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Educator Preparation Program Support 

Updates related to Educator Preparation Program Management  

New: Commendation Certificates 

Back at the February meeting of the SBEC, the Board adopted the 2021-2022 EPP Commendations. Every year TEA sends certificates in the mail to EPPs who earned these commendations. These certificates should now be in the mail, and should be received within the next two weeks. Please be on the lookout for them.  

As a reminder, you can always view all the EPP commendations on the commendation webpage.  

New: Insight to Impact Dashboards 

On April 5, the Insight to Impact Dashboards go live! These dashboards have been built specifically for EPPs to support you in your work. You can join us at the launch event in-person or virtually by registering here. EPP in-person attendees will receive one $750 stipend for their EPP program. 

If you are not able to join us for the launch event, you can apply to access the Insight to Impact Dashboards using your TEAL account. A guide for access instructions will be posted online and provide additional information on how to request this access following the launch on April 5. Please visit the Insight to Impact Academy website for useful support materials including technical guides, videos, and facilitation guides.  

Reminder: 2023 Vetted Teacher Residency Application is Open!  

TEA has opened the next cycle of the Vetted Teacher Residency Program application for EPPs that are actively implementing high-quality teacher residency models with existing district partnerships. The application window is open from 3/21/23 through 6/9/23. 

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 support incentives.  

Please see timelines below for anticipated application activities:  

Reminder: ASEP Mid-Year Data Sets  

In order to provide data updates to EPPs, TEA will be distributing mid-year data sets to EPP data contacts. We are targeting this data distribution for Friday, March 31st. As in years past, these data sets will include updated observation data, pass rate data, and data to enable you to update your finisher records list.  

New this year will be data showing which candidates do not yet have clinical experience records. As a reminder, clinical experience records for all candidates who took part in an internship, practicum, or clinical teaching in 2022-2023 are required to be entered in the clinical experience system. 

Along with the data sets we will include a link to an explanatory video, that will describe the data sets and provide useful reminders for what EPPs should be doing right now to ensure successful ASEP reporting. The video will also be published on the Program Provider Resources page on the TEA website. 

Educator Standards and Testing   

FAQs   

We take this space to highlight questions that we have heard from EPPs. 

Q: I am my EPP’s Legal Authority but cannot give ECOS for Entities access to my staff who need access. Why is that? 

A: Each Legal Authority must request Primary Approver access. It is through that access that a Legal Authority/Primary Approver can approve ECOS for Entities access for EPP staff that need access. Per 19 TAC §228.20(c) , the chief operating officer shall provide sufficient support to enable the EPP to meet all standards set by the SBEC and shall be accountable for the quality of the EPP and the candidates whom the program recommends for certification. This means that the Legal Authority must have control over who has access to the EPP and must add and/or remove access to staff as applicable. Likewise, the Backup Legal Authority also need to have Alternate Approver access. Right now, EPP staff are requesting Insight to Impact (I2I) access and need for the Legal Authority to approve their accesses. If a Legal Authority or Backup Legal Authority does not have Primary or Alternate Approver access, they can contact their Education Specialist assigned for instructions.  

Q: I have a candidate that is not eligible for a certificate, but has applied for both an intern and probationary certificate. Do I need to remove the application(s)? 

A: It is always best to remove any applications that are not needed by a candidate to avoid a candidate applying/paying and being recommended for both. The fees can remain in the educator’s account and applied to a correct certificate until they are needed. TEA has had situations where candidates had all exams passed, applied/paid and were recommended for both certificates and one had to be backed out. To avoid this issue, be clear with candidates about which certificate they are eligible for and ensure they apply for the correct one.  

EPP Points of Contact   

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 their associated Education Specialist. 
• For easiest assistance, file a HelpDesk Ticket.  
Or EPPs (and candidates) may call (512) 936-8400 and select Option #5: Educator Preparation Programs. If an Education Specialist is not available to answer the call at that time, please leave a voicemail. An Education Specialist will promptly return the call.  

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. 

• Option 2: Educator Certification  
• Option 3: Fingerprinting  
• Option 6: Investigations
• Option 8: General Office Information 

The Teal Account Access team and Educator Testing team are available through the Help Desk.