 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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HB2 Implementation Webinars
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A series of Implementation Webinars designed to inform and support participants as they begin to access the services created by House Bill 2
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See below for dates, topics, and registration links.
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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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187 Bilingual Special Education
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Texas Test of Educator Proficiency (T-TEP) (pending SBEC action)
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Updated one pager anticipated Summer 2026
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Core with Fine Arts/Health/PE
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Core with Bilingual Education Spanish
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
New: Employment and Responsibility Dataset Distribution
Based on requests from the field, TEA makes datasets available to EPPs that contain five years of employment data for finishers. This is our sixth year of providing this data, and we have updated it to include the 2025-2026 employment data. These datasets include information including TEA ID, LEA of employment, Campus, Course Assignments, Population Served, and Pay. This data will become available through ShareFile by the end of this week.
EPPs will receive a notification email once the data has been distributed. Please review the ShareFile Access Instructions for access assistance to ShareFile. If you have any questions, please submit a Helpdesk ticket.
Please note - while much of this information is available in the Insight to Impact Dashboard, we know that some EPPs use this data in different ways, and we plan to continue this data distribution.
Reminder: Published Completed Studies Dashboards and Data Reports
The Educator Data, Research, and Strategy (EDRS) team released on April 13, 2026, several dynamic longitudinal dashboards and accompanying data reports that reflect key information on Teacher Retention, New Hires, Attrition New Hires, and Uncertified Teachers. The reports are available on the TEA Educator Reports and Data webpage. Subscribe to the Educator Reports and Data Monthly Bulletins to stay informed about newly released data.
Reminder: Disaster Declaration and Clinical Experiences
On January 22, 2026, Governor Abbott issued a proclamation that declared a state of disaster due to winter weather for specified counties. The Proclamation was reissued on January 25, 2026 to include additional counties. As the proclamation does not appear to have been renewed, it was effective for 30 days until February 24, 2026. Per 19 TAC §228.4, If the governor declares a state of disaster consistent with Texas Government Code §418.014, TEA staff may extend deadlines in 19 TAC Chapter 228 for up to 90 days and decrease clinical teaching, internship, and practicum assignment minimums by up to 20 percent as necessary to accommodate persons in the affected disaster areas. As such, to accommodate candidates completing clinical experiences in the affected counties who may have missed days due to the winter weather, EPPs may reduce clinical teaching time up to 20% as applicable to the time missed by the candidate. The counties are listed in the proclamation linked above. EPPs should retain related documentation in the candidate’s record.
Updates related to the PREP Program Allotment
New: PREP Program Allotment Guidebook
The PREP Program Allotment Guidebook is now live and available to download. The Guidebook has detailed implementation information regarding the PREP Program Allotment as a whole, and the PREP Grow Your Own, PREP Preservice Residency, and PREP Mentorship programs individually.
New: HB2 Implementation Webinars
Do you have questions regarding the components of House Bill 2 and how to implement them? TEA will be offering a series of Implementation Webinars designed to inform and support participants as they begin to access the services created by House Bill 2. There are six webinars scheduled, and registration is required. Please use the registration links below to sign up for the webinars:
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Introduction to HB 2 Implementation
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PREP Routes in Action: Residency Route Requirements & Preparing for Implementation
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Chapter 227, 228, & 230 Implementation: The Nuts & Bolts of HB2 Requirements
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PREP Route Nuts & Bolts: P-Alt Route Requirements
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PREP Route Nuts & Bolts: PREP Traditional Route Requirements
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PREP Training Content Overview
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Reminder: PREP GYO Toolkit
TEA has partnered with the Center for Reigniting the Educator Workforce (CREW) to support school systems and EPPs partnering to participate in the new PREP Grow Your Own (GYO) pathway. CREW has developed a toolkit that contains resources to support the development of GYO partnerships. Please refer to this toolkit for information and supports that will assist you as you work with your school system partners.
DID YOU KNOW?
As you work with your school system partners regarding the Verification of Participation (VoP) form, remember that the school system is responsible for completing and uploading the VoP requirements. We are hearing from the field concern regarding the MOU requirement with the VoP. If the school system or EPP is waiting on school board or Office of General Counsel approval, you may upload the draft MOU to meet VoP requirements. The fully executed MOU will be required to be submitted to TEA by August.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
Reminder: Updates to Exam Launch Overview Table
Following the April 24,2026 State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) meeting, changes have been made to the Exam Launch Overview table above to reflect the following:
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Updated date for redesigned Core Subjects exams (Phase 1 and Phase 2) to reflect an anticipated September 2029 launch, aligned to State Board of Education (SBOE) approval of ELAR and Social Studies TEKS
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Revised launch date of 2029 for the Texas Test of Educator Proficiency (T-TEP), pending SBEC action
Updated exam one pagers and additional resources will be shared as they are available.
Updates related to actions by the State Board for Educator Certification, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature.
Reminder: SBEC Adopts the Ch. 227, 228, and 230 Rule Updates to Implement HB 2 Updates
On Friday, April 24, 2026, the SBEC adopted proposed rule updates to TAC Chapters 228, 227, and 230 to operationalize HB 2 requirements for Educator Preparation and Certification. Items may be reviewed on the website. Pending SBOE approval in June, rules will be effective for the 2026-2027 school year. To support EPPs with implementation next steps, the agency will be launching several resources, including a series of implementation webinars (as listed above).
Updates related to Insight to Impact
New: Exam Pass Rates Training Video Posted
On Thursday, April 30, the I2I Dashboards Team hosted its latest training session on the Exam Pass Rates Dashboard. For those who missed the event, the team has you covered.
The recorded event video is now posted for members of the EPP community who would like to learn more about the steps needed to receive dashboard access, depending on roles pertinent to their work.
Feel free to share this video 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.
Reminder: Insight to Impact Dashboards Data Treasure Hunt: Exam Pass Rates
TEA will host an Insight to Impact Dashboards (I2I) training on how to get the most out of the Exam Pass Rates Dashboard on Thursday, April 30. To ensure that the lesson sticks, we created a fun, interactive “treasure hunt” for EPP staff to practice identifying actionable insights about their respective programs. Those who complete the treasure hunt and email TEA will not only be featured in the EPP Newsletter but also receive a prize (in addition to a hard-earned high-five)!
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from .
Q: Does a cooperating teacher have to hold the exact same certification as the candidate teacher is seeking?
A: No. Under 19 TAC §228.93(a)(5), the cooperating teacher must hold valid certification aligned to the clinical teaching assignment, not an exact match to the candidate’s certification. As long as the cooperating teacher is properly certified for the grade level and subject area being taught, the requirement is met.
Q: How do I submit a Request for Correction (RFC)?
A: To make changes to admission records, finisher records, or candidate enrollment in a closed reporting year, you must submit a Request for Correction (RFC) through the Help Desk.
The RFC must be submitted as an Excel file (not CSV) and must include the front sheet with all three required checkboxes selected. Submissions that do not include a completed front sheet with all three checkboxes will be returned to the EPP for revision.
When adding admission records, be sure to include each required enrollment record year on separate lines. When updating finisher records, you must also include additional lines to remove or update any existing candidate records, as needed.
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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