November 3, 2021: Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter

Texas Education Agency sent this bulletin at 11/03/2021 09:01 AM CDT
Texas Education Agency

November 3, 2021

Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter
CTE teacher

Welcome

"One cannot deny who one is meant to be" - Ernesto De La Cruz (Disney/Pixar Coco) 

Even when times are tough, take time to reflect on your “why” and remind yourself that you were meant to educate! 

Our goal is for this 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: edTPA Curriculum Inquiry 
Event Description: In this collaborative workshop, a member of the edTPA National Academy will provide opportunities for participants to review their programs’ scope and sequence and course syllabi to identify areas in which the constructs, measured by edTPA, are already embedded and could naturally be embedded. 
Event Date: November 12, 2021 Register Here 
Event Time: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. 

Event: edTPA 101: Orientation to Performance-Based, Subject-Specific Assessment 
Event Description: In this webinar, participants will be provided with an overview of the purpose, development, and design of edTPA. Additionally, participants will examine what candidates provide as evidence for each of the edTPA tasks, engage in a review of the scoring process, and learn how to access key resources. 
Event Date: November 17, 2021 Register here 
Event Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. 

Event: Tools for edTPA Data Analysis
Event Description: In this webinar, a Pearson representative will provide an overview and demonstration of the ResultsAnalyzer® interactive reporting tool for edTPA. ResultsAnalyzer® is the web-based application that allows score reporting contacts the opportunity to review and analyze assessment data.
Event Date: November 18, 2021 Register here 
Event Time: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

New Event: Certificate Correction, Deactivation/Reactivation, and Data Fix Webinar
Event Description: The purpose of this webinar is to review certificate correction, deactivation, reactivation, and data fix processes. 
Event Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021 Register Here 
Event Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am CST

Upcoming Deadlines

Topic: ASEP Technology Fee
Action Item: Submit payment of fee, per invoice
Due Date: November 16, 2021

Topic: Test-Limit Waiver
Action Item: Last date to submit waiver applications for Core Subjects EC-6 (291) & ELAR 4-8 (117) - if applicable for the candidate 
Due Date: December 1, 2021

Topic: Last Administration Date for TExES #117 & TExES #291 Exams
Action Item: Share deadline information with candidates and encourage early exam registration. 
Due Date: Last administered December 31, 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.   

Educator Preparation Program Support

Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management

New: October 20 Insight to Impact Data Dashboard Webinar - Thank you! 
Thanks so much to everyone who joined the Insight to Impact webinar on October 20. We had a great turnout-- 96 participants from 74 EPPs! Thank you for providing high-quality feedback and engaging in the very important discussion around Insight to Impact. If you were unable to attend, you can click here to view the slide deck. 

New: Certificate Correction, Deactivation/Reactivation, and Data Fix Webinar 
It’s time for another EPP webinar! This webinar will occur on Wednesday, December 1st from 10:00 am – 11:00 am. The purpose of this webinar is to review certificate correction, deactivation, reactivation, and data fix processes. This webinar is intended for those who submit certificate correction, deactivation/reactivation, and data fix requests. The webinar registration link can be found in the Upcoming Events section as well.  

Updated: Innovative EPP Commendation Call  
In October of 2019, the SBEC approved a framework and procedures for determining EPP Commendations. Commendation Category 4, the Innovative Educator Preparation category, gives the SBEC the opportunity to designate EPPs that have implemented innovative approaches in a defined area of emphasis.  

For 2020-2021, the SBEC seeks to recognize EPPs that engage in comprehensive partnerships with LEAs to support district-specific needs in one or more of the following areas:   

  • supporting districts and mentor teachers through the pandemic,   
  • ​accelerating learning in response to COVID-related learning loss,   
  • addressing staffing challenges, and   
  • implementing best practices that emerged from EPP and/or district responses to the COVID pandemic.   

The call for applications can be found at the link and on the Program Provider Resources page. EPPs must respond to the call by December 1, 2021 with a complete set of materials to be eligible for recognition. The TEA reviews applications for topic alignment and completeness. Complete and appropriate applications are reviewed by an SBEC committee which recommends EPPs to the full SBEC for approval of the commendation. Recognition is awarded at the discretion of the committee and the SBEC.  

The FAQ document for the Innovative EPP Commendation Call provides responses to questions received from the field to date.  

Educator Standards and Testing

Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing   

ELAR 4-8 (217): Open Registration 
Registration for the redeveloped English Language Arts and Reading 4–8 (217) exam is now open for testing beginning January 1, 2022. Approval has been uploaded for those programs already approved for ELAR 4-8. Please make sure to give your candidates the correct exam approval. 

Please see the informational one-pager that addresses timelines and other frequently asked questions related to the exam launch, program requirements, and candidate preparation resources. Review the Required Texas Certification Test Chart for the last date the ELAR 4-8 (117) can be used for certification.    

DID YOU KNOW?  
Candidates can now upload their Test-Limit Waiver application online. Please have them review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document  for answers to common questions. 

Educator Certification

Updates related to Educator Certification  

New: Superintendent Certification Application 
The Superintendent Certification Application for the Substitution of Managerial Experience in Lieu of the Principal Certification has been updated. Please destroy old versions of the application that you may have on file. 

In order to substitute managerial experience for the principal certification, individuals must have three years of experience as a district employee in the following areas: 

1) Supervising and/or appraising personnel (direct supervision or appraisal, not simply taking part in the appraisal process); 

2) Leading district-wide (not campus-wide) projects or initiatives; and 

3) Managing and/or creating a budget 

FAQs

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

Q: What is the procedure for reporting a candidate’s content hours for a supplemental area? 
A: Per 19 TAC §227.10(a)(4), when calculating a candidate’s subject-specific content hours for EPP admission, the EPP will identify the number of semester credit hours completed in the content area related to the certificate category sought by the candidate (ex: Mathematics 7-12). These hours, and the GPA of the hours, are reported when creating the admission record in ECOS. If the candidate intends to pursue a supplemental certificate in addition to the content certificate category, the EPP has the option to identify the subject-specific hours related to courses completed in the supplemental area. The EPP would report any hours on the candidate transcript that were related to the supplemental area or if they had no hours in the supplemental area, then the admission record would reflect 0 hours and 0.00 GPA for the supplemental area. The TAC rule referenced here only requires the EPP to verify the semester credit hours for the content area of the certificate category chosen by the candidate at admission. 

Q: Is the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) EC-12 exam the pedological exam requirement for both Early Childhood: Prekindergarten – Grade 3 and Core Subjects with STR: EC- Grade 6 certifications? 
A: Yes, the TExES #160 PPR exam is an exam option to meet the pedological exam requirement for both Early Childhood: Prekindergarten – Grade 3 and Core Subjects with STR: EC- Grade 6. EPPs can use the Required Texas Certification Tests (including deadlines to apply for certification) to identify the exam requirements for each certification, including aligned edTPA handbooks for each certificate. The certification test chart can be found on TEA’s Educator Testing webpage. 

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.   

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.  

Lesson Study Gateway Resources 

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

Texas Teach Like a Champion (TLAC)   

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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