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Educator Preparation Program Support

New: Principal and Teacher Survey Roster Reviews  

The Principal and Teacher Surveys closed for responses as of June 15. As we have done in prior years, TEA will provide rosters of respondents to EPPs for your optional review, to confirm that the respondents were associated with your EPP. The EPP Principal and Teacher Survey Roster Verification lists for 2022-2023 ASEP Reporting will be sent via email to each EPP Legal Authority with a ShareFile link to access the data by early July. As a reminder, for data security purposes only EPP legal authorities have access to the EPP Sharefile folder. 

The Request for Exception (RFC) forms for this process will soon be posted on Program Provider Resources Page. The RFCs will be due by 5 PM CST on August 1, 2023, via the Data Reporting Help Desk. The email we send announcing the data distribution will also provide guidance. If you have any questions about this process, please contact your Education Specialist assigned.  

New: Late Hire Flag 

The June updates to ECOS are bringing a key update – the ability for EPPs to designate an intern as a Late Hire when entering the clinical experience record. As a reminder, a Late Hire is a candidate who is both hired for a teaching assignment within 45 days of the first day of instruction and admitted to an EPP within 45 days of the first day of instruction. The clinical experience record screen and upload are now updated to allow for EPPs to identify if an intern meets these requirements. This will simplify recordkeeping around late hires for EPPs, allowing for clear data when reviewing late hire records during continuing approval reviews. Additional guidance will be available in the updated Technical Manual.

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

Q: When my EPP submits an admission data fix, am I also required to submit an enrollment data fix? 

A: If you are admitting a candidate from a previous academic year via a Data Fix and the candidate is not on the finisher record list (FRL) as other enrolled (OE) or finisher (F), then you will need a Data Fix by TEA to add that candidate to any year prior to the current year, as applicable. Note if a candidate is not on the FRL, then the EPP cannot add a clinical experience record or observations for that candidate. To submit an admission Data Fix, create an admission upload file with the candidate’s admission information and submit to Preparation Programs-Data in the TEA Help Desk. The Request for Correction (RFC) form to submit a Data Fix request to correct the Finisher Records List and instructions for completion and submission of the RFC are posted on the Program Provider Resources Page under Forms and Documents. 

Q: I have a candidate who is starting an internship in the fall and is planning to be employed on a campus that does not require teacher certification. Do I have to recommend an Intern or Probationary certificate for this candidate’s internship? 

A: Yes, a candidate completing an internship with an approved EPP must hold a valid Intern or Probationary certificate for the duration of the internship assignment regardless of whether the campus requires certification. The reference for this requirement is 19 TAC §228.35(e)(2)(B)(iv). 

TEA Updates

Reminder: Upcoming Holiday and Agency Closure 

The TEA will be closed July 3rd through July 5th for the Fourth of July holiday. Given the holiday schedule the next weekly EPP Newsletter will be available the week of July 10th.  

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