New: The End is in Sight for TExES #152 School Counselor  
The TExES exam #152 is no longer available to testers, but a passing score on the TExES #152 exam can be used for certification purposes until September 6, 2022. There’s still time for EPPs to contact past and current finishers who have passed the #152 exam to ensure they are informed about the deadline of September 6, 2022 for using the exam for standard certification.  

New Year’s Resolution: Enter EPP Data into ECOS Throughout the Year 
With the start of a new year, the status of many of your candidates may have changed. For example, some candidates completed their clinical teaching or internship in the Fall semester and may now be Finishers. Now is a great time for EPP staff to review and update ECOS records for these candidates, ensuring that observation data has been entered and Finisher status has been updated where applicable. Keeping records updated throughout the year will save time at the end of the reporting year. 

Updated Education Specialist Assignment Chart 
TEA has updated the Education Specialist Assignments chart. The chart reflects the current TEA-approved educator preparation programs with the assigned TEA Education Specialist. The assignment chart can be found under the Forms and Documents 
section on TEA’s Program Provider Resources page.  

What’s Next for the TExES #291 Core Subjects EC-6 Exam?  
The TExES exam #291 is no longer available to testers but, a passing score on the TExES #291 exam can be used for certification purposes until December 30, 2022. 
EPPs should now think about how to efficiently process candidates who may want to use the #291 exam for certification before the December 30, 2022 deadline. EPPs may want to set earlier deadlines for certificate recommendations and to monitor certificate issuance to help candidates meet issuance deadlines. Here are some thoughts from TEA staff: 

Finishers: EPPs should communicate with past and current finishers who have passed the #291 exam to ensure they are informed about the deadline of December 30, 2022 for using the exam for standard certification. Additionally, EPPs can sort and export their Finisher Records list and their Standard Certification Recommendation list in ECOS to help identify candidates who are Finishers and/or who have applied for certificates but have not yet been recommended. Candidates who are finishers or past finishers should be encouraged to apply and pay for standard certification, 
so that requirements can be verified, and certificates recommended by the program, in a timely fashion so that certificates issue on or before December 30, 2022. 

Internship: EPPs who have candidates completing internships while holding Intern or Probationary certificates issued with a #291 exam should evaluate if candidates will be able to complete all requirements to meet the December 30, 2022 deadline for Standard certificate issuance. EPPs should provide communication regarding this information to their candidates (if applicable). NOTE: Please remember 19 TAC §228.35(e)(2)(B)(ix) requires the candidate to receive a successful internship recommendation from the assigned field supervisor and campus administrator at the end of the internship. 

Clinical Teaching: EPPs who have candidates that have passed the #291 exam but are not on target to meet the December 30, 2022 deadline because they have not begun an internship may qualify to complete clinical teaching instead. EPPs who are approved to offer clinical teaching may consider exploring this option with qualified candidates. The clinical teaching duration requirement is a minimum of 14 weeks, so completing clinical teaching instead of an internship shortens the timeline for candidates to complete requirements which could help candidates meet the December 30, 2022 deadline. 

What’s Next for the TExES #117 ELAR 4-8 Exam?  
The TExES exam #117 is no longer available to testers, but a passing score on the TExES #117 exam can be used for certification purposes until October 30, 2022. EPPs should now think about how to efficiently process candidates who may want to use the #117 exam for certification before the October 30, 2022 deadline. EPPs may want to set earlier deadlines for certificate recommendations and to monitor certificate issuance 
to help candidates meet issuance deadlines. Here are some thoughts from TEA staff:    

Finishers: EPPs should communicate with past and current finishers who have passed the #117 exam to ensure they are informed about the deadline of October 30, 2022 for using the exam for standard certification. Additionally, EPPs can sort and export their Finisher Records list and their Standard Certification Recommendation list in ECOS to help identify candidates who are Finishers and/or who have applied for certificates but have not yet been recommended. Candidates who are finishers or past finishers should be encouraged to apply and pay for standard certification, so that requirements can be verified, and certificates recommended by the program in a timely fashion so that certificates issue on or before October 30, 2022.  

Candidates Currently Completing Requirements: EPPs who have candidates working to complete requirements towards the ELAR 4-8 certificate should communicate 
deadlines with candidates so that requirements can be met, and certificates can be issued, by the October 30, 2022 deadline. 

If you have any questions about this information, contact your assigned Education Specialist for assistance. 

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.    

Updated: 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 updated ELAR 4-8 exam one-pager for more information.  

DID YOU KNOW?  
Any subtest passed on exam 291 does not transfer to exam 391. Candidates will be required to pass all five subtests on exam 391 to achieve an overall passing score.  

Q: Is the Governor’s Disaster Declaration still in place and if so, what does that mean for my EPP?  
A: Yes, the Governor’s Disaster Declaration was recently renewed for a month and is still in place. Reference 19 TAC §228.1(d) for the specific verbiage of the rule. Clinical teaching, internship, and practicum assignment minimums may be reduced by 20%, if necessary, to accommodate persons in affected areas. While the duration may be decreased, the required number of observations is not. Practically speaking, if a candidate is in an affected area and the campus closed during clinical teaching for a period of time, the EPP could shorten the clinical teaching experience by 20%. If a candidate is placed in a school that has had no disruptions and is able to complete all requirements as specified, s/he should do so and the EPP does not need to utilize the applicable TAC. If the disaster declaration is lifted, any candidate that started the clinical teaching, internship, or practicum assignment when the declaration was in place may complete the experience under that declaration. EPPs can follow the Governor’s Disaster Declaration in real time by going to the website to determine if it has been renewed and is still in place. 

Q: When a test is no longer available for test takers, how long may candidates, who have taken and passed the exam prior to the exam’s expiration date, use their scores for certificate issuance? 
A: The amount of time a candidate may use their passing scores for certificate issuance for exams that are no longer available for test takers is written in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). For example, the last date candidates may use their passing score for certificate issuance for TExES #117 ELAR 4-8 is October 30, 2022 as indicated in §TAC 233.3(b). Programs and candidates should first refer to TAC to help answer questions such as this, and the Required Test Chart may serve as a supplemental resource to also help answer such questions.