HB 3 Update – Master Teacher Update
Effective September 1, 2019, as mandated by House Bill 3 (HB 3), the State Board for Educator Certification may no longer issue new or renew master teacher certificates. In addition, master teacher certificates already issued will be updated to include the word “legacy” as part of the certificate title. The implementation of HB 3 will impact educator preparation programs (EPPs), candidates seeking master teacher certification, and current master teacher certificate holders.
Please note the following key changes:
- Texas EPPs currently approved to offer master teacher certification in any of the four areas (Reading, Mathematics, Technology, and Science) must complete all certification-related activities by Aug. 30, 2019.
- Candidates currently enrolled in a Texas-approved master teacher preparation program must complete all requirements for certificate issuance (including passing the test and submitting a complete application for certification with EPP recommendation) by Aug. 30, 2019.
- Master Teacher examinations must be taken and passed, and results must be reported to the educator, the EPP, and TEA in time to meet the before 9/1/2019 deadline for certificate application and issuance.
- Master teacher certificates already issued will not be eligible to renew at the end of their expiration date.
- Current master teacher certificate holders will be eligible for placement into appropriate teaching assignments as identified in 19 TAC Chapter 231, Requirements for Public School Personnel Assignments, through the validity period of their certificates.
- Once the master teacher certificate has expired, it will not be eligible for renewal and the educator that previously taught using that master teacher certificate would need to hold another certificate appropriate for placement in the assignment to continue in his or her current role.
In preparation for that deadline, we wanted to provide guidance on what your program should do in order to close out this certification class, as well as what to do to identify and assist candidates who are in the pipeline for Master Teacher certification.
- No letter is needed from the program to remove the Master Teacher certificates from the EPP inventory. These certificates will be removed on 9/1/2019.
- The following testing windows are the only ones that will enable candidates to meet the deadlines above.
Master Reading Teacher (085), Master Mathematics Teacher (087, 088, and 089), Master Science Teacher (090, 091, and 092) | ||
Testing Period | Scheduling Deadline | Test Results Released |
7/15/2019 – 7/28/2019 | 7/13/2019 | 8/23/2019 |
7/29/2019 – 8/11/2019 | 7/27/2019 | 8/23/2019 |
Master Technology Teacher (086) | ||
Testing Period | Scheduling Deadline | Test Results Released |
7/15/2019 – 7/28/2019 | 6/28/2019 | 8/23/2019 |
7/29/2019 – 8/11/2019 | 7/12/2019 | 8/23/2019 |
- You are encouraged to work with candidates that are ready to test so that they receive test approval and register for tests in a timely fashion. To identify candidates currently or formerly in your EPP that are seeking Master Teacher certificates, please look at the following:
(1) The Finisher Records list in ECOS;
(2) The Maintain Test list accessed through the Test Approval menu in the ECOS green screen; and
(3) Pending applications in the Standard certification list.
- An e-mail will be sent to candidates identified as other enrolled, eligible or approved by Pearson next Monday notifying candidates of these changes and recommending that they reach out to their program.
Master Teacher certificates must be recommended for issuance no later than 8/30/2019 and issued by 8/31/2019. The candidate must meet all requirements for the certificate, including:
1) Passed the test
2) Correctly applied and paid for the Master Teacher certificate and completed fingerprinting, if required
3) Be recommended by the EPP for a standard Master Teacher certificate