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
New: Update to ECOS Pass Rate Screen
Starting with the 2023-2024 academic year, the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL), test 368, is included with other pedagogy exams listed in Figure: 19 TAC §230.21(e). To reflect this change, TEA has updated the Pass Rates screen in ECOS. This screen will show the PASL results with the Pedagogy Exam calculations instead of the Content Pedagogy Exam, starting with the 2023-2024 data.
Please note, per 19 TAC 229.4(a)(1)(B), starting with 2023-2024 accountability calculations, the PASL will be included in the calculations for Indicator 1a. The accountability year that recently closed will include PASL under Indicator 1b, which reflects the prior rules.
Reminder: EPP Commendations Category 4: Innovative Educator Preparation – Deadline Approaching
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
Reminder: 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.
The September SBEC meeting was held Friday, September 29th. More information about the SBEC meeting, including the meeting agenda and access to view the recorded meeting, can be found on the SBEC webpage.
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: Is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based Test (ibT) -Home Edition an acceptable TOEFL for out-of-country applicants to take prior to admission?
A: The TOEFL-ibT may be taken at a testing center or at home. Either version is acceptable. Once the required scores are achieved, the applicant may seek admission to an EPP. Test scores are valid for two years and may be combined to achieve a passing score. Per 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(B), verification of minimum scaled-scores of 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing are required.
Q: At the time of admission, our EPP is required to report content hours per 19 TAC §227.10(a)(4)A-C). Are we to include all content hours? What about supplemental certificate hours? If an applicant took a PACT, do we have to report content hours?
A: Yes, the EPP must enter all content hours that an applicant has earned in a subject-specific content in the “ASEP Admissions screen”. The minimum requirement is 12 semester hours, or 15 hours if the content is Math or Science at grade 7 or above per 19 TAC §227.10(a)(4)A-C). The EPP must report all hours to accurately report data. Supplemental certificates, such as ESL, Bilingual, or Special Education, are not the subject-specific content areas, but the EPP should report any hours that an applicant has earned in the Supplemental certificate area(s) to ensure accurate reporting. Likewise, if an applicant took a pre-admission content test (PACT) for admission because they did not have the required subject-specific content hours, but the applicant earned some hours, those hours must be reported to ensure accurate reporting.
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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