for Educator Certification met on Friday, April 30th. The full agenda for the SBEC meeting can be found here and the recording of the meeting can be accessed here. The Board approved rule reviews of 19 TAC Chapter 231 and 245 and approved of proposed reviews of 19 TAC Chapter 227 and 228. The Board also discussed 19 TAC Chapter 229 and received updated related to test development and the edTPA pilot.
Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: What are the exam requirements for non-teacher candidates who are looking to obtain an intern or probationary certificate?
A: Principal candidates are the only non-teacher candidates that must pass the content exam for an intern certificate. To obtain an intern certificate, a principal candidate must obtain a passing score on the TExES PAIL (268) exam. To obtain a probationary certificate, a passing score on the related content exam is required for all non-teacher classes.
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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