August 2, 2022: Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter

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Texas Education Agency

August 2, 2022

Texas Educator Preparation Programs Newsletter

Three young students on the floor, sharing a book called Ovals, from Donna ISD

Welcome

"I don't believe you name a starter until the starter wins the team." - Nick Saban 

Football season is finally here, and there are so many lessons we can learn from how coaches build a team, select their starters, and use the first few games to structure and re-structure their plans. One of the greatest lessons we can learn from football is that the strongest teams trust their leaders (i.e., starters), but leadership is earned. How many times have we seen a coach announce a starting line up only for it to look different when they come back from halftime because the team did not believe in some of the players on the field? The leaders (or starters) have to prove themselves to the team and that they are willing and capable of doing the work. In football, as well as in education, it is important to build trust. Trust in team, trust in coach (or instructor), and a trust in the process. As we approach the beginning of the academic year, I challenge you to take time to build trust in your faculty, staff, student, and other stakeholders so that you can move forward with a strong team! 


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


Topic 

Description 

Event Date & Time 

ASEP Reporting 2021-2022 

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. 

Wednesday 

August 3, 2022 

10:30-11:30 a.m. 


Upcoming Deadlines

Topic   

Action Item   

Due Date   

ELAR 4-8 #217 

New Introductory Passing Standard  

(Below committee recommendation) 

September 2, 2022 

School Counselor Certification 

Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #152 

September 6, 2022 

Trade & Industrial Education 6-12 Certification 

Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #270 

September 6, 2022 

ELAR 4-8 Certification 

Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #117 

October 30, 2022 

Core Subjects EC-6 

Last day to apply and recommend for certification using #291 

December 30, 2022 

LOTE Spanish #613 

New Passing Standard 

January 9, 2023 

ELAR 4-8 #217 

New Passing Standard 

(At committee recommendation) 

September 1, 2023 


Table Of Contents

EPP Points of Contact

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 

The Teal Account Access team and Educator Testing team are available through the Help Desk. Links to both teams are below. 

Countdown to ASEP Reporting

Updates related to Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP) Reporting 

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 includes timely tasks to successfully complete reporting for 2021-22 by September 15.  

Week 3 ASEP Task Reminders (3): 

  1. Update all finishers. Verify that all 2021-2022 finishers are correctly listed on the Finisher Record List (FRL) with a status of “Finisher” (F). If a finisher is on the FRL for certificate categories they are not finishing, please be sure to remove those certificate categories from the list for the candidate. You are able to download the “Other Enrolled” (OE) and F candidates in a spreadsheet in ECOS to easily see and verify all data to ensure that the F candidates are correctly identified as such. 
  2. Be sure to review the 2021-2022 ASEP Reporting Manual on the Program Provider Resources page. It is located under Forms and Documents. The manual and forms are helpful resources as they provide useful information needed to complete ASEP Reporting.  
  3. Register for the ASEP Reporting 2021-2022 webinar 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.  

NOTE: If you missed the last two ASEP Task Reminders, you may find the reminders on the Texas Educator Preparation Program Weekly Newsletters | Texas Education Agency page of the website, specifically in the July 19, 2022 and July 26, 2022 EPP newsletters.  

Educator Preparation Program Support

Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management  

New: Virtual Observation Guidance for the 2022-2023 Academic Year 
The virtual field supervision rules the SBEC took action on at the February 2022 SBEC meeting become effective as of September 1, 2022 and will be applicable for the 2022-23 academic year and onward. The item (linked here) includes the updated rule related to virtual observations. NOTE: In all cases, candidates are still required to have some observations conducted in-person. 

The chart below summarizes the number of observations that can be conducted virtually by teacher preparation route.  

Candidate Population 

If EPPs Conduct Only In-Person Observations 

If EPPs Conduct In-Person and Virtual Observations 

Intern Certificate Holders 

*5

3 in-person and 2 virtually 

28-Week Clinical Teaching 

4

2 in-person and 2 virtually 

  • Probationary Certificate Holders 
  • 14-Week Clinical Teaching 

*3

2 in-person and 2 virtually 

The upcoming ASEP webinar will cover how these observations will be reported in ECOS. 

New: Additional Updates to 19 TAC Ch 228, Effective September 1, 2022 
Due to the upcoming implementation of updates in 19 TAC Chapter 228 that are effective September 1, 2022, we wanted to provide a reminder for EPPs to review these updates and make revisions to coursework and training as needed to meet the new requirements. The updates can be viewed in the February 2022 SBEC agenda item. 

  • Provide training in virtual instruction and virtual learning [19 TAC §228.30(c)(8)] 
  • Provide training on educating students with disabilities, which is now a component for approval [19 TAC §228.10(a)(1)(J) & §228.30(c)(9)] 

New: Intern or Probationary Certificate Effective Date Guidance 
As EPPs prepare for the upcoming academic year, TEA wanted to provide guidance regarding effective dates for Intern and Probationary certificates. 

It is best practice for the effective date of the Intern or Probationary certificate to be the first date of instruction with students in the internship assignment. This allows the candidate’s assigned field supervisor to be mindful of the initial contact and observation frequency requirements set in 19 TAC Chapter 228. TEA understands that some districts and school boards may require the candidate to have an effective date on the certificate that is prior to the start of the school year. If this happens, the candidate’s EPP will need to work with the assigned field supervisor to track the date for initial contact and the observation frequency schedule to align with TAC requirements. TEA encourages EPPs and districts to work together to determine the effective date of the Intern or Probationary certificate that aligns with TAC requirements. 

It should be noted that EPPs are able to issue an Intern or Probationary certificate with a future effective date. This allows the certificate to show up in the candidate’s TEA account but will not be active until the effective date identified by the EPP. This could be a great way for the district to see the Intern or Probationary certificate in the candidate’s account while still identifying the effective date as the first date of instruction with students in the internship assignment. 

New: ECOS Account Reminder 
TEA would like to remind EPPs to allow candidates to create their own educator accounts in ECOS when possible. This will help to a) ensure all candidate information is entered correctly; and b) avoid duplicate accounts for a candidate that are disruptive to the preparation process. If an EPP enters a candidate’s name, date of birth or SSN incorrectly, the candidate is required to submit a Help Desk Ticket to TEAL Access for assistance. If the candidate creates a new account using the correct information, then the two accounts will have to be merged by TEA which often delays candidates in testing and or certification. EPPs can share the Educator setup guide that includes screenshots and graphics found on the TEA’s Educator Certification Online System website with candidates to support them in creating their own account successfully. 

Educator Standards and Testing

Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing   

Purchasing Exam Vouchers 
Certification exam vouchers are available for purchase by educator preparation programs to provide candidates with codes to be used during registration for a Texas educator certification exam. NOTE: The Exam Voucher Purchase Request Form and FAQs for purchasing certification exam vouchers can be found on the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website 

Practice exam codes are available for purchase by educator preparation programs to provide candidates with full or partial credit toward fees for practice examinations. 

For questions or comments, send an email to texas.support@pearson.com. 

DID YOU KNOW? 
There is a Quick Reference Guide to ResultsAnalyzer®  to learn how to generate common candidate-level and exam-level reports. 

Educator Certification 

Updates related to Educator Certification 

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.  

 

Updates about SBEC, Rules, and Legislation  

Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.    

July 2022 SBEC Work Session and Meeting 
The July SBEC work session and meeting were held Thursday and Friday, July 21-22, 2022. More information about the SBEC meeting, including the meeting agenda and access to view the meeting recording, can be found on the SBEC webpage.  

  

Program Spotlight

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. 

FAQs

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

Q: What are the intern and probationary certificate deactivation reasons? 
A: Please see the intern and probationary certificate deactivation reasons below. 

Deactivation Reasons: 

  • Resigns from the placement or withdraws from the EPP - Candidate Action 
  • Candidate is non-renewed or terminated by the district or campus - District Action 
  • Candidate is discharged or released from the EPP - EPP Action 
  • Assignment issue - EPP or District Action 

Certificate deactivation rules can be found in 19 TAC §228.35(e)(2)(B)(iv)-(vii). 

 

Resources at a Glance

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   

PASL Videos

ETS and TEA have worked together to create instructional videos to orient faculty, staff, and candidates to the requirements of the PASL test. Video one provides a general overview of PASL, its content, and scoring/reporting procedures. Video two provides a more in-depth overview of the tasks associated with the assessment. Full requirements, descriptions, and resources may be found in the PASL Candidate and Educator handbook.   

PASL Video One: https://vimeo.com/user127014634/download/669946029/6aa375f585 

TEA Dyslexia Training 

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.   

If you need technical assistance please submit a TEALearn Help Desk ticket. For dyslexia course content questions, please send an email to specialeducation@tea.texas.gov. 

For More Information...

Information regarding educator certification testing can be accessed at the Texas Educator Certification Exam website.   

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.  

Information regarding the current Texas certification exams can be found on the 2021-2022 Required Test Chart for Texas Certification. 

Educator account setup instructions can be found on the TEA’s Educator Certification Online System website. 

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