June 1, 2021: Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter

Texas Education Agency

June 1, 2021

Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter

student at computer, remote learning

Introduction

 

“The breaks you take from work pay you back manifold when you return because you come back with a fresher mind and newer thinking.  Some of your best ideas come when you’re on vacation.” 

-Gautam Singhania 

As we move into the summer months, we hope that you have the opportunity to take time to relax and recharge. It is important to give our minds and bodies periods of rest so that we may be at our best for ourselves and others. Our hope is that this newsletter serves as a support 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. 

Educator Preparation Program Weekly Newsletter Feedback Survey (Spring 2021) With a focus on continuous improvement, our team has developed a survey to gather feedback from EPP faculty and staff on their experience with the EPP Weekly Newsletter, in order to refine communication supports and processes going forward. Your perspective and feedback are greatly appreciated. 

The survey is anonymous and should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Click here to provide us your feedback. 

If you are not currently subscribed to the newsletter, please sign up at the link below.  Educator Preparation Program Listserv Registration  

 

 


Table of Contents


Upcoming Events

Topic Description Event Date Event Time
ELAR 4-8 (217): Exam Framework Overview   Participants will examine the framework for the redesigned ELAR 4-8 (217) content exam.  June 3, 2021

1:00-2:30 pm CST 
Click here to join 
(No registration required)
 

EdTPA Handbook and Rubric Deep Dive
A member of the edTPA National Academy will guide participants through a close examination of the edTPA tasks and rubrics, providing a deeper dive into what candidates are asked to think about, do, and write for each task as well as how candidate portfolios will be evaluated.

June 11, 2021

 

9:00 am- 3:00 pm CST (Full day)  

 

Register here 

 

 

 

 


Upcoming Deadlines

Topic Action Item Due Date

Educator Preparation Weekly Newsletter Feedback Survey  (Optional)  

Help us to improve our newsletter communication:  
Survey Link  

 Complete by 6/1/21  

Waiver Probationary (WPRO) or Waiver Intern (WINT) Certificate 

  Complete all Testing Requirements

Before the WPRO or WINT certificate expires 

Principal and Teacher Survey Distribution 

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. 

Complete by
June 15, 2021
 

 


Educator Preparation Program Support

 

Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management 

Updated: EPP Opportunity: Vetted Teacher Residency Program List Application [Application Due 6/9/21, Q &A posted] 

The Vetted Teacher Residency Program List application opened May 18, 2021 and closes Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The application’s Question & Answer period closed on Friday, May 25th. The full Q&A document is currently posted to the Program Provider Resources Page and can be accessed here. 

As a reminder, interested EPPs must complete an application to demonstrate that they have an established teacher residency model for inclusion on the list. Please note that this application process will be brief in nature, given the urgency to launch grants as soon as possible. With this in mind, we anticipate the application taking between 1-2 hours to complete for those EPPs that have an established teacher residency program. We plan to open the Vetted Teacher Residency Program List application on an annual basis to include additional programs that move to implement teacher residency models. Additional information will be shared in upcoming newsletters. 

Application Timeline: 

EPP Vetted Provider Application Submission Window 

5/18/21-6/9/21 

Q&A Submission Window  

5/18 - 5/25 to  

Q&A Posted  

5/28/21 

Final Application Submission  

6/9/21 by 5 pm CST 

Application Review Window  

6/9/21- 6/18/21  

Program Notification  

6/18/21 

Please reach out to TEAteacherresidency@tea.texas.gov about the vetted teacher residency application process, and our team will respond promptly through a Q&A posted to Program Provider Resources Page by 5/28/21.  

 

The Educator Preparation Improvement and Innovation Center (EPIIC) Launches in Texas

TEA staff is pleased to announce the launch of the Educator Preparation Improvement and Innovation Center (EPIIC). The center, which will provide technical assistance to the TEA, is housed in Region 13 Education Service Center. The purpose of the EPIIC is to support TEA in connecting Texas EPPs and LEA partners with high-quality training and capacity building resources to support EPP continuous improvement practices. We will provide more information about the EPIIC and related opportunities in upcoming newsletters. 

 


Educator Standards and Testing

Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing

Scorer Recruitment: Science of Teaching Reading 
Pearson is seeking experienced educators and administrators to work on a temporary basis as professional scorers on the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES). At this time, remote scoring is available, and there are flexible scoring opportunities that take into account educators' schedules.

In particular, they are seeking additional scorers for the new Science of Teaching Reading (293) exam that launched in January 2021. For information on scorer qualifications and the application for current opportunities, including Science of Teaching Reading as well as all other exams being scored, please share this link with colleagues and alumni who might be qualified and interested. 

291 – 391 Core Subjects: EC-6 TExES Exam Transition 
We have continued to receive questions from candidates, programs, and districts regarding the transition from the 291 – 391 Core Subjects: EC-6. As a reminder, the updated 391 Core Subjects: EC-6 was developed to remove duplicative content from the ELAR subtest that is now assessed on the 293  STR examTo ensure that candidates were not caught in the transition to the updated exam, the SBEC implemented a one-year transition period, during which both exams are operational (Jan. 2, 2021 – Dec. 31, 2021). First time test takers are encouraged to take the 391 Core Subjects: EC-6, and 
candidates who have already taken the 291 Core Subjects: EC-6, and still need to pass specific 291 subtestsare encouraged to continue to take the 291 exam 

The 291 Core Subjects: EC-6 will be operational until Dec. 31, 2021. A passing score on the 291 Core Subjects: EC-6 can be used for recommendation of the Core Subjects with STR: EC-6 certificate up to but no later than Dec. 31, 2022. EPPs can recommend candidates with a passing 291 Core Subjects: EC-6 score for an additional year after the exam is no longer operational. 

In addition to this clarification, TEA staff will post an updated FAQ and visual to the Educator Testing webpage. We will notify programs when it is posted in an upcoming newsletter. 

Principal as Instructional Leader (PAIL) Training Resources  
Please see the follow link for participant’s guide, one- pager and a recording of the May 13 PAIL training  If you have not already done so, please complete the feedback survey. 

Special Education Standards Overview Resources 
Included here are the training materials and the slide deck from the Special Education Standards Overview on May 5, 2021.  We have gathered your feedback and will be sharing a Special Education FAQ in an upcoming newsletter. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Candidates who register for the PASL and do not submit any tasks by the submission deadline will receive a zero as a score and the attempt will count towards the five-time test limit. Please ensure candidate support is provided when completing and submitting tasks.   

If schedule conflicts or unforeseen circumstances occur, these individuals may need to reschedule their submission window or cancel their registration prior to the deadline

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

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 About SBEC, Rules, and Legislation

Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature. 

The 87th Legislature Regular Session gaveled in on January 12, 2021. For your reference, here is information on the House Committee on Public Education and the Senate Committee on Education 


FAQ 

Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.  

Q:  When will the Trade and Industrial Workforce Training Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities 6-12 (370) and School Counselor (252) exams launch?  

A:  The Exams are scheduled to launch September 6, 2021, with a first score reporting date of October 1, 2021.   

 

Q: What resources will be available to support preparation of my candidates for the Trade and Industrial Workforce Training Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities 6-12 (370) and the School Counselor (252) exams launch? 

A: The preparation manuals for the Trade and Industrial Workforce Training Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities 6-12 (370) and School Counselor (252) exams will be publicly available on the Texas Program Website in early June 2021 and both the representative exams and the interactive practice tests will be available for purchase in late summer/early fall 2021.  

 

 


EPP Points of Contact

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 

For easiest assistance, file a HelpDesk Ticket 


For More Information

Information regarding educator certification testing can be accessed at the Texas Educator Certification Exam website 

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 

To view previous editions of the weekly newsletter, please see the Texas Educator Preparation Program Weekly Newsletter webpage. 

Resources at a Glance...  

Practice based preparation resources for virtual field-based experience: Provides model lessons and video of instructional delivery. 

Practice based preparation resources for virtual field-based experience: Provides content neutral pedagogical skill building through observing model of and practicing the same high leverage skill  

Full scope and sequence of upcoming edTPA training opportunities.  


Help Desk Link