 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
Topic
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Description
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Event Date & Time
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Core EC EC-6 (491) Framework Overview and Application Process Webinar
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The 491 Core EC-6 Framework Overview and Application Process Webinar will guide programs through an overview of the updated Core EC-6 exam framework, closely examine application requirements and timeline, and provide programs an opportunity to explore how the new exam is aligned and different from the older Core Subjects EC-6 exam. TEA staff will facilitate this webinar several times throughout the Fall semester. We strongly encourage those faculty or staff who will be responsible for completing the program’s application to attend
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Exam Launch Reminders and Resources
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186 Special Education Specialist EC-12
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165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental
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Core Subjects Redesign, Phase 1
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Core with Fine Arts/Health/PE
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Core with Special Education
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Texas Test of Educator Proficiency (T-TEP) (pending SBEC action)
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Core Subjects Redesign,
Phase 2
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Core with Bilingual Education Spanish
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187 Bilingual Special Education
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
New: Accurately Reporting Residency (RSD) Route for Approved EPPs
We would like to remind all EPPs that only those EPPs approved by the SBEC to offer the Texas Teacher Residency Preparation Route (TTRPR) can use the RSD functions in ECOS, including admission records, enrollment records, and clinical experience and observation reporting. As EPPs are approved by the SBEC to offer the RSD, those EPPs may begin processing candidates in the RSD route in ECOS. There were no RSD finishers in 2024-2025 because the first EPPs approved to offer the RSD were approved at the December 4, 2024, SBEC meeting.
When a clinical experience record is created for a RSD candidate, the "750 hours SBEC-Approved Residency" designation for the clinical experience is the correct model to use. The EPP must also change the route on the enrollment record to RSD. The candidate’s assignment begin date must be AFTER the date the EPP was approved by the SBEC to offer the RSD route.
As a reminder, candidates pursuing an Enhanced Standard certificate through a Residency route must complete one full school year (at least 750 hours) including the first and last instructional day with students [19 TAC §228.65(a)(1)]. To recommend an Enhanced Standard certificate, all four performance gates must be entered into the Performance Gates Records section in ECOS and the candidate must be listed as a finisher in the RSD route. An ERROR message will result, and the Enhanced Standard certificate will NOT issue if the EPP recommends the certificate and this information is not entered into ECOS.
Reminder: Consider Adding a Backup Legal Authority
We strongly encourage all EPPs to have at least one Backup Legal Authority. Having a Backup Legal Authority will ensure that another EPP staff member can approve TEAL access for others at your EPP and handle the EPP’s business in ECOS for Entities at your EPP if the Legal Authority is not available to do so for any reason. You may use the EPP Change Request Form to add a Backup Legal Authority. If you have questions about the importance of having a Backup Legal Authority or to check if your EPP has one, please submit a Help Desk ticket to the Preparation Programs Help Desk tile on the TEA website, and we will assist you.
Reminder: Revised Principal Survey Scored Roster
Thanks to the valuable feedback from EPPs, we identified data discrepancies in portions of the Principal Survey scored distributed data. In response, we’ve revised and redistributed the updated dataset to the EPPs who had changes to their scored roster on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. We deeply appreciate the careful review of the data by EPPs. This collaboration ensures that data is accurate.
Updates related to Insight to Impact
New: Secure Your Seat for 2025’s Final I2I Sign-up Session
On Thursday, December 4, from 3-4 p.m. CT, the I2I Dashboards Team will host the last Dashboards Sign-up Event of 2025, which helps guide the EPP community through the process of requesting access to the I2I dashboards. This event is designed for EPP employees who do not yet have access to the I2I dashboards and would like direct support in the process.
This webinar will be the latest in a quarterly cadence of sign-up events that will provide the EPP community with the opportunity to learn more about the steps in the process, including dedicated time to request access to the dashboards and roles pertinent to their work and time with our team to troubleshoot issues.
Use this registration link for the sign-up event and feel free to share this invitation widely with your EPP community to ensure that all who are eligible and would benefit from using dashboard data to make programmatic decisions have appropriate access. For those who missed the last sign-up event in October and would like to follow along with the video, please feel free to click here for the recording.
New: Final I2I Dashboard Video Training of 2025 Posted
Last week, the Insight to Impact Dashboards Team hosted a training session on the Initial Employment Dashboards, running attendees through a demonstration and beneficial data exercise, and providing the EPPs with the ability to ask any questions. Although you may have missed the final dashboard training of 2025, you can still check out the video recording on the Communications Updates webpage.
New: How I2I Informs an EPP’s Big Picture
TCU Associate Dean and Professor at the TCU College of Education, Dr. Cynthia Savage, and Director of Accreditation, Certification and Assessment, Heather Doyle, have witnessed first-hand the impact of the Insight to Impact (I2I) Dashboards on teacher education preparation program evaluation and improvement.
Check out how the data helps them paint the “big picture” for their program in this latest blog.
Updates related to agency initiatives and opportunities
New: TEA closed for Thanksgiving
The EPP Newsletter will not be published the week of November 24th due to the TEA being closed for Thanksgiving break but will resume publication the following week. Wishing all of you a safe and happy holiday.
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: Can we include credit-by-examination course hours for the subject-specific credit hours?
A: Yes, credit-by-examination course credits can be used to meet the subject-specific credit hour requirement for admission into an EPP. [19 TAC §227.10(a)(4)].
Q: Is the 10% GPA exception calculated for the entire EPP admitting year or by individual programs? For example, is there a separate 10% exception for the teacher program and another for the principal program?
A: The 10% GPA exception is calculated for the EPP for each calendar year from September 1 to August 31. All programs within the EPP are included. An exception to the minimum GPA requirement may be granted by the program director only in extraordinary circumstances and may not be used by the EPP to admit more than 10% of any incoming class of candidates [19 TAC §227.10(a)(3)(B)].
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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