 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.
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Educator Preparation Program Listserv Registration
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Topic
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Description
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Event Date & Time
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The 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 Framework Overview Webinar will guide programs through an overview of the updated Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 exam framework, closely examine shifts to the exam format, requirements, and timeline, and provide programs an opportunity to exchange resources and discuss course/curriculum problems of practice.
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Thursday,
October 31, 2024
1:30-4:30 pm CST
via Zoom
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The 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12 Framework Overview and Application Process Webinar will guide programs through an overview of the updated Special Education Specialist EC-12 exam framework, closely examine program application requirements and timeline, and provide programs an opportunity to exchange resources and discuss course/curriculum problems of practice. TEA staff will facilitate this webinar several times throughout the Fall semester. Programs are encouraged to attend the webinar that best suits their availability.
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Thursday,
October 24, 2024
2:30-5:00 pm CST
via Zoom
Friday,
November 22, 2024
9:00-11:30 am CST
via Zoom
Wednesday,
December 11, 2024
2:30-5:00 pm CST
via Zoom
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
New: ECOS Entities Field Supervisor Database Under Repair
Currently, there is a glitch in ECOS for Entities that prevents manual addition or editing of Field Supervisors. The issue is known and is currently being fixed. For now, the workaround is to use the upload feature with a csv file. You can find a step-by-step guide for how to upload Field Supervisors on the Program Provider Resources page.
New: Two New Trainings Posted on the Program Provider Resources Page
There are two new recorded webinars and their associated PDFs posted on the Program Provider Resources page under Forms and Documents. They are “Requesting Legal Authority & Primary Approver Access for EPPs” and “Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) for Entities Access for EPPs”. If you have new staff who need access as TEAL Approvers or who need ECOS for Entities access for your entity, these presentations will be helpful.
Reminder: Thank you for coming and seeing us at CSOTTE!
TEA staff hosted a second annual “office hours” at the CSOTTE conference earlier this week. We appreciated getting to meet with over 50 different representatives from different EPPs to answer questions, talk about programs, and make personal connections. A big “Thank You” to all the folks who stopped by.
Reminder: EPP Changes in Certification Officer
If your EPP has recently had a change in Certification Officer or if you are uncertain about who TEA has listed as the Certification Officer for your EPP, please contact your Education Specialist assigned via email or the Preparation Programs Help Desk, and we can assist you in getting that individual on the Contact List. In many instances, the Certification Officer is neither a Legal Authority nor a Backup Legal Authority, and unless your EPP lets TEA know that there has been a change, we will not know.
Reminder: Expiring Certification Exams in PE, Health, and ELAR 7-12
This is a time-sensitive notice for EPPs with candidates pursuing certificates in Physical Education (PE) EC-12, Health EC-12, and English Language Arts & Reading (ELAR) 7-12. The certification exams for these areas are being replaced. Candidates who have not received standard certification using the expiring exams (158, 157, 231) by September 1, 2025, will need to pass the new exams (258, 257, 331). Last week, TEA provided data sets identifying potentially impacted candidates (those who have passing scores on expiring exams but are not yet Standard certified). Data sets are available now in ShareFile. An email was sent to Legal Authorities and Certification Officers notifying them that the data was uploaded into ShareFile along with access instructions for Legal Authorities.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: Special Education Specialist EC-12 (186) Exam Framework Update and Exam One Pager To better align with current terminology utilized by practitioners in the field, minor edits have been made to the 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12 exam framework. Both a redline version and an updated final version of the 186 Special Education Specialist exam framework can be found on the Educator Testing site. Additional important information for the exam can be found on the new exam one-pager linked here: 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12.
New: 185 Deafblind EC-12 Exam One Pager
The new 185 Deafblind EC-12 exam will launch in September 2025. Please find important information for the new exam in the one-pager linked here: 185 Deafblind EC-12.
Reminder: Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental (TX165) Framework Overview Webinar
The 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 Framework Overview Webinar will guide programs through an overview of the new Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 exam framework, closely examine shifts to the exam format, requirements, and timeline, and provide programs an opportunity to exchange resources and discuss course/curriculum problems of practice. TEA staff will facilitate this webinar once during the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters respectively. Programs are encouraged to attend the webinar that best suits their availability. We strongly encourage those faculty or staff who will be responsible for supporting students or making programmatic changes to attend.
Fall 2024 Webinar
Thursday, October 31, 2024
1:30-3:30 pm CST via Zoom
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: Can candidates in our EPP receive instruction regarding mental health, substance abuse, and youth suicide from anywhere the EPP determines is appropriate?
A: No. The training must come from the list of recommended best-practice-based programs. Those programs are found on the Program Provider Resources page under Educator Preparation Curriculum. If a candidate is enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education (IHE) or an alternative certification program (ACP) at an IHE and receives the instruction as a part of a degree plan, that EPP may provide the instruction. Reference 19 TAC §228.57(c)(3).
Q: Does the EPP have a choice in who provides dyslexia instruction?
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 assigned Education Specialist.
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For most efficient assistance, please submit a Help Desk ticket to Preparation Programs.
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EPPs may contact their assigned Education Specialist directly via phone or email.
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Candidates may call (512) 936-8400 and select Option #2: Educator Preparation and Certification for assistance.
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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 Preparation and Certification
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Option 3: Fingerprinting
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Option 6: Investigations
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