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Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter
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Welcome
“Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.” - Dr. Ian Malcom, Jurassic Park
This is my favorite movie quote. Even though it specifically states “scientists”, this quote applies to every decision that we have the ability to make. Our choices impact others around us and that is a lot of responsibility. Before making a choice, we all need to stop and consider, am I making this choice because I can and others will have to follow, or should I make this choice because it is going to make a positive impact on lives of others. As the school year is ramping up, we will face choices daily, I challenge you to ask yourself if this is a choice you should be making.
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.
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Continuing Approval Review Webinar
(All EPPs welcome but target audience is 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.
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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 5: Enter All Observations
Verify that all your observations for 2020-2021 (9/1-8/31) have been input or uploaded. Observations must be uploaded for all teacher and non-teacher candidates completing clinical teaching, an internship, or a practicum. Ensure that all your field supervisors are on your field supervisor list in ASEP. If they are not there, please enter them so observations for candidates assigned to a particular field supervisor can be uploaded. Complete the Request for Exception (RFE) form if necessary to submit an exception for any candidates from the observations data calculations (ex: candidate was issued a standard certificate before the additional internship was complete). The RFE form can be found on TEA’s Program Provider Resources page.
Please note that the requirement to conduct observations for the 2020-2021 academic year was not waived. While 19 TAC 228.1(e) allowed for the use of synchronous virtual settings or asynchronous virtual settings, the requirements in 19 TAC 229.35(g) were not removed.
Previous ASEP Action of the Week:
Week 1: Know your assigned Education Specialist
Week 2: Complete Admission Reporting
Week 3: Update Finisher Candidates
Week 4: Remove All Exiters
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Your best source for information and support at the TEA.
As an EPP, 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.
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
New: Guidance Regarding Internship Placement, Observations, and Field-Based Experience for the 2021-2022 Academic Year
As a reminder, the flexibility provided in 19 TAC 228.1(e) has expired as of the end of the 2020-2021 academic year. In accordance with TAC, in the 2021-2022 academic year, all programs must adhere to the educator preparation training requirements outlined in 19 TAC 228.35. With this in mind,
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Internships must take place in an actual school setting rather than a distance learning lab or virtual school setting (228.35(e)(6)),
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Formal observations must be conducted by the field supervisor at the candidate's site in a face-to-face setting (228.35(g)(1)), and
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15 hours of field-based experience must be conducted in an authentic school setting (228.35(e)(1)(A)(I)).
EPPs are encouraged to actively communicate with their LEA partners regarding SBEC requirements for field supervision and the value and importance of candidate supervision and support. TEA staff will also distribute communication to LEAs that addresses these requirements.
In addition, we have received questions regarding SB 1590, 87th Legislature, Regular Session, which requires the SBEC to make rules that may allow for some virtual observation. The SBEC will take up rulemaking regarding SB 1590 this Fall, and we will share more updates as we have them. Due to the attenuated timeline for SBEC rulemaking, it is likely that the new rules will not be effective until the 2022-2023 school year.
New: Primary and Alternate ECOS Approvers
As we approach a new academic year it can be a good time to review your EPP’s primary and alternate approvers. EPP Legal Authorities should log in to their TEAL account to identify which EPP staff members have primary and alternate approver access. Each EPP should have one primary approver (always the program’s Legal Authority) and at least one alternate approver (typically the program’s backup Legal Authority, the primary point of contact, or Certification Officer). The Legal Authority and Back-up Legal Authority do not automatically have primary or alternate approver access. They must request it.
If there’s a change in an EPP’s Legal Authority, please notify your assigned Education Specialist to receive the Request to Change Legal Authority letter. Once TEA receives the letter, TEA will send instructions on how to request access.
With primary approver status, the EPP Legal Authority can approve EPP staff requests for ECOS for Entities access. The EPP Legal Authority can also check to see who has ECOS for Entities access. If you find someone who has ECOS for Entities access but is no longer employed by the EPP, please remove the access. Contact your assigned Education Specialist if you have any questions about how to do this.
Don’t forget – reporting for the 2020-2021 academic year closes on September 15th, 2021.
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 be 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, is available here.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
185 Deafblind Exam Framework Available for Public Comment
The draft #185 Deafblind EC-12 Framework is currently posted for public comment through September 12, 2021. The exam framework, which is based on the standards approved by the SBEC, will help guide the test development process for the new 185 Deafblind: EC-12 TExES exam. Comments may be sent to DeMarco.Pitre@tea.texas.gov.
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.
DID YOU KNOW?
New Representative Examinations are now available for purchase for the following exams.
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School Counselor (252)
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Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities for Trade and Industrial Education (370)
Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: If the Governor’s Declaration of Disaster is in effect at the start of the 2021-2022 academic year, but expires during the Fall semester, will the 20% reduction rule in 19 TAC §228.10(d) be applicable to candidates who start clinical teaching, an internship, or a practicum in the Spring?
A: The Governor’s Declaration of Disaster must be active at some point during the candidate’s clinical teaching, internship, or practicum for the 20% reduction rule to be applicable for that candidate. Given that the declaration is currently in place, the 20% reduction rule can apply to candidates who start clinical teaching, an internship, or a practicum at the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic year.
Make sure to document the 20% reduction allowance in the candidate’s file if it is used to decrease the number of training days required.
Q: What am I required to do regarding test approval if a candidate is unsuccessful on a TExES certification exam?
A: When a candidate is unsuccessful on a TExES exam attempt, the testing status automatically reverts back to “eligible” because they cannot test again for 30 calendar days. The candidate’s test approval status must be set to “approved for one attempt” by the EPP once test readiness is determined per 19 TAC §228.40(d). Please make sure your candidates are aware of the test approval process.
TEA is unable to provide test approval to EPP candidates.
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.
Texas TLAC One Pager for EPPs
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Full scope and sequence of upcoming edTPA training opportunities.
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The Texas Education Agency will improve outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.
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