Program Provider Resources

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

Principal Certification Redesign

TEA is redesigning Texas’ principal certification standards and corresponding tests. For more information, visit the Principal Certification Redesign homepage.

Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Youth Suicide Training

Effective December 27, 2016, 19 TAC §228.30(c)(3) requires educator preparation programs to provide instruction regarding mental health, substance abuse, and youth suicide to candidates seeking initial certification in any certification class. The mental health instruction must include effective strategies for teaching and intervening with students with mental or emotional disorders, including de-escalation techniques and positive behavioral interventions and supports. The instruction must be provided through a program selected from the list of recommended best practice-based programs and research-based practices. Programs that meet the criteria for 19 TAC §228.30(c)(3) can be found at the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

The resources listed below have been recommended to meet these requirements:

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

The Texas Behavior Support Initiative (TBSI) training is designed to provide foundational knowledge for the use of positive behavior interventions and supports for all students, including those with disabilities. While the TBSI training meets legislative requirements related to procedures for the use of restraint and time-out, it also provides a framework for sharing a wide range of foundation-level behavior strategies and prevention-based school-wide, classroom, and individual interventions.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training is an 8-hour face-to-face course that trains participants to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training includes: risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems; information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and addiction disorders; a 5-step action plan to help someone developing a mental health problem or in crisis; and where to turn for help – professional, peer, and self-help resources. MHFA teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.

At-Risk (Kognito) Training

At-Risk is a one hour online training for Elementary, Middle School, and High School educators. This online, interactive professional development program uses virtual role-play to help school faculty, staff, and administrators learn common signs of psychological distress and how to approach an at-risk student for referral to the school counselor.

Dyslexia: Characteristics, Identification, and Effective Strategies

An online course that meets the dyslexia training requirements in Texas Education Code (TEC) §21.044(b) is provided by the Region 10 Education Service Center. The course includes the history of dyslexia, district requirements, procedures, statistics, recognizing the signs of dyslexia, intervention strategies, and options for parents of students with dyslexia.

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.

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.

The Educator Preparation Advisory Committee (EPAC), which is appointed by the SBEC, provides input and guidance on EPP matters. If you are interested in serving on this committee, fill out and return an Advisory Committee Member Application Form (PDF, 176 KB).

The Division of Educator Standards, Testing, and Preparation periodically convenes committees of educators and educator preparation staff to participate in the development of content standards and certification tests. Interested persons may submit an Educator Certification Committee Application. (PDF, 177 KB)

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 provide resources, detailed guidance, and application materials. The workshop is free, but a reservation is required. Please contact Lorrie Ayers 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 Program Specialist for application materials. See the Forms and Documents section of this page for a Program Specialist assignment list.

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

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

Clinical teaching, internship, and practicum experiences at Department of Defense Activity (DoDEA) schools do not require prior TEA approval.

Required Fees

The table below lists 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

Two contractors help collect Title II data - Westat and Pearson. For information on Title II data collection contact Westat. 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 (Westat)
June – Review IPRC data

For additional information regarding data, reporting, and accountability see the Educator Preparation Program Data Reporting Manual. For questions, please email Dr. Mark Olofson.

EPP Training

To register for Division of Educator Standards, Testing, and Preparation webinars or training for approved EPPs, please contact your assigned Program Specialist. See the Forms and Documents section for a current Program Specialist assignment list. Past training events with FAQ’s are posted in the EPP Training Events and Materials section of this page.

Exit Survey Data