“The beginning is the most important part of the work” -Plato
Beginnings can be difficult, but also an adventure. As we move into a new school year, think of it as a fresh beginning as your dive into the work ahead. May your new beginning be a grand one.
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.
| Topic |
Description |
Event Date |
Event Time |
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ASEP Webinar
(Event Today)
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TEA will provide information and guidance about reporting 2020-2021 data. |
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Continuing Approval Review
Webinar
(for EPPs
reviewed in 21-22 academic year)
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TEA will provide
guidance to educator preparation program staff that are preparing for a 5-year continuing approval review in 2021-2022. |
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
(link will be
provided in
review notification
packet)
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| Topic |
Action Item |
Due Date |
IMPORTANT:
Waiver Probationary (WPRO) or Waiver Intern (WINT)
Certificate
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Provide test approval, as appropriate, to WPRO and WINT candidates.
Actively communicate with WPRO/WINT candidates and LEA partners about
requirements and next steps.
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Before the WPRO or WINT certificate expires
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New: Week 3: Update Finisher Candidates
Verify that all 2020-2021 finishers are correctly listed on the Finisher Record List (FRL) with a status of “Finisher” (F). If a finisher is on the FRL for certificate categories they are not finishing, please be sure to remove those certificate categories from the list for the candidate. You can find information on how to remove a candidate from the FRL in the 2020–2021 Educator Preparation Program Data Reporting Manual.
Previous ASEP Action of the Week:
Week 1: Know your assigned Education Specialist.
Week 2: Complete Admission Reporting.
Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
Internship TExES Exam(s) Requirement Reminder
Candidates, including late hire candidates, working in an internship are required to pass the required TExES certification exams for the internship placement and certificate category sought. EPPs are required to ensure candidates meet all requirements for an internship, including intern and probationary certificate requirements. Though candidates were able to bypass the testing requirement last summer under WINT certificates, candidates are now required to pass the certification exams for the internship placement and certificate category sought.
ECOS Update: File Transfer for Certification Information
ECOS has a tool that allows for authorized users to download certification information for educators. This function is available under the File Transfer menu in ECOS. TEA has scheduled updates to this system, which will do the following:
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Increase the processing limit from 5,000 records to 20,000 records
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Add teacher designation information to the download (related to the Teacher Incentive Allotment)
These updates are planned to live on 8/24/2021. We wanted to give EPPs notice in case you have technology systems that interact with the files that get downloaded. Full information, including links to downloadable sample files containing the new columns, are available here.
ASEP webinar
Make plans to attend the Reporting Data for 2020-2021 webinar on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, to find out details about annual data to be reported to TEA on September 15th. You can find the registration link in the Upcoming Events section in the Event Date column.
2021-2022 Continuing Approval Review webinar
EPPs scheduled to participate in the 2021-2022 5-year continuing approval review process are invited to attend the 2021-2022 Continuing Approval Review webinar on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. Those attending will receive guidance on the review process, what to expect, and how to prepare for your upcoming review. The registration link will be provided in the EPP’s continuing approval notification packet. The notification packets will be sent to EPPs who are scheduled for a 2021-2022 continuing approval review during the week of August 9th.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
School Counselor (252) and PPR for Trade and Industrial Education (370) Test Approval
The new School Counselor and PPR for Trade and Industrial Education TExES exams launch on September 6, 2021. For candidates that already have approval to take the previous versions of the exams, the PPR for T&I (370) and School Counselor (252) the exam will auto populate for you to approve for one attempt. Candidates are now able to register for the redesigned exams as of July 27, 2021. Please remind your candidates to register for the appropriate exam. They can confirm their registration with Pearson online or by calling 1-800-877-4599.
Additional information about the launch of each new exam can be found in the FAQ Documents linked in the sections below.
Reminder: Complete Reading Academies Modules
For those of EPP faculty and staff enrolled in the Texas Reading Academies EPP cohort, please remember the following deadlines are approaching related to course completion:
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2nd artifact due (located at the end of module 10)
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All assignments in the course must be completed
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Final deadline for full Reading Academies course completion
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PPR for Trade and Industrial Education Exam Transition FAQ Document
The new PPR for Trade and Industrial Exam (370) TExES exam will launch on September 6, 2021. Please see the PPR for T&I (370) Exam FAQ document that addresses timelines and other frequently asked questions related to the exam launch, program requirements, and candidate preparation resources.
Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
SBEC Meeting on Friday, July 23, 2021
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met on July 23, 2021. The agenda for this meeting has been posted on the agenda webpage.
During the meeting, the SBEC adopted the formal rule reviews for Chapter 227 and Chapter 228. They also approved of a proposal to update Chapter 229 to provide for a status of “Not Rated: Declared State of Disaster” for the 2020-2021 academic year. The proposed updates to Chapter 229 will be considered for adoption at the October meeting of the SBEC. Additionally, the SBEC discussed components of EPP quality, the edTPA
pilot, and updates from the 87th Legislature, Regular Session.
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 education specialist.
The University of Houston, College of Education, in partnership with the National Center for Research on Educator Diversity (NCRED), is launching a Community Teacher Equity Development (CTED) program that is dedicated to preparing, placing and supporting local community members who have deep knowledge and experience with parents, families, and schools (i.e., paraeducators, long-term substitutes, classified school staff, community organizers and after-school workers). The CTED program, as a research practice partnership, represents a new way of bridging research and practice related to teacher development systems by incorporating multiple and diverse perspectives to inform the work, and integrating thoughtful consideration of the varied roles district, community, and university partners play. The Community Teacher Equity Development (CTED) program will recruit local community members who: (1) are committed to anti-racist practices and advancing educational justice for marginalized students (2) work in under-resourced and under-staffed schools (3) teach a majority of students classified as living in low socioeconomic status (4) will be alternatively certified as teachers in shortage areas by the University of Houston College of Education.
Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: What is the required file naming format when submitting an RFC (data fix)?
A: EPPs must submit data fix forms to TEA via the Help Desk. When submitting the form, the required naming convention for the file is your six-digit EPPCDN_mm.dd.year(1). If you have more than one file per day, end in (2), (3), etc. We require this naming convention for all data fixes because the process for handling them is automated.
Q: Are principal and superintendent applicants required to complete more than one admission screener for program admission?
A: Per 19 TAC §241.5(c) and 19 TAC §242.5(c), EPPs are required to implement admission procedures that include at least two screening activities to determine the applicant’s knowledge, experience, skills, and aptitude for principal and superintendent applicants. TEA advises EPPs approved to offer principal and/or superintendent certification to review its admission screeners to ensure admission screening requirements are met.
For all other non-teacher classes, EPPs are required to have one admission screener to determine the applicant’s knowledge, experience, skills, and aptitude for the certification sought. EPPs can require additional screening activities for certificate classes that only require one screener.
Your best source for information and support at the TEA.
As an Educator Preparation Program, your main point of contact is your Education Specialist.
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To view a list of EPPs and their associated Education Specialist, please click here.
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For easiest assistance, file a HelpDesk Ticket.
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.
Resources at a Glance...
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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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Texas Teach Like a Champion (TLAC)
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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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