New: Certification Officer Training 2025
We are pleased to offer Certification Officer Training in two flexible formats: in-person and online. The in-person training on Monday, June 2, 2025, will be conducted in one full-day session, and registration is limited to 35 participants. The online training on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Room G-100C, will also be conducted in one full-day session, and there is no limit on participants.  

In this training, we will cover essential aspects of common Certification Officer responsibilities, including admissions processes, creating records in ECOS (e.g. admissions, clinical experiences, test approval, observations, etc.), data reporting, compliance protocols, and resources & contacts available through TEA. This training will be helpful for New Certification Officers, but we know those who are experienced may also want a refresher, so all are welcome to attend. Please use the registration links above in the Newsletter Upcoming Events to register for the option that meets your needs. 

Reminder: Title II Reporting DUE APRIL 30
The Title II website is available for all EPPs to complete their required federal reporting. For support in completing this report, please visit https://title2.ed.gov/Public/TA.aspx for links to a Glossary of Key Terms and Reporting Requirements. Instructions are included in the reporting instrument. If you have specific questions, please email title2@trewon.com.  

This reporting is due April 30. As a reminder, TEA does not provide technical support for this required federal reporting. We do, however, monitor EPP completion to ensure that all EPPs are in compliance with this requirement. 

Reminder: EPP Interactive Map Quarterly Update
The EPP Interactive Map posted on the TEA website will be updated in early May for the next quarter. If your EPP has recently had an address, telephone number, or website change, or if you have had certificates removed from your inventory, please submit a Help Desk ticket to Preparation Programs identifying the requested change, and we will update your EPP on the Interactive Map. 

Q: My EPP has a Teacher candidate who wants to change the certificate pursued to a new certificate category, what is the requirement to change the certificate category? 

A: The EPP may change a certificate category for a candidate admitted to an EPP if the candidate requests to do so in writing. The following requirements must also be met if the EPP honors the candidate's request: 

1. The candidate must meet the admission requirements in 19 TAC §227.10 in the requested certificate;
2. The EPP must provide coursework and training in the educator standards and test framework competencies related to the requested certificate category; and 
3. The EPP must ensure that the candidate is adequately prepared to pass the appropriate content pedagogy examination(s) required for the requested certificate category.

Reference 19 TAC §228.31(f)(1-3) for the complete TAC citation.  

For record-keeping purposes, retain the written request in the candidate’s record, and remember to update the new certificate in the candidate’s enrollment record on the Finisher Records List. 

Q: My EPP has an applicant to our teacher program who has a transcript from a university that only issues pass/fail grades. In calculating the GPA, can we just assign a 3.0 for each course? 

A: No. If a transcript does not contain grades, the EPP should not “assume” a grade. Due to the “extraordinary circumstance” of a transcript with no GPA, the applicant can be admitted under the 10% exception with the following requirements met:

1. The EPP must document that the applicant’s work, business, or career experience demonstrates achievement equivalent to the academic achievement represented by the GPA requirement; and 
2. The applicant must pass the TXPACT for the certificate they are seeking (Attached Graphic).  

Note: Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement and have previously been admitted into an EPP may request permission to register for an appropriate TXPACT if the applicant is not seeking admission to the same EPP that previously granted test approval for a certification examination in the same certification class.

Reference 19 TAC §227.10(a)(3)(B) (i-ii) for the complete TAC citation.