 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
Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
New: Student Growth Data The 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 student growth data is now revised and available on the Program Provider Resources webpage, under the Accountability System Data section. This data is helpful to EPPs in continuous improvement efforts. It is also used in the calculation of ASEP accountability indicator 3; more details about the relevant calculations are included in the ASEP manual. This revised data aligns with the updated processes and eligibility requirements included in the recently updated rules.
TEA is working on updating this data into the Insight to Impact (I2I) dashboards, and we will communicate through the newsletter once the data in I2I has been updated.
Reminder: Update to ECOS-Standard Certificate Effective Date Validation The processes for issuance of certificates through the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) align with requirements specified in State Board for Educator Certification rules. 19 Texas Administrative Code, §230.97. Effective Dates of Certificates and Permit Issuance, established in rule for several years, has always specified that a certificate cannot be issued prior to completion of all requirements; that as part of the recommendation for issuance process, the EPP is responsible for verifying the date the applicant has satisfied all certification requirements; and that a certificate shall not become effective more than 60 calendar days before the application is submitted to TEA and may not precede the date all certification, degree, and examination requirements are completed.
Preparation programs able to complete the recommendation for certificate issuance in ECOS within a 60 day or less window will see no changes to the online process. ECOS automatically backdates the effective date of a Standard certificate to 60 days if the EPP identifies the date the last requirement was met is more than 60 days in the past and backdates the INT and PRO certificates if the internship begin date is more than 60 days in the past. The recent update to this functionality is a new error message that will pop up when an internship begin date or a requirements completion date more than 60 days in the past has been entered online. The error message will include information that must be entered into the “internship begin date” or “date the last requirement was met” field, as applicable, to allow the application to complete the online processes for certificate issuance. In addition, if a future date is entered into the “date the last requirement was met” field in the Standard recommendation screen, an error message will include a reminder that the requirements met field cannot be a date in the future.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
Reminder: Texas-specific Teacher Performance Assessment Development Team Selection Grant Now Available! We are excited to announce the application window for the 2024-2025 Texas Test of Educator Proficiency (T-TEP) EPP Development Grant is now open!
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This grant is open to not-for-profit educator preparation programs and will identify 6-8 educator preparation programs that will each select one faculty/staff member to serve on the Texas Test of Educator Proficiency (T-TEP) Development Team.
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This grant will provide funding for the identified faculty/staff member of selected applicants to complete virtual and in-person on-boarding and training requirements, as well as outline stipulations for continued funding in SY 2025-2026 and SY 2026-2027.
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This grant application can be found on the TEA Grant Opportunities page which includes relevant timelines and information regarding a grant webinar and FAQ posting.
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Program primary points of contact will also receive an email communicating the launch of this grant.
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Interested programs should submit applications no later than Monday, March 17, 2025.
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: Our EPP noticed that the English language proficiency requirements changed on January 7, 2025. Does the change apply to all previous candidates, or does it only apply to new applicants?
A: Yes, the changes to the English language proficiency requirement that became effective on January 7, 2025, apply to all candidates, previously and newly enrolled. Applicants to EPPs and candidates for certification must meet the English language proficiency requirements currently in effect at the time of admission or certification, respectively. The new English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements, effective January 7, 2025, are located in 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5).
There are now four requirements:
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- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution of higher education (IHE) in the United States or one of its territories.
- 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);
- An undergraduate or graduate degree that was earned at an institution of higher education in a country outside of the United States listed in this Figure; or
- A standard certificate issued by the Department of Education in another state where examinations for the certificate were taken and passed.
Q: What are the new TOEFL requirements?
A: The new TOEFL requirement in 19 TAC §230.11(b)(5)(B) requires 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).
It is important to note that an educator who has received a State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)-issued standard certificate shall not be required to demonstrate English language proficiency as prescribed in subsection (b)(5)(B) and (C) for the purposes of admission into an EPP to obtain additional SBEC-issued certifications. Reference 19 TAC §230.11(c). For an EPP, this would pertain to applicants who hold standard certificates and are seeking admission to a non-teacher program.
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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