 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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Topic
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Description
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Event Date & Time
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Insight to Impact Dashboards Sign-up Session
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The I2I Dashboards Team will host a Dashboards Sign-up Event to help 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.
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3:00 – 4:00 PM CST
via ZOOM
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165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 Exam in Focus Webinar
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The webinar will give an in-depth look into the development, structure, and scoring of the assessment.
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11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CST
Virtual
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165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental
EC-12 Exam Constructed Response Item (CRI) Deep Dive and Preparation Manual Overview Webinar
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The webinar will provide an in-depth look into the exam’s newly developed constructed response items (CRIs) and review the structure and content of the exam preparation manual.
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11:00 AM – 1:00 PM CST
Virtual
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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 the PREP Program Allotment
New: Partnership Agreement Forms
School systems will be required to submit signed Partnership Agreement forms and MOUs when they submit their Verification of Participation (VoP). The partnership forms can be found on the PREP Website.
Reminder: 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 registration links) may be found below. These office hours are targeted towards LEAs and EPPs and will provide support with completing the partnership agreements.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
New: 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 Exam in Focus Webinar
In advance of the September 2026 launch of the 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 exam, Pearson will host a 90-minute webinar on April 8, 2026, at 11:00 am. The webinar will give an in-depth look into the development, structure, and scoring of the assessments. Specifically, the webinar participants will:
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Review and understand the Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental (165) exam framework, design, development process, and scoring.
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Be exposed to several sample selected-response items (SRIs), reviewing different approaches and formats common to the exam.
- Dive deep into a sample constructed-response item (CRI) to review and discuss the rubric, model response, and approaches and strategies to help candidates respond to the charge.
Please register to attend the 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 Exam in Focus Webinar.
New: 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 Exam Constructed Response Item Deep Dive and Preparation Manual Overview Webinar
The webinar held on April 16, 2026, at 11:00 am will provide participants with an overview of the constructed response items (CRIs) included on the 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental exam, including some sample exhibits and constructed response items, and their aligned scoring rubrics. Participants will use some of the session time to work in small groups to review and analyze sample candidate responses to identify the qualities and characteristics of a strong CRI response. Participants will also be provided with an opportunity to preview the exam’s preparation manual format and engage with some of the manual’s content.
Please register to attend the 165 Bilingual Education Spanish Supplemental EC-12 Exam CRI Deep Dive and Preparation Manual Overview Webinar.
Updates related to Insight to Impact
New: Secure Your Seat for March’s I2I Sign-up Session
On Thursday, March 26, from 3-4 p.m. CT, the I2I Dashboards Team will host a Dashboards Sign-up Event to help 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.
You may register for the 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 would like to follow along with the video from a previous sign-up event, please feel free to review the recording.
New: I2I Data Update Schedule Posted Online
If you’ve ever wondered when data is updated in the Insight to Impact Dashboards, you’ve come to the right place! The I2I Data Update Schedule is now available at any time on the Insight to Impact Academy website in the dropdown menu under resources or on the Communications Updates page.
Updates related to agency initiatives and opportunities
Reminder: Bluebonnet Learning Portal
As programs have been asking how to access the Bluebonnet Learning Materials. Explore the Bluebonnet Learning Portal for instructional materials in K–5 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), K–5 Math, and Secondary Mathematics.
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: Is the enhanced standard certificate only for residency candidates?
A: Yes. The enhanced standard certificate is specifically designed for Residency candidates enrolled in an EPP approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to offer a Residency program.
Q: What are the benefits of an enhanced standard certificate? Is it different from a standard certificate?
A: An enhanced standard certificate is a type of standard certificate that Residency candidates receive upon completion of all program and TAC requirements. The enhancement on the standard certificate provided by a Texas TEA-approved teacher residency program primarily reflects the depth and rigor of the preparation route. It signals that the candidate has completed additional practice-based preparation beyond traditional certification routes. The enhanced certificate will be acknowledged in the educator’s TEAL account and documented on the SBEC certificate.
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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