September 14, 2021: Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter

Texas Education Agency

September 14, 2021

Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter

CTE teacher

Welcome

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”  - Jimmy Dean 

September is always great reminder of how busy things can getThe “excitement” of back-to-school activities starts to fade, and we find ourselves knee deep in our workSome days are busier than others, and much like the wind, we can feel like we are being blown in a thousand different directionsAs the wind continues to blow, set your eyes upon the goals and vision of your work. Remind yourself of what is important and the impact of reaching the endGive yourself grace in allowing your sails to be adjusted in order to stay on the courseYou will make it!  

Our goal is for the newsletter to serve 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.   

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

Upcoming Events

Event: Certification Officer Training
(2-day virtual training)

Description: The Certification Officer training is for EPP staff who serve in the Certification Officer role, EPP staff who report candidate data to ECOS, or those who would like to learn more about the responsibilities of the Certification Officer. 
Event Date: Thursday & Friday, September 23 – 24, 2021 
Event Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

New Event: ELAR 4-8 Preparation Manual CRI Deep Dive Webinar (Option 1) *This webinar is being offered twice  
Description: This webinar will closely examine examples of constructed response items on the redesigned English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 Exam (217).
Event Date: Monday, September 27 (Join here)
Registration is not required. 
Event Time: 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. CST 

New Event: ELAR 4-8 Preparation Manual CRI Deep Dive Webinar (Option 2) *This webinar is being offered twice  
Description: This webinar will closely examine examples of constructed response items on the redesigned English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 Exam (217).
Event Date: Thursday, September 30 (Join here) 
Registration is not required. 
Event Time: 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. CST 

New Event: ELAR 7-12 Redesigned Exam (331) Framework Overview Webinar 
Description: This webinar will guide participants through the redesigned English Language Arts and Reading 7-12 Redesigned Exam (331) Framework.
Event Date: Thursday, October 20 (Join here)
Registration is not required.  
Event Date1:00-2:30 p.m.


Upcoming Deadlines

Topic: Waiver Probationary (WPRO) or Waiver Intern (WINT) Certificate - IMPORTANT
Action Item: 
Provide test approval, as appropriate, to WPRO and WINT candidates. Actively communicate with WPRO/WINT candidates and LEA partners about requirements and next steps.  
Due Date: Before the WPRO or WINT certificate expires.

Topic: 2020-2021 ASEP Reporting
Action Item: 
EPPs are required to report EPP data to TEA by September 15, 2021. 
Due Date: September 15, 2021


Table Of Contents

EPP Points of Contact

Your best source for information and support at the TEA.   

As an EPP, your main point of contact is your Education Specialist.   

  • To view a list of EPPs and their associated Education Specialist, please click here.   
  • For easiest assistance, file a HelpDesk Ticket.  

Countdown to ASEP Reporting

It’s the final countdown...to ASEP reporting! Please make sure your EPP has completed the following by 5:00 p.m. on 9/15/2021.   

  • Verify candidates admitted to your EPP from 9/1/2020 - 8/31/2021 were reported to TEA 
    • Use the Maint Admission tab under the ASEP drop-down menu to verify admitted candidates 
  • Verify candidates’ 2020-2021 program enrollment status  
    • Other Enrolled, Finisher, or Removed status 
  • Verify that teacher & non-teacher observations that occurred from 9/1/2020 - 8/31/2021 were reported to TEA 
    • Use the Observation Report tab under the ASEP drop-down menu to verify observations reported 
  • Submit the APR Applied spreadsheet to Preparation Programs in Help Desk 
  • Submit Request for Exception (RFE) forms to Preparation Programs in Help Desk 
    • Intern candidates who started an internship in Spring 2020 and were not observed due to COVID will be automatically removed from the program’s observation data 
    • Candidates who obtained a WPRO certificate in 2020 will also be automatically removed from the program’s observation data 
    • EPPs are not required to submit an observation RFE form for the candidates identified above 

2020-2021 ASEP Reporting Affidavits are due to TEA by 5:00 p.m. on 9/22/2021 
via 
Preparation Programs in Help Desk. The Affidavit template can be found under the Forms and Documents section on the Program Provider Resources page. 

The 2020-2021 reporting year will close on 9/15/2021 and will not re-open. 

Educator Preparation Program Support

Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management  

New: 2021 –2022 Continuing Approval Reviews  
Fall football season is not the only thing that has kicked-off recently. The TEA Educator Preparation team is about to kick-off the 2021-2022 EPP Review Season! This is a reminder to all EPPs being reviewed in 2021-2022. The first four EPP Reviews begin October 4, 2021. The Status Reports for each are due two weeks prior to that date on September 20, 2021, by 5 PM CST. TEA will send candidate lists on that same date for those EPPs. If you have not identified your highest impact, lowest performing STR certificate field, please do so now so that TEA can send you the applicable alignment charts. TEA will not remind any other EPPs in the newsletter of due dates. Please check your official notification letter for your due dates and contact your Assigned Review Education Specialist for any questions that you may have. 

New: EPP-facing Dashboard Update 
Several months ago, TEA entered the planning phase for new EPP-facing dashboards which will be available at no cost to all EPPs. We are currently working with a small group of EPPs to develop initial visualizations based on essential questions that will inform this ongoing work. In the coming weeks, we plan to host a webinar to provide a detailed update to the field on this work.  We will reach out to those who responded to the previous newsletter call in May. If you did not respond previously but would like to take part in this meaningful conversation, please email Kacy.Williams@tea.texas.gov. 

Be sure to check the newsletter for monthly updates about the dashboard project. 

Continuing Approval Review Webinar Recording 
The recording for the Continuing Approval Review Webinar is now posted to the Program Provider Resources page under the EPP Training Events and Materials tab. This webinar was presented by TEA on August 25, 2021. You can find the 2021 – 2022 continuing approval review handbook and rubric under the Forms and Documents tab on the Program Provider Resources page.  

Communication Shared with LEAs Regarding Requirements for Educators Completing an Internship During the 2021-2022 Academic Year 
On September 2, TEA staff distributed a To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) 
Correspondence to LEAs regarding requirements for educators completing an internship on an intern or probationary certificate during the 2021-2022 academic year. The intent of the correspondence was to communicate that w
hen a LEA employs an educator 
completing an internship on an intern or probationary certificate, the
 LEA agrees to adhere to the educator internship requirements in TAC to ensure that the educator receives 
required support
. The full text of the TAA Correspondence can be found here 

Educator Standards and Testing

Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing   

ELAR: 4-8 (217) TExES Exam Preparation Manual  
The Preparation Manual for English Language Arts and Reading 4-8 (217) is now available on the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website. To access it, visit http://www.tx.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/TX217_PrepMaterials.html 

  •  This preparation manual includes: 
  • The ELAR 4-8 examination framework 
  • Approaches to answering different question types 
  • Sample selected-response questions 
  • In-depth rationales for correct and incorrect responses 
  • A sample constructed response question 
  • Sample strong and weak constructed-responses and rationales 
  • A list of preparation resources 

Candidate assistance is available through the Contact Us page on the program website at http://www.tx.nesinc.com/Contacts.aspx. 

School Counselor (252) and PPR for Trade and Industrial Education (370) Exam Launches  
The new School Counselor and PPR for Trade and Industrial Education TExES exams launched on September 6, 2021. Candidates are now able to register for and take both redesigned exams.  

Additional information regarding the redesigned exams can be found on the Certification Redesign website and linked above. 

Passing Standards Effective September 6  
An amendment to §151.1001, concerning passing standards for educator certification examinations, takes effect for the following exams taken on or after September 6, 2021. The amendment specifies the satisfactory scores for the following educator certification examinations: Science of Teaching Reading, Early Childhood: PK-3English Language Arts and Reading 4-8Educational Diagnostician, and Principal as Instructional Leader.  

DID YOU KNOW? 
Testing appointments for the redeveloped English Language Arts and Reading 4–8 (217) exam will be available beginning January 1, 2022. Registration is anticipated to open on October 12, 2021. 

FAQs

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

Q: Our EPP recently admitted candidates who are certifying in Core Subjects w/ STR EC-6. Which exam should we approve for these candidates, TExES #291 or the TExES #391? 
A: Programs should provide test approval for TExES #391 for first time test takers who meet the testing requirements in 19 TAC §228.40(d). The last administration date for the #291 exam will be 12/31/21 and the last date that the exam can be used for certification is 12/31/2022. We, therefore, strongly recommend that programs only give test approval for the #291 exam for those candidates who have already passed some, but not all, of the #291 subtests. All other candidates should be given test approval for the #391 exam.  

Q: If I forget to report an observation for the 2020-2021 reporting year by 5:00 p.m. on 9/15/2021, will TEA be able to re-open the 2020-2021 ASEP reporting year so I can upload the observation? 
A: No, the 2020-2021 reporting year will not re-open. It is important to make sure all of the required data has been reported to TEA by the deadline. Please contact your assigned Education Specialist if you have any questions about ASEP reporting.  

 

TEA Updates

Additional updates on initiatives and opportunities from the TEA. 

Star

TEA is Hiring!

The EPCE Department Manager is a new role that will coordinate activities for the Educator Preparation, Certification and Enforcement Department at TEA including project management, stakeholder engagement, and executive-level administrative support for the EPCE Associate Commissioner. 

Please click on this link for more details: 
https://bit.ly/3t0zc64. 

 

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.  

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 a model of and practicing the same high leverage skill.    

Texas TLAC One Pager for EPPs

Full scope and sequence of upcoming edTPA training opportunities.   

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