 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
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. We strongly encourage those faculty or staff who
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Topic
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Description
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Event Date & Time
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Core Subjects EC-6 Exam Frameworks
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Public comments are being requested through December 16, 2024, on the draft Core Subjects EC–6 content frameworks. The frameworks will help guide the test development process for the new Core Subjects EC–6 exams and the optional fifth subtests. Visit the TEA website to review the available exam frameworks. Comments may be sent to Kaye Jernigan.
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Monday, December 16, 2024
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New: EPP Support Webinar: Revised Classroom Teacher Pedagogy Standards
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EPPS have the opportunity to learn about the revised Classroom Teacher Pedagogy Standards currently being considered
by the SBEC.
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
New: Guide to ASEP Letters
TEA has posted a brief video titled Guide to ASEP Letters on the Program Provider Resources page under EPP Training Events and Materials. The purpose of the video is to assist EPPs in understanding the accreditation letters that were issued on November 25, 2024.
Reminder: ASEP Recommended Accreditation Status Letters
TEA issued notification letters to inform all EPPs of their recommended accreditation statuses on November 25, 2024, for the 2023-2024 academic year. These letters were distributed to the Legal Authority or Point of Contact. To learn more about how the statuses were determined, please review the ASEP manual, that was adopted by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). Statuses will be brought to the SBEC for approval at their February 14, 2025, meeting.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: EPP Support Webinar: Revised Classroom Teacher Pedagogy Standards
This webinar, scheduled for January 13 from 2:00–3:30, is open to all EPPS to learn about the revised Classroom Teacher Pedagogy Standards currently being considered by the SBEC. The standards outline the training requirements for pre-service teachers and aim to ensure that newly certified teachers are well-prepared to meet the needs of their districts. EPPs will learn how the standards support the effective preparation of teachers and hear from district representatives about how to leverage strong district-EPP partnerships to support the implementation of key standards-aligned practices.
: Texas-specific Teacher Performance Assessment Development Team Selection Grant Opportunity [Coming Soon]
In early 2025, TEA will launch a grant opportunity to identify 6-8 educator preparation programs that will each select one faculty/staff member to serve on the Texas-specific Teacher Performance Assessment Development Team. More information concerning the grant application, application timeline, and application webinar will be shared in upcoming newsletters.
Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
New: SBEC Approved 15 Educator Preparation Programs for the Texas Teacher Residency Preparation Route (TTPRP)
Congratulations to the following 15 EPPs who are now SBEC approved to offer the TTRPR. They may begin to offer the TTPRP to their candidates as soon as this Spring term with completers at the end of the Fall 25 term who are able to earn the enhanced standard certification.
- Angelo State University
- Austin Community College
- Concordia University
- Lamar University
- Region 1 ESC
- Region 19 ESC
- Tarleton University
- Texas A&M University Central
- Texas A&M University International
- Texas Christian University
- Texas Wesleyan University
- University of Houston Main
- University of Houston-Victoria
- University of Texas El Paso
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Reminder: Change to Options for Meeting the English Language Proficiency Requirement
The following updates to options for demonstrating English language proficiency (ELP), adopted by the State Board for Educator Certification in September 2024 and reviewed by the SBOE in November 2024, will become effective on January 7, 2025. Individuals who are required to meet English language proficiency as outlined in the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 230, Professional Educator Preparation and Certification, Subchapter B, General Certification Requirements will be able to utilize one of the four options (A-D) outlined in bold text below. The italicized information in parentheses following each option provides a high-level explanation of the adopted rule change.
(A) completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States or one of its territories; or
(Change: “or one of its territories” was added to this option to include all U.S. territories)
(B) verification of a minimum scaled score that falls within the High-Intermediate level in each section on the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL-iBT); or
(Change: replaced the minimum scaled score requirement of 24 for speaking, 22 for listening, 22 for reading, and 21 for writing with a required performance of High-Intermediate level for each of the four sections of the TOEFL-iBT)
(C) an undergraduate or graduate degree that was earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States listed in the figure provided in this subparagraph; or
Figure: 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(C)
(Change: added Cameroon, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to the list of countries approved for exemption from the ELP requirement)
(D) a standard certificate issued by the department of education in another state where examinations for the certificate were taken and passed.
(Change: added this new provision as an additional option to meet the ELP requirement – candidates for certification must still complete all requirements through an approved educator preparation program and pass required state certification examinations or must successfully complete all requirements of the out-of-country credentials review process)
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: What should my EPP be doing as it pertains to uploading observations now that we are at the end of the first semester?
A: First, each EPP should enter clinical experience records (CER) if this has not yet been done for each candidate participating in a clinical experience this year. The 2024-2025 Technical Manual posted on the Program Provider Resources, pp. 29-36, provides specific guidance about how to create CER both individually & in bulk, and Appendix 5 shows how to create a CSV file for bulk upload.
Q: What about entering observations for candidates who are participating in a clinical experience this year? Is there a deadline for getting these entered?
A: The deadline for entering all observations is August 31, 2025, by the end of the 2024-2025 year. However, the best practice is to enter the observations as they occur, so you are not left entering everything at the end of the year. We are nearing the end of the fall 2024 semester, and EPPs should be entering observations now. Note: Programs must report all formal clinical teaching, teacher internship, and non-teacher practicum observations, with a field supervisor name and TEA ID for each observation. All observations must be reported in ECOS in the reporting year in which they occur. Observations can be entered individually or in bulk. The 2024-2025 Technical Manual posted on the Program Provider Resources, pp. 37-43, provides specific guidance about how to upload observations, and Appendix 5 shows how to create a CSV file for bulk upload.
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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