 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.
You may subscribe to the newsletter or access previous editions
using the links below:
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Topic
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Description
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Event Date & Time
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Join PREP Office Hours for support with key implementation tasks, including:
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ECOS data entry support for Spring 2027 start dates
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General PREP implementation questions
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Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Wednesday, December 16, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
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LASO Cycle 5 Webinars: Register for Upcoming Sessions
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EPPs are encouraged to register for upcoming LASO Cycle 5 webinars to prepare for the next cycle and better understand how PREP programs will be presented to school system partners. Webinar sessions will include:
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PREP Preservice: Residency, Traditional, and Alternative
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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: EPP ASEP Technology Fee Invoices
TEA will be distributing to EPPs the ASEP Technology Fee invoices for Academic Year 2025-2026, in late October. This fee is assessed for each candidate who was admitted to your EPP between September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026. The number of candidates is taken from the number of individuals reported as admitted by your EPP in ECOS. Additionally, similar to last year, admissions for the prior year who were added this year via a data fix will be included in the count. This is because they were not included in the prior year’s invoice.
The invoice will have payment information, including information about how to pay using ACH and how to submit a payment by mail. Credit cards are not accepted. Please note that ACH payment is preferred.
TEA will send the invoices to the EPP Legal Authority via email. We will also send notifications to Backup Legal Authorities and Certification Officers, to the extent that they are listed in our Contact List. Payment is due 30 days after receipt of the invoice. The Texas Administrative Code at 19 TAC §229.9 includes additional information about the ASEP Technology Fee.
New: LBB Reporting
Educator preparation programs at public colleges and universities are required to report certification rates of teacher education graduates to the LBB. Information about LBB reporting was sent out to public colleges and universities on October 6, 2026. Please review that email for steps, supports, and deadlines.
Detailed guidance for using the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS) to upload and retrieve your certification rate is available in the email and in the Technical Manual.
Remember, this reporting is only for public colleges and universities – if your EPP is not at a public college or university, your EPP does not complete the LBB reporting process.
Reminder: Social Security Number Required for EPP Admission
All applicants to EPPs must have a SSN to be able to set up a TEAL account and establish a TEA ID number that is required to create the admission record. EPPs should remind current candidates who may have a P-number to apply for the SSN, if they have not already done so, and to submit a Help Desk ticket with documentation to TEA to replace the P-number with the SSN.
Updates related to the PREP Program Allotment
New: PREP Participant Counts
Visit the PREP webpage to view 2026-27 PREP participant counts. These counts reflect data entered in ECOS as of September 11, 2026, and are available in the PREP Tools, Resources, and Information section of the webpage.
New: LASO Cycle 5 PREP Overview Webinars
LASO Cycle 5 PREP Overview webinars will be offered to help school systems and partners understand:
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PREP Allotment programs available through LASO Cycle 5
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LASO Cycle 5 application process and timeline
Webinars are scheduled for:
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Wednesday, October 7th, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
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Friday, October 16th, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
PREP OFFICE HOURS
EPPs can join office hours for an opportunity to ask questions and receive implementation support.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Wednesday, December 16, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Submit your questions through the PREP Help Desk at any time. Include enough detail to assist the team with identifying the issue. Screenshots or documentation may be helpful when reporting ECOS issues.
Visit the PREP Allotment webpage to find helpful program information, guidance documents, resources, and updates.
Updates related to Insight to Impact
Reminder: EPP Spotlight: Texas A&M Texarkana Embraces Observation Tool
As members of the Texas Education Agency’s Data Governance Committee, representatives from Texas A&M University–Texarkana volunteered for a small pilot program offered by the Insight to Impact Dashboards Team to test the Observation Tool.
Texarkana Instructor of Education Dr. Debora Shidemantle and Certification Coordinator Amy Miller have been seeking to fill a major gap in the program’s continuous improvement efforts. Learn more in this EPP Spotlight about how their institution intends to do that with the Observation Tool.
Also, if you're interested in using the new Observation Tool, you can request your roles in TEAL and begin entering your observations for 2026-27 as of Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Reminder: Register Now for the CSOTTE Conference
CSOTTE, which is dedicated to the support and refinement of professional preparation and development programs for all certified school personnel in Texas, is hosting its annual conference October 11-13, 2026, in Denton, Texas.
As the voice of the education profession in all matters related to state and national educator preparation and certification in Texas, registration for the CSOTTE Conference is available today. The Insight to Impact Dashboards Team will be on hand to offer specific training for the EPP Community, so register now!
We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs.
Q: Where can I find the most updated alignment charts, test frameworks, and the scope and sequence template?
A: Alignment charts, test frameworks, and the scope and sequence template are available through Application Request Form for SBEC Approved EPPs form. On the left side of the webpage, you will find a link to a ShareFile folder where you can access:
- Alignment charts for all certificate areas and certification classes
- A blank scope and sequence template
- Links to all certification test frameworks
These resources are available for EPP use at any time and may be downloaded as needed.
Q: What should I do if I need to update, correct, or cancel a Help Desk ticket I have already submitted?
A: You will always receive a confirmation email when your Help Desk ticket has been submitted successfully. If you need to update information, provide additional details, or request that a ticket be canceled, please reply directly to that confirmation email rather than submitting a new ticket.
Replies to the confirmation email are automatically linked to the original Help Desk ticket, allowing us to keep all related communication and requests together in one place. This helps ensure that updates are processed correctly and efficiently.
For example, if you submit a certificate deactivation request and later determine you need to cancel that request, simply reply to the confirmation email and ask that the request be canceled. There is no need to open a new Help Desk ticket. Because multiple staff members assist with Help Desk requests, keeping all information within the same ticket helps us track your request accurately and avoid processing delays.
Your best source for information and support at the TEA.
As an Educator Preparation Program, your main point of contact is your Education Specialist.
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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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