 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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Insight to Impact Dashboards Training Session
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The I2I Dashboards Team will host its latest comprehensive training, a deep dive into the Candidate Characteristics Dashboard, which features program status, completion rates, certification rates, and more.
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Thursday,
February 26. 2026
3:00 – 4:00 PM CST
via ZOOM
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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: PREP Partnership Agreement Office Hours
Following the PREP Kickoff Webinar held on February 18, 2026, TEA staff will be hosting office hours to help both LEAs and EPPs as they work together on completing the statutorily required partnership agreements. These will be “come and go” events; dates and times (with Zoom links) may be found below. These office hours are targeted towards LEAs and EPPs and will provide support with completing the partnership agreements.
Reminder: Updated ASEP Dashboards NOW LIVE
The Accountability System for Educator Preparation dashboard has now been updated to reflect accreditation statuses approved by the SBEC at their February meeting, along with indicator results from the 2024-2025 school year. This update includes the launch of the Indicator 3 Student Growth dashboard. With this launch, all ASEP data is now available via these dashboards.
Updates related to Insight to Impact
Reminder: Five Essential Data Day Training Takeaways
Scheduling a “Data Day” can be a vital tool for EPPs seeking to bring their data to life and create informed change. During the Insight to Impact Dashboard Team’s January 29, 2026, Insight to Impact Data Day Training Session, three expert panelists from a range of diverse EPPs provided their respective insights on developing a “Data Day.”
Reminder: Secure Your Seat for Candidate Characteristics Training
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM CST, the I2I Dashboards Team will host its latest comprehensive training, a deep dive into the Candidate Characteristics Dashboard. The Candidate Characteristics Dashboard is a series of data visualizations that features characteristics of candidates by program status, completion rates for enrolled candidates over time, certification rates for enrolled candidates over time, and, depending on your role, individual details of candidates’ enrollment, completion, and certification.
The training is the latest in a series of opportunities designed to assist EPPs with improved data comprehension, analysis, and application within the I2I Dashboards. The goal is to create a supportive community where EPPs can routinely share and tackle problems, provide insights and solutions, and receive value from the data.
Feel free to share this invitation widely with your EPP community to ensure that all who use the dashboard data have the opportunity to benefit. We look forward to having you attend the training!
This also marks an opportunity for EPP staff to claim a square on the Insight to Impact Bingo Card! The I2I Dashboards Team created the I2I Bingo Card to make training resources more engaging and enjoyable for those looking to master the dashboards. Each activity takes no more than 15 minutes and is comprehensively designed to build your skills step-by-step through the entirety of the dashboards.
In addition, if you complete a bingo, you can win TEA recognition in the EPP Newsletter and prizes! Let’s see who the first person will be to complete a bingo or an entire blackout of their card! Download the bingo card now and register here for the training!
Reminder: Known Issues Resolution: Exam Pass Rates: 2/12/26
Exam Pass Rates for 2024-25 are now available within the I2I dashboards. The Exam Pass Rates Dashboard is a series of data visualizations for individual EPPs that feature candidate characteristics alongside the number of attempts and pass rates for the PPR, STR, and Content exams. For a full refresher on using this area of Insight to Impact, consult the Exam Pass Rates guide of I2I Academy.
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: How are the hours in a school day counted towards the 490 hours of clinical teaching? For example, if the school day starts at 8:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm, does the clinical teacher log that as 7 hours, or do they have to subtract the 45 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of lunch time?
A: According to 19 TAC §228.67(b)(1), at least 280 clinical teaching hours must be completed in the subject area and grade level of the certification sought, under the supervision of a cooperating teacher, including planning periods. Candidates should document 280 hours spent in clinical teaching in the primary subject area. 19 TAC §228.67(b)(2) specifies that the remaining clinical teaching hours may be accrued through additional instructional hours during the school day, TEKS-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 for the remaining required hours of clinical teaching.
Q: What options does a candidate have if they exhaust 3 years of teaching without certification? How can they continue teaching?
A: If a candidate in an EPP has exhausted the three-year limit for teaching without obtaining a Standard certificate, the only option for completing the required clinical experience is to engage in clinical teaching or a residency [19 TAC §230.36(c)(4)]. Note that 19 TAC §227.10(c)(2) requires that an EPP may not admit an applicant who has exhausted the three-year limit for teaching unless the applicant is seeking clinical teaching.
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 Education Specialist Assignments.
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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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