|
|
|
Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter
|
|
|
Welcome
“I want to be in the room where it happens.” - A. Burr, Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda
According to Broadway Buzz, Hamilton fans voted The Room Where It Happens as the 6th best song in Hamilton. It should be noted that the American musical, Hamilton, includes a total of 46 songs. If you have seen the musical, you know why the song is so highly regarded. During the number, Aaron Burr sings about wanting to have inside knowledge of how decisions are made and being part of crucial conversations. This song resonates with so many people because most people want to understand how decisions are made. I encourage each of you to get involved in decision making by sitting on committees, attending training, responding to surveys, etc. Every voice/your voice is important; so, find ways to be “...in the room where it happens.”
|
|
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.
Topic: edTPA 101
Description: This webinar is for faculty, instructors, supervisors, and P-12 partners who support teacher candidates and are new to edTPA. In this edTPA 101 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: April 20, 2022
Event Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Register here)
Topic: Part 4 of Implementation Series: Learning from edTPA Evidence
Description: In this webinar series, an edTPA National Academy Member (affiliated with a Texas Educator Preparation Program) will orient participants to the subject-specific, performance-based assessment edTPA; provide examples of best practices to effectively implement edTPA; identify strategies when supporting candidates during instruction and implementation; and describe methods for using and learning from edTPA evidence. This series will be offered three times between January and July 2022.
Event Date: April 21, 2022
Event Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Register here)
Topic: edTPA Handbook and Rubric Deep Dive
Description: In this workshop, a member of the edTPA National Academy (affiliated with a Texas Educator Preparation Program) will guide participants through a close examination of the edTPA tasks and rubrics, providing a deeper dive into what candidates are asked to think about, do, and write for each task as well as how candidate portfolios will be evaluated. Additionally, several instrumental resources will be shared along with best practices from successful implementation.
Event Date: April 25, 2022
Event Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Register here)
Topic: P-12 Partner Engagement & Support
Description: In this webinar, Texas EPPs and their school partners will share their purposeful, collaborative work to support teacher candidates. Session facilitators will also share how edTPA supports a rigorous and meaningful experience for teacher candidates and P-12 students.
Event Date: April 28, 2022
Event Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Register here)
Additional edTPA Workshops and Webinars:
To find information about the workshops and webinars that will be offered from May through July 2022, please see Spring and Summer 2022 edTPA Virtual Workshops and Webinars. Please note: When you access the flyer, you will want to save the flyer locally (rather than open in Google docs) in order to select the registration links.
Topic: Vetted Principal Residency Program Application
Action: Open Application, not required.
Due Date: April 12, 2022- May 9, 2022
Topic: PASL
New Action: Scores updated in ECOS
Due Date: May 18, 2022
Topic: School Counselor Certification
Action: Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #152.
Due Date: September 6, 2022
Topic: Trade & Industrial Education 6-12 Certification
Action: Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #270.
Due Date: September 6, 2022
Topic: ELAR 4-8 Certification
Action: Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #117.
Due Date: October 30, 2022
|
|
Your best source for information and support at the TEA.
As an Educator Preparation Program, your main point of contact is your Education Specialist.
-
Or, EPPs (and candidates) may call (512) 936-8400 and select Option #5: Educator Preparation Programs. If an Education Specialist is not available to answer the call at that time, please leave a voicemail. An Education Specialist will promptly return the call.
If EPPs (and candidates) would like to speak to a representative from another area(s), they may submit a Help Desk Ticket or contact (512) 936-8400 and select one of the options listed below.
-
Option 2: Educator Certification
-
Option 3: Fingerprinting
-
Option 6: Investigations
-
Option 8: General Office Information
|
|
|
Update: TEALearn’s Dyslexia Training is Now Available
TEALearn has a new dyslexia training, TEA Dyslexia, that has been made available (at no cost) to candidates who are seeking an initial certification for all certification classes. Information about the training and how to enroll can be found on the TEA Learn platform. NOTE: For candidates who have not yet been issued an intern, probationary, or standard certificate, please follow the steps noted on the webpage, Dyslexia Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs, to enroll in the course.
Update: Title II Reporting
TEA has recently been included in communication from the Title II vendor (RTI) related to the forthcoming IPRC reporting window. They have confirmed that the IPRC will not be due by April 30. They provided a rough timeline, stating that the IPRC reporting window should open within the next couple of weeks, and that the reporting will be due approximately two months after the window opens. They will reach out to EPPs with further information.
Thank you all again for your monitoring of this situation.
Changes in EPP Staff
It is that time of the year again when EPP Legal Authority (LA) and Back-Up Legal Authority (BULA) may need to be updated. If your EPP has a new LA or BULA, please contact your Education Specialist to request a template letter to make the change. Please ensure that TEA also has the EPP current address and phone number by including this information in your request. Once the change request has been completed, please submit it directly to Vanessa.alba@tea.texas.gov and copy your assigned Education Specialist.
If your EPP has new staff that needs ECOS for Entities access, please direct them to Secure Applications and scroll to ECOS for Entities to download the instructions before submitting the request. The request will go to the EPP’s LA/BULA for approval before being directed to TEA for final approval. After TEA approves the request, the new staff will be added to ECOS for Entities.
ECOS Updates
Updates to ECOS are scheduled for release on April 21, 2022. These updates include the following items of interest to EPPs:
-
Test Search: We are improving this feature so results correctly display for EPP candidates based on the parameters set in the search page.
-
Test approval pages: We are removing old tests from the test approval page. Only tests that are currently being administered will now display on the picklist.
-
View Pass Rates screen: We are cleaning up the listed tests, so only those used for determination of pass rate are displayed.
2022 Vetted Principal Residency Program List Application
TEA has opened the next cycle of the Vetted Principal Residency Program application for EPPs that are implementing principal residency models. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants will receive communication about their application status accordingly.
EPPs designated as vetted principal residency programs during the Spring 2022 application cycle are eligible to partner with awarded school districts who may be looking for EPP partnerships to leverage principal residency grant funds during principal residency grant cycle 6 for the 2023-2024 academic year. Application for the principal residency grant cycle 6 (district-facing) will open in early Fall 2022.
Key Application Information:
-
Application Materials: The 2022 Vetted Principal Residency Program Application Request includes application directions, submission checklists, EPP Fidelity of Implementation (FOI) and the link to the application. There is also a video application overview walking through the major components of the application.
-
Application Submission Timeline: 4/12/22- 5/09/22
-
Final Application Status Communication: May 30, 2022, though all applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
-
FAQ Submission Information: Please email any questions to principalresidency@tea.texas.gov by April 19, 2022. Your questions will then be populated into an FAQ that will be posted soon to the page Program Provider Resources.
Reminder: Effective Preparation Framework Development Underway
Work is currently underway in Texas to develop the Effective Preparation Framework – a framework that distinguishes effective preparation practices that yield improved outcomes for school children, future educators, local school districts, and EPPs.
In July 2021, the SBEC directed TEA staff to begin the process of developing an Effective Preparation Framework and engage a diverse set of stakeholders in the development processes. Since that time, the Educator Preparation Advisory Committee (EPAC), the SBEC’s standing advisory committee, has provided input on the components of an Effective Preparation Framework. In January 2022, members of the EPAC were asked to bring these draft components to their professional organizations and colleagues to solicit additional specificity and input. The goal of this process is to ensure that the diverse set of educator preparation stakeholders are able to provide meaningful feedback on the content of the framework early in the development process.
TEA staff has asked EPAC members to provide feedback collected from their professional organizations and colleagues by April 21, 2022. Please see the February 2022 SBEC item for additional information on the development process and the list of EPAC members. There will be additional opportunities to weigh in on the Effective Preparation Framework content over the course of spring and fall 2022, which will be shared via the newsletter.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: BTLPT Score Reporting Adjustments for June, July, and August 2022
The reporting timeline has been adjusted for three exam administrations of the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) Spanish (190) in June, July, and August 2022. Pearson is implementing internal systems updates for 190 that require a 7-day extension in the reporting period for only these three administrations. The adjustment does not apply to any other 190 administrations or to any other exam in the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program. The adjusted reporting dates for the June, July, and August 2022 exam administrations are available in the BTLPT Spanish score reporting table.
Final Exam Frameworks Available
All new assessments will have frameworks released about 12-18 months before the scheduled launch date announced on the Teacher Certification Redesign page. This marks the time to begin implementing changes to your internal systems and curriculum. Final exam frameworks are available for the exams below, and one-page informational documents will be available soon.
DID YOU KNOW?
EPPs can track the number of times a candidate has taken a particular exam with data available within the ResultsAnalyzer® section of the edReports website. Administrators can review the data to determine if candidates are approaching or have reached the five-attempt limit.
In each newsletter, we aim to celebrate the great work from EPPs around Texas.
Program Spotlight Nomination Form
TEA has created a process to gather information about the wonderful practices, partnerships, and initiatives conducted by EPPs. If you would like to nominate your EPP or another EPP you’ve worked with, please complete and submit the Program Spotlight Nomination Form. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Education Specialist.
Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: Can a non-teacher practicum be completed over multiple reporting years?
A: Yes, EPPs can determine the timeline for a practicum as long as candidates are able to complete a minimum of 160 hours of standards-based practicum activities related to the certification sought (e.g., Reading Specialist). If a practicum takes place over multiple reporting years, EPPs must ensure the observations that take place are reported in the academic year in which they occur. Remember, observations that occur during the last week of August will be reported in the same reporting year. For example, an observation that occurs on 8/31/2022 will be reported in the 2021-2022 reporting year.
Q: If a candidate works in multiple clinical teaching settings, how should the EPP report the assignment start and end dates?
A: Regardless of the number of settings, the EPP will report one assignment start date and one assignment end date. This is the same guidance for candidates completing a practicum assignment regarding the start and end date for the 160-hour experience. For candidates serving in internship assignments, TAC identifies the start date as the first day of instruction with students. The end date would be the end of the full school year.
Additional updates on initiatives and opportunities from the TEA.
Teacher Vacancy Task Force
TEA established the Teacher Vacancy Task Force to address ongoing staffing concerns that have been exacerbated by both population growth and the wide-ranging disruptions of a two-year-long pandemic. The Teacher Vacancy Task Force is working to find teacher-shaped solutions to these challenges - blending a variety of perspectives and experiences from current classroom teachers and school administrators - into thoughtful policy recommendations and an innovative way forward that firmly supports the needs of our teachers. For more information, please go to Teacher Vacancy Task Force Overview.
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.
Back to top
|
|
Click here to subscribe to this newsletter.
|
|
|
|
The Texas Education Agency will improve outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.
|
|
|
|
|
