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Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter
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Welcome
“A new year brings not only happiness. It makes us happy with a hope to fulfill our dreams of a new beginning of our life. So, our new year is very special to everyone.” - Santonu Kumar Dhar
I love the transition from one year to the next. It is a great time to reflect on all of our accomplishments and joys, but also offers us a reset from our mistakes and challenges of the previous year. Each year is a new book that we get to write. A fresh start where we can make the year into whatever we want it to be and more. Dream big, laugh loudly, and set goals that you work to master. Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
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.
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There are no new events at this time.
There are no new deadlines at this time.
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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
Let’s Welcome TEA’s New Educator Preparation Program Director!
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Pam Wetherington as the Director of Educator Preparation. Pam brings extensive knowledge, skills, and experiences as a former classroom teacher, teacher educator, and leader in teacher education. She is thrilled to work with and support Texas’ educator preparation programs.
Updates to Student Maintenance Page in ECOS
As of December 16, the student maintenance page in ECOS will only allow an EPP to select and add current certificates to a candidate’s enrollment record. Previously, current, and expired certificates could be selected and added to an unlocked year. This fix will help to decrease potential errors in this data entry.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: Health EC-12 Exam Framework Public Comment Period through January 14th
Public Comments are being requested through January 14, 2022, on the draft Health EC-12 Framework. The framework will help guide the test development process for the new Health EC-12 Exam. Comments may be sent to Ebony Love.
New: ETS Seeking Constructed Response Scorers for PASL
ETS invites school leaders and preparation faculty to participate in the online scoring of the ETS® Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL). This is an excellent opportunity for school leaders and preparation program faculty to become more familiar with this certification exam. Professionals who meet the criteria listed here are eligible to be scoring professionals (raters) for the PASL assessment.
Reminder: ELAR 4-8 #217 Exam Launch January 1, 2022
The redesigned ELAR 4-8 #217 exam launched January 1, 2022. The last day for candidates to take the ELAR 4-8 #117 exam was December 31, 2021. The last registration date was December 29, 2021, with score reporting through January 2022. Please see the linked one-pager for more information.
DID YOU KNOW?
Starting January 1, 2022, the Core Subjects: EC-6 (391) is the only certification exam available for administration for the Core Subjects EC-6 certification. For more information, please review the FAQ section of the Core Subjects: EC-6 transition one-pager or TEA’s STR Teacher Candidate webpage.
Updates related to Educator Certification
Two Views for Online Certificate Information
The virtual certificate, SBEC’s online official record of certification, is being updated to show a “current” and a “historical” version. Effective December 16, 2021, educators have the option to view and print the online version of their certificate record that best meets their needs. The “current” version will only include the list of certificates with active dates, while the “historical” version will include the list of certificates with expired dates. Members of the public will continue to have access to the Certificate Lookup feature on the TEA website to view an educator’s official record of certification if they have the correct name under which the educator obtained their certification. Educators with a sanction on their file will have that information appear on both versions of their certificate record.
Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
SBEC December 10th Meeting
The December SBEC meeting was held Friday, December 10th. More information about the SBEC meeting, including the meeting agenda and access to view the meeting recording, can be found on the SBEC webpage.
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.
New: Welcome International Leadership Texas!
TEA welcomes International Leadership Texas (ILTexas) as the newest Ed Prep Program in Texas. ILTexas was approved as an ACP at the December SBEC meeting. They are approved to offer Core Subjects EC-6/STR, Core Subjects 4-8/STR, Bilingual Supplemental, and ESL Supplemental certification and will begin on January 3, 2022.
Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: Is it acceptable to use an Accuplacer score instead of TOEFL for an out-of-country applicant?
A: It is not acceptable to use an Accuplacer score as an indicator of English language proficiency (ELP). 19 TAC 230.11(b)(5) is specific for the three options for demonstrating ELP. If the applicant to an EPP does not hold a degree conferred in the US or from a university in a country whose official language is English, then the only option to use is for the applicant to meet the minimum proficiency scores on the TOEFL-ibt. The minimum proficiency scores on the TOEFL-ibt are: 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing. Reference 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(B). TOEFL scores are also only valid for two years and scores from more than one test may be combined to demonstrate that proficiency has been met on each of the four parts.
Q: Is it possible for an EPP to find out how many students get certified within an academic year via ECOS?
A: EPPs can find out how many candidates have been certified by sorting the certificate recommendation list for "Certified". This list may also be downloaded using the link at the bottom of the “Entity Recommendation List” page.
Information regarding the Science of Teaching Reading Exam can be accessed at tea.texas.gov/str.
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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Lesson Study Gateway Resources
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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.
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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