Program Provider Resources

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This page provides information to educator preparation programs (EPPs). Individuals seeking information about the performance of approved EPPs should visit Consumer Information about Educator Preparation Programs.

Educator Preparation Curriculum

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Principal Certification Redesign

TEA is redesigning Texas’ principal certification standards and corresponding tests.

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Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Youth Suicide Training

Programs that meet the criteria for 19 TAC §228.30(c)(3).

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Texas Behavior Support Initiative Training
(type TBSI in search bar)

Positive behavior interventions and supports for all students, including those with disabilities.

 

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Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Eight-hour face-to-face course to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

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At-Risk (Kognito) Training

One-hour online training for Elementary, Middle School, and High School educators.

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Dyslexia

Characteristics, Identification, and Effective Strategies.

 

State Board for Educator Certification

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) was created by the Texas Legislature in 1995 to recognize public school educators as professionals and grant educators the authority to govern the standards of their profession. The SBEC oversees all aspects of the preparation, certification, and standards of conduct of public school educators.

Input on the SBEC’s Draft of the Effective Preparation Framework

The SBEC’s Effective Preparation Framework (EPF) aims to define the highest leverages practices effective Texas educator preparation programs strive to implement daily. The EPF has been developed in response to a desire from the SBEC and the field to define a Texas vision for high-quality educator preparation and support EPP continuous improvement.

In December 2023, the SBEC directed TEA staff to further refine the draft framework to ensure continuous improvement and performance management practices were clearly articulated and to ensure stronger alignment to the state's Effective District and Effective School Frameworks. As a result of the need for further refinement, a wide range of stakeholders have worked to update the current draft of the EPF over the past few months. 

To further inform this development process, we are soliciting feedback on the current draft of the EPF. The deadline to submit feedback is 5:00 pm on May 11, 2023.  Please email comments to TexasEPF@tea.texas.gov.

Critical Shortage Area Certification Exam Reimbursement Opportunity

Recently, the Teacher Vacancy Task Force published a set of recommendations for TEA and school districts. One recommendation included providing funding for candidate certification exams, particularly in hard-to-staff areas. In alignment with this recommendation, TEA is providing a limited reimbursement opportunity for exams required for certification in federally designated critical shortage areas. The Critical Shortage Area Certification Exam Reimbursement Opportunity is available to all educator preparation programs certifying candidates in the approved critical shortage areas. Through this opportunity, eligible programs will be reimbursed for the cost of certification exam vouchers purchased to be used on content pedagogy certification exams aligned with the approved critical shortage areas. For more information including a list of shortage area aligned certification exams, please view the FAQ document.  

Application

In October 2019, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) approved a framework and procedures for determining educator preparation program (EPP) Commendations. The following commendation categories went into rule to recognize high-performing EPPs: 1. Rigorous and Robust Preparation, 2. Preparing the Educators Texas Needs, 3. Preparing Educators for Long-Term Success, and 4. Innovative Educator Preparation. The Innovative Educator Preparation category gives the SBEC the opportunity to designate EPPs that have implemented innovative approaches in a defined area of emphasis.

For the 2022-2024 Innovative Educator Preparation commendation, the SBEC seeks to recognize EPPs that engage in innovative development of EPP faculty and staff, field supervisors, and/or cooperating and mentor teachers, in alignment with current research and best practices. Examples include, but are not limited to, co-teaching models, coaching practices, high-quality instructional materials implementation, and/or response to intervention (RTI).    

Such practices must be well above SBEC-mandate minimums to be considered. 

The Innovative EPP Commendation Call for Applications includes directions for completion of an application along with associated expectations and deadlines. Questions regarding the Innovative EPP Commendation Call for Applications should be directed to innovative_epp@tea.texas.gov.

EPP Governance

All EPPs must follow the requirements of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). These rules are developed by the SBEC and approved by the State Board of Education.

The TEA Division of Educator Standards, Testing, and Preparation monitors and supports EPPs for quality. EPPs are responsible for implementing current rules, content, and best practices as they prepare future educators.

TEA Educator Preparation / EPP Collaboration

The SBEC is statutorily authorized to appoint members of advisory committees.

Vetted Teacher Residency Program List: 2023 Application Now Open:

The Vetted Teacher Residency Program List includes Texas educator preparation programs that offer high-quality teacher residency programs. The list has been established in preparation for state and federal grant opportunities that require LEAs to partner with a high-quality teacher residency program. Currently, 28 approved programs are supporting over 90 districts across Texas in the Texas Covid Learning Acceleration Support (TCLAS) Grant Decision 5: Residency Program Support. These programs and their partner districts are working together to build sustainable residency programs throughout the three-year grant cycle (Fall 2021-Spring 2024). EPPs designated as vetted teacher residency programs during the Spring 2023 application cycle are eligible to partner with districts awarded with residency supports incentives.

TEA has opened the 2023 Vetted Teacher Residency Program application for EPPs that are actively implementing high-quality teacher residency models with existing district partnerships. Applications will be reviewed following the submission window’s closure and application status will be shared September 2023.

Please see timelines below for anticipated application activities:

Key Information Timelines and notes

Application Materials:

2023 Vetted Teacher Residency Program Application Instructions

Application window:

3/21-6/9/23

Application Q & A window:

3/21-4/7

We will respond to written questions submitted to TEAteacherresidency@tea.texas.gov  and post the Q&A to the program provider resources page by 4/14/23.

Review of application and Notification:

Summer 2023

We anticipate notification no later than early September 2023

Applications and Matrices

Individuals or entities seeking approval to become a new EPP, and approved EPPs seeking to add certificates or seeking approval for candidates to complete requirements out-of-state, must submit applications to the TEA.

New Program Application

An individual or entity that wants to become an approved EPP must submit an application to TEA staff and pay a non-refundable application fee (fee information is listed below). Payment of fees does not guarantee approval to operate. Final approval of a new EPP is made by the SBEC.

TEA offers new applicant workshops once a year to help aspiring EPPs with the application process. At the workshop, TEA staff provides resources, detailed guidance, and application materials. The workshop is free, but a reservation is required. Please submit a Help Desk ticket for reservations and more information.

New Certification Fields and Classes

An EPP rated "accredited" by SBEC may apply to offer new certification fields, classes, or clinical teaching by submitting the appropriate documents to the TEA. The addition of new classes requires approval by the SBEC. Interested EPPs should contact the assigned Education Specialist for application materials. See the Forms and Documents section of this page for the Education Specialist assignment list.

Application for Out-of-State or Out-of-Country Clinical Teaching, Practicum, or Field-Based Experience

An EPP may apply to the TEA for approval to offer clinical teaching, practicum, or field-based experience at a site outside the state of Texas or outside of the U.S. in schools recognized by the U.S. State Department of Overseas Schools. Interested EPPs should contact the assigned Education Specialist for application materials.

Field-based experiences (FBE), clinical teaching, internship, and practicum experiences at Department of Defense Activity (DoDEA) schools, wherever located and all schools accredited by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) do not require prior TEA approval.

Required Fees

The table below lists the required fees for new programs and for the addition of new certification fields and classes. For more information about these fees, see 19 TAC §229.9. All fees must be paid at the time the application is submitted. Payment of fees does not guarantee approval of applications. Fees are non-refundable. Please send payment to:

TEA-Accounting
1701 N. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78701

Application Fee

New Certification Field

$500

New Certification Class

$1,000

Clinical Teaching

$500

New Educator Preparation Program

$9,000

Out-of-State Approval

$500

Reporting and Accountability

EPP staff must submit data to the TEA for the Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs (ASEP) and to the U.S. Department of Education for the Title II Institution and Program Report Card (IPRC).

ASEP

The ASEP data required by TAC Chapter 229 includes information about:

  • The number of persons that apply to the EPP
  • The numbers of candidates admitted, enrolled, and completing the EPP
  • The GPA of candidates admitted to the EPP
  • The certification fields candidates are pursuing
  • The frequency and duration of field observations

The TEA produces a manual with information and instruction regarding ASEP reporting. Please see Forms and Documents section of this page for a copy of the Educator Preparation Program Data Reporting Manual.

Title II

The IPRC data required by the U.S. Department of Education includes information about:

  • The number of candidates enrolled and completing the EPP
  • Admission and exit requirements of the EPP
  • The kinds of support the EPP provides to candidates
  • The kinds of certifications candidates pursue with the EPP

The contractors help collect Title II data - The IPRC vendor (Trewon) and the testing vendor (Pearson). For information on Title II data collection contact the IPRC vendor, Trewon at Title2@trewon.com. For information about reporting candidates to Pearson for pass rate calculation purposes contact Pearson.

Timeline for Reporting

Data is generally reported according to the following schedule:

  • September 15 – Submit required ASEP data to the TEA
  • November – Submit required data to Pearson to calculate pass rates
  • April 30 – Submit IPRC data to the U.S. Department of Education contractor
  • June – Review IPRC data

For additional information regarding data, reporting, and accountability see the Educator Preparation Program Data Reporting Manual. For questions, please submit a Help Desk Ticket.

Insight to Impact Dashboard

Insight to Impact is an educator preparation program (EPP) data dashboard that is currently in development. Check here for project updates.

Accountability System Data

The data sets below are related to the Accountability System for Educator Preparation Programs (ASEP). More information about ASEP ratings and results are available in the ASEP Dashboards.

 

 

 

Other Resources for EPPs