Welcome
This newsletter compiles the most up-to-date information concerning what EPPs need to know to best support their faculty/instructors, staff, and candidates. 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
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New Certification Officer Training
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This training will provide information to Certification Officers related to requirements and processes for EPPs including the use of the various functions within ECOS for Entities. Please register to attend virtually. You do not have to be a new Certification Officer to attend. Note: This notice will be in the newsletter for 2 weeks as a preview for planning purposes. We will publish this training information again 2 weeks prior to the event.
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Tuesday, November 7, 2023, from 9:00 AM-3:30 PM
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New: Texas Teacher Residency Learning Series
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US Prep, national technical assistance provider for quality teacher preparation through residency transformation, will be hosting a fall learning series to support programs in learning more about teacher residency models. Please see the full message below to register for any of the upcoming events!
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Multiple events: See description below
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EPP Commendations Category 4: Innovative Educator Preparation
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Tuesday, October 10, 2023
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
Reminder: EPP Commendations Category 4: Innovative Educator Preparation – Application Now Posted
For the 2022-2024 Innovative Educator Preparation commendation, the SBEC seeks to recognize EPPs that engage in innovative development of EPP faculty and staff, field supervisors, and/or cooperating and mentor teachers in alignment with current research and best practices. Examples include, but are not limited to, co-teaching models, coaching practices, high quality instructional materials implementation, and/or response to intervention (RTI). Such practices must be well above the SBEC’s minimum requirements to be considered.
Reminder: 2023-2024 Technical Manual posted
The updated 2023-2024 Technical Manual has been posted on the Program Provider Resources page under Form and Documents. This year’s manual includes updated information about reporting applied data and late hire flag in ECOS, as well as adding the required TEA ID for Cooperating Teacher/Mentor Teacher/Site Supervisor when reporting clinical experience records in ECOS. The updated technical manual also includes additional useful guidance for effective reporting such as how to create a CSV file when uploading data in ECOS.
Reminder: LBB Reporting
Educator preparation programs at public colleges and universities are required to report certification rates of teacher education graduates to the LBB. Information about LBB reporting was sent out to public colleges and universities who had not yet completed this reporting on Friday, 9/22. Please review that email for steps, supports, and deadlines.
Detailed guidance for using the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) to upload and retrieve your certification rate is available in the updated Technical Manual.
Remember, this reporting is only for public colleges and universities – if your EPP is not at a public college or university, your EPP does not complete the LBB reporting process.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: Texas-specific Teacher Performance Assessment Request for Proposal
The Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of the Texas-specific Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) is now posted on the Region 13 bidding website. Qualified applicants from Texas institutions of higher education are encouraged to submit a proposal to complete all development activities and create all aligned statewide implementation resources for a Texas-specific teacher performance assessment. Proposals are due no later than 12:00 PM October 24, 2023.
Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
Reminder: The September SBEC meeting will be held Friday, September 29th. More information about the SBEC meeting, including the meeting agenda and access to view the meeting virtually, can be found on the SBEC webpage.
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: Can a candidate in an EPP simultaneously complete the out-of-state review of credentials process?
A: No, not in the same certificate class. An educator must select one route to certification in Texas. In this case, the educator would need to either complete a Texas-approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) or if the educator holds the equivalent of a standard certificate in another state/country, complete the review of credentials process with Certification staff at TEA. TEA often finds that educators do not realize that if they are certified in another state/country, they may not need to complete an EPP.
Q: My EPP has a former candidate who finished our program, is standard certified, and is now seeking to transfer her Texas certification to another state. We received a form from the other state requesting information about requirements completed by the former candidate. Is this something we should complete or should we send this to TEA to complete?
A: Yes, if the form requests information from the EPP or from a specific person within the EPP, such as the Certification Officer, then the EPP should complete the form. However, if the form requests verification from the state agency, then instruct your former candidate to direct that form to TEA. Certification verification requests from other states that require verification from the state agency should be submitted to TEA via Preparation Programs in the Help Desk. Note that TEA requires all other information to be completed on the form before completing the state agency portion.
Additional updates on initiatives and opportunities from the TEA.
Reminder: Texas Teacher Residency Learning Series – Slide Decks and Recordings Available!
Interested in learning more about the impact of teacher residency programs across Texas? Register for US PREP’s webinar series (https://www.usprepnationalcenter.com/webinars) as well as access slide decks and recordings. Discover the transformative impact residencies have on teacher candidates, schools, and PK-12 students and see how immersive residency experiences are impacting teacher preparation and education in urban and rural areas.
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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View a list of EPPs and their associated Education Specialist.
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For easiest assistance, please submit a Help Desk ticket to Preparation Programs.
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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.
Updated: If EPPs (and candidates) would like to speak to a representative from another area(s), they may call (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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