 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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Webinar: New English Language Proficiency Standards Overview
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TEA staff will share information regarding the newly adopted ELPS. The team will explain in greater detail the changes to the structure of the ELPS and the inclusion of content-area proficiency level descriptors.
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This webinar will provide reminders and updates for EPPs about annual state reporting requirements.
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
Reminder: SBEC-Approved Residency
If your EPP has been approved to offer the SBEC-approved residency route, your EPP must submit an EPP amendment request per 19 TAC §228.17(a)-(b) to make any of the following changes:
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Updating your LEA partner;
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Modifying performance gates; or
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Adding certificates to your SBEC-approved residency route.
Without an approved amendment, your EPP must operate in alignment with your original residency application as submitted and approved by SBEC. To request an amendment to your residency route, please submit a Help Desk ticket to the Preparation Programs tile. The required amendment documents will be sent to you upon request.
Reminder: New English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) Overview
The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted new English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) at the September 2024 SBOE meeting. The new ELPS became effective in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 120, on February 2, 2025.
The new ELPS are scheduled to be implemented in classrooms beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. Local education agencies (LEAs) must continue providing instruction in the current ELPS in 19 TAC, Chapter 74, §74.4, until they are replaced with the new ELPS in 2026–2027.
As required in 19 TAC §228.57(d)(1), instruction in the ELPS must be included in the curriculum for candidates seeking initial certification as a classroom teacher. TEA staff will host a webinar for EPPs on Wednesday, August 6, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (CST) to provide information about the newly adopted ELPS. The webinar will cover changes to the structure of the ELPS and the inclusion of content-area proficiency level descriptors. Use the link in the Upcoming Events section to register for the webinar.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: Interactive Practice Tests Now Available (185 Deafblind EC-12 and 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12)
Interactive Practice Tests are now available for the new 185 Deafblind EC-12 and 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12 launching in September 2025. More information can be found on the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program website.
Reminder: 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12 CRI Deep Dive and Work Session Follow-up
Thank you to the 48 participants who attended the second 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12 CRI Deep Dive and Work Session earlier this month on Monday June 16th! This session provided participants with an overview of the constructed response item included on the 186 Special Education Specialist exam, including the candidate assignment, exhibits included with the constructed response item, and scoring rubrics. Participants then spent most of the session working in small groups to review and analyze sample candidate responses to identify the qualities and characteristics of a strong response. Thanks so much to the over 140 programs who participated in this capacity building series, and we hope to see you all at a future opportunity soon! As a reminder, preparation materials for the new 186 Special Education Specialist EC-12, including the exam preparation manual, can be found on the exam webpage.
Reminder: TX165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 Pilot Test Opportunity
Pearson is conducting pilot testing for the new 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental exam (BESS) and registration is now open. The new 165 BESS exam is scheduled to launch September 1, 2026, and will replace the current 164 Bilingual Education Supplemental and the Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) exams for Bilingual Spanish certificate-seeking candidates.
Pilot testing is intended to collect information on the performance of exam questions to be used at future exam administrations. Pilot testing will be available at Pearson VUE test centers throughout Texas from July 21, 2025, through August 17, 2025.
For information on eligibility, incentives, advantages of participating, scheduling, and registration for pilot tests, please visit the Pilot Testing website. Also, note that participation in a pilot test does not satisfy certification requirements or count against a candidate’s test attempts. Participants and educator preparation programs do not receive a Pass/Fail status or a score report. If you have questions or need further information, please contact the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program at estexas@pearson.com.
New: 89th Legislature Updates page on the TEA Website
TEA has developed a website page to provide information on legislation passed during the 89th regular legislative session. Implementation resources and additional information will be added to this website page as it becomes available. Preparation programs are encouraged to review the 89th Implementation Timeline and the Guidance and Correspondence sections found on the 89th Legislature Updates page.
Updates related to Insight to Impact
New: Insight to Impact Dashboards Timeline Overview
The mission of the Insight to Impact (I2I) Dashboards is to support educator preparation programs (EPPs) in their continuous improvement. Since April marked the second anniversary of their debut, it seemed like an opportune time to reflect on the dashboards’ progress and future.
Check out this brief blog to learn more about where the dashboards started, their current state, and future developments. While you are there, take an opportunity to look at all the resources now available on the I2I Academy website.
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: If a candidate attends professional development and engages in other instructional activities (i.e., attends IEP meetings, parent/teacher conferences, band practice, etc.) on the campus/district during their clinical experience, can those hours count towards their overall clinical teaching hours? [19 TAC §228.67(b) & 19 TAC §228.2(5)]
A: Yes, per 19 TAC §228.67(b)(2) in the revised requirements effective March 11, 2025, candidates may complete up to 210 hours of clinical teaching through additional instructional hours during the school day, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills-based extracurricular activities that directly relate to the grade-level and subject area of the certification sought, and professional development hours that occur within the assignment start and end date. The candidate must be under the supervision of a certified educator when completing these hours.
Q: If a candidate attends professional development with their clinical teaching district prior to the first instructional day with students, can those hours count towards their overall clinical teaching hours? [19 TAC §228.67(b) & 19 TAC §228.2(5)]
A: No. Per the revisions to 19 TAC §228.67(b) that were effective March 11, 2025, for the professional development hours to be counted as clinical teaching hours, they must occur within the assignment start and end date. Per the definition in 19 TAC §228.2(5), the assignment start date for clinical teaching, internship, or residency is the first date of instruction with students.
Your best source for information and support at the TEA.
As an Educator Preparation Program, your main point of contact is your Education Specialist.
- 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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