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Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter
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Welcome
“In this world, success comes to those with confidence and faith in themselves.” - Hugh O’Brian
I am convinced that finding confidence and faith in yourself are two of the hardest things to accomplish in life. As educators, I feel that we are always reflective and see what we could have done differently or better and do not always celebrate the things we have done well and have achieved. This week, I challenge you to walk in confidence and have faith in your ability to do anything and celebrate your accomplishments!
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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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edTPA 101: Orientation to Performance-Based, Subject-Specific Assessment
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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.
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edTPA Implementation Series (Part 4)
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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.
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This workshop is intended for faculty, instructors, and supervisors who support teacher candidates. In this collaborative workshop, a member of the edTPA National Academy (affiliated with a Texas Educator
Preparation Program) 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.
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New: ASEP Reporting 2021-2022
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This webinar will provide information and guidance pertaining to submission of 2021-2022 data that is due September 15. Information in this webinar will be important for EPP staff engaged in the annual ASEP reporting process for the EPP.
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New Introductory Passing Standard
(Below committee recommendation)
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School Counselor Certification
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Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #152
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Trade & Industrial Education 6-12 Certification
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Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #270
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Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #117
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Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #291
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(At committee recommendation)
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Your best source for information and support at the TEA.
As an Educator Preparation Program, your main point of contact is your Education Specialist.
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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.
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Option 2: Educator Certification
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Option 3: Fingerprinting
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Option 6: Investigations
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Option 8: General Office Information
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Countdown to ASEP Reporting
Updates related to Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP) Reporting
New: To assist EPPs with completing ASEP Reporting with ease, we have developed weekly reminders for those staff working on ASEP Reporting at each EPP. Each week, you will receive a reminder in this EPP Newsletter that include timely tasks to successfully complete reporting for 2021-22 by September 15.
Week 1 ASEP Task Reminders (4):
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Know your assigned Education Specialist. This is the TEA staff member that you will need to reach out to when you have questions about ASEP Reporting. The Education Specialist Assignments are listed on the Program Provider Resources page under Forms and Documents. Your Education Specialist is one of five staff members:
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Vanessa Alba
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Lorrie Ayers
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Emily Carrizalez
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Melonie Godeaux
- Angela Von Hatten
2. Utilize the Help Desk for all questions related to ASEP Reporting. Your Education Specialist will address your EPP’s questions in the Help Desk. We are in the Help Desk under the Educator Testing and Preparation Programs Help Desk icon:
3. Finally, be sure to review the 2021-2022 ASEP Reporting Manual on the Program Provider Resources page. It is located under Forms and Documents. This is a helpful resource as it provides useful information needed to complete ASEP Reporting.
4. Register for the ASEP Reporting 2021-2022 webinar (the registration link is in Upcoming Events) and place it on your calendar to ensure you are at the webinar. Be sure to invite anyone from your EPP that you believe needs to participate in the webinar.
Candidate Support Reminders
Here are a couple of reminders that can help EPP candidates with various EPP-related issues.
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If a candidate applied for the wrong certification and needs a fee transfer, the candidate will complete the correct certification application until the candidate gets to the payment screen. The candidate will then submit a Help Desk ticket to Educator Certification requesting a fee transfer from the incorrect certificate application to the correct one.
Please share this guidance with your candidates so they are aware of the TEA process to support their success.
Principal and Teacher Survey Roster Reviews
The Principal and Teacher Surveys closed for responses as of June 15. As we have done in prior years, TEA has provided rosters of respondents to EPPs for your optional review, to confirm that the respondents were associated with your EPP. TEA has cleaned these data and compared the rosters to ECOS and to the K-12 data but based on EPP request in prior years, we also provide for this optional review by EPPs. EPPs have now been provided access to these rosters via email. Any RFE forms for these surveys are due by August 1 at 5 PM CST. Exceptions submitted after that date/time will not be reviewed or accepted.
Title II Reporting – Thank You!
A big THANK YOU!!! to our EPP partners for completing your Title II IPRC. All EPPs in Texas have now completed and certified this required reporting. Thank you for your effort in providing this data, your patience in waiting for the portal to open, and your work with the new federal vendor (RTI) to address technical issues. As a reminder, this reporting is typically completed with a deadline of April 30, so be on the lookout for it next year a little earlier. Thanks again for your effort!
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: Purchasing Exam Vouchers
Deafblind (#185) Exam Framework Update
Please view the updated Deafblind (#185) exam framework here. if
Reminder: ELAR 4-8 Exam Transition and Certification Communication
The last day that a certificate may be recommended by the EPP using the ELAR 4-8 (#117) exam results remains October 30, 2022. TEA staff sent direct email communication (including a one-pager FAQ linked here) to candidates who have passed ELAR 4-8 (#117) but have not been issued a standard ELAR 4-8 Certificate and additional email communication to EPPs with candidates who have passed test #117 but have not been issued a standard certificate in ELAR 4-8. Both emails contain more information about this upcoming deadline.
Updates related to Educator Certification
New: Certification Waivers
A teacher certification waiver allows a district to employ an individual to serve as a teacher without the necessary certification requirements. Teacher certification waivers cannot be approved for individuals to serve in special education or bilingual education assignments. Certification waivers are not recommended for Educator Preparation Program (EPP) candidates because it does not count towards program requirements, is not issued, or supervised by the EPP, and can prolong the certification process. However, given the ongoing vacancies across the state, districts are submitting requests to place EPP candidates on certification waivers.
When a teacher certification waiver request is submitted by a district for an EPP candidate, TEA staff in Educator Certification contact the district to ensure that the EPP candidate is not currently eligible for an SBEC-issued credential and confirms that a conversation has occurred with the candidate and their EPP. TEA staff in Educator Certification continue to encourage districts to maintain open and ongoing communication with EPPs so that both parties can actively support candidates in transitioning to an SBEC-issued certificate as soon as all requirements are met.
In each newsletter, we aim to celebrate the great work from EPPs around Texas.
Reminder: Do you know of exemplar educator preparation work happening in Texas? We want to spotlight this excellent work in our great state! 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 Kelly Torrey (Kelly.Torrey@tea.texas.gov) or your Education Specialist.
Every newsletter we take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: One of our recently admitted candidates wants to change their certification category but they do not meet the content hour requirement for the new certification. The candidate will continue to certify in the same certification route. Can we approve the request?
A: Once a candidate is admitted, the candidate is not required to meet the content hour requirement for a new certification category. For example, if the candidate chose to certify in Science 7-12 but now wants to certify in Art EC-12, TAC does not require the candidate to have art-focused content hours for the program to approve the change request. The candidate will submit a written change request to the program as required in 19 TAC §228.40(d). If the program chooses to approve the request, the program will then need to revise the candidate’s program enrollment certification category and provide any additional coursework and training and test approval as appropriate for the new certificate category. Don't forget to save the written request to the candidate’s records. NOTE: The program must be approved for the certification the candidate is seeking. If the program is not approved for the new certification category, the program is unable to approve the request.
Q: What are the certification routes offered by EPPs in Texas?
A: There are 3 possible routes to certification that an approved EPP may offer: Traditional, Alternative, and Post-Baccalaureate.
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The Traditional route allows the candidate to earn a bachelor’s degree and certification concurrently. This route would be offered in a university-based program.
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The Post-baccalaureate route is designed for candidates seeking an advanced degree (master’s or doctorate degree) and certification concurrently. This route would be offered in a university-based program.
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The Alternative certification route is designed for candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree (or master’s degree if applicable for the certification) and are seeking certification only. This route may be offered in university and non-university programs.
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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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PASL Videos
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TEA
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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.
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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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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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