 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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Invitation to Attend I2I Training on the Employment and Retention Dashboard
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The Insight to Impact (I2I) Dashboards Team will host its latest I2I training, focusing on the Employment and Retention Dashboard.
The team will also review opportunities to assist EPPs in improving assist EPPs with improved data comprehension, analysis, and application within the I2I Dashboards.
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English as a Second Language Supplemental EC-12 Exam (254) Framework Overview Webinar
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The 254 ESL Supplemental EC-12 Exam Framework Overview Webinar will guide programs through an overview of the redesigned ESL Supplemental EC-12 Exam and Exam Framework.
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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 EC-6
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Core with Fine Arts/Health/PE
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Core with Bilingual Education Spanish
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Core with ESL
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Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management
New: Special Education (SPED) EC-12 and Special Education Supplemental Certificate Replacement.
The Special Education EC-12 and Special Education Supplemental certificates are being replaced by the Special Education Specialist EC-12 certificate. The Special Education Specialist EC-12 exam 186 will replace both exams 161 and 163. The last date that a candidate was able to attempt the expiring exam(s) was 8/31/2025. The new exam launched 9/2/2025.
The last date a candidate can be recommended for certification using passing scores on exam 161 or 163 is 9/1/2026. Candidates for certification in Special Education EC-12 or in the Special Education Supplemental must meet all requirements and submit a complete application by 9/1/2026. Starting 9/2/2026, the Special Education Specialist EC-12 will require a passing score on exam 186. The latest data sets identifying candidates who have passing scores on one of the expiring tests but are not yet Standard certificate were uploaded into your EPPs ShareFile account on 5/20/2026. An email was sent to Legal Authorities and Certification Officers notifying them that the data was uploaded into ShareFile along with access instructions for Legal Authorities. This will be the last reminder before the Special Education EC-12 and Special Education Supplemental certificates expire. EPPs are strongly encouraged to reach out to the candidates identified in your data set and remind them of the deadlines and any local processes for securing a recommendation for certification.
Updates related to the PREP Program Allotment
Reminder: PREP Guidebook
TEA Staff has developed an in-depth PREP Guidebook intended to provide information regarding steps EPPs and school systems will need to take to engage fully in the PREP Program Allotment in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Reminder: 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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May 28, 2026 (date corrected)
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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DID YOU KNOW?
TEA Staff is hearing many questions from EPPs that you are fielding from your partner school systems around the funding mechanism for the PREP Residency Allotment. As a reminder, initial funding to the school system will flow with the Foundation School Program (FSP) in the fall. School systems will receive an initial payment of $12,000 per resident hosted; $10,000 goes towards the resident’s $20,000 salary, with $2,000 earmarked for the host teacher. There are two streams of success-based funding (SBF); one will flow to the school system that hosted the resident, and one will flow to the EPP that trained the resident. School system SBF is based upon the resident completing the requirements for their degree AND the resident receiving their enhanced standard certificate; the amount is predicated on the rural/high needs multiplier for the campus and if the resident earned Special Education or Bilingual certification. For EPPs, SBF is based on the resident earning their enhanced standard certificate AND serving as teacher of record for a full year in a Texas classroom.
Updates related to Educator Standards and Certification Testing
Reminder: English as a Second Language Supplemental EC-12 Exam (254) Framework Overview Webinar
The 254 ESL Supplemental EC-12 Exam Framework Overview Webinar will guide programs through an overview of the redesigned ESL Supplemental EC-12 Exam Framework, closely examine shifts to the exam format, new content fields, and timeline, and provide programs an opportunity to exchange resources and discuss course/curriculum problems of practice via Padlet. The webinar will focus on providing information about the webinar; expect a lecture style engagement. We strongly encourage those faculty or staff who will be responsible for supporting students or making programmatic changes to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!
Updates related to Insight to Impact
Reminder: Invitation to Attend I2I Training on the Employment and Retention Dashboard
On Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 3:00 - 4:00 PM CST, the TEA’s Insight to Impact (I2I) Dashboards Team will host the latest I2I training, focusing on the Employment and Retention Dashboard. The team will review the 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 I2I 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 for the training!
We look forward to your attendance!
Reminder: Insight to Impact Dashboards Data Treasure Hunt: Employment and Retention
TEA will host an Insight to Impact Dashboards (I2I) training on how to get the most out of the Employment and Retention Dashboard on Thursday, May 28. 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 EPPs.
Q: Does the EPP have to check that the intern or probationary certificate is active before the candidate enters the classroom? What if there is a hold?
A: Per 19 TAC §228.73(a), an EPP is responsible for ensuring that a candidate’s intern certificate or probationary certificate is issued and active before the candidate’s internship assignment start date. If a certificate has a hold, the certificate is not active, and the candidate may not begin the internship while the hold remains in place. In these situations, the EPP must delay the start of the internship assignment until the hold is resolved and the certificate status reflects active issuance. If the certificate does not issue as planned, the EPP should communicate with the candidate and district or campus so all parties are aware.
Q: Does “assignment start date” mean the intern’s first day of instruction with students or the first day of instruction with students as evidenced on district calendars?
A: Per 19 TAC §228.2(5), the assignment start date for an internship, clinical teaching, or residency is the first day of instruction with students. This refers to the first date the candidate is in their classroom assignment with students, which may or may not be the first day of instruction according to the district calendar.
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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