7/30/2008SBEC Update: SBEC Approves ACP Rule Changes
Dear TASPA members,
The SBEC board met this past Friday, July 25th, and
approved the proposed changes to the rules governing ACP programs (chapter
227 and 288) of Title 19 part 7 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).
TASPA member and Past President Marcia Daniels of EL Paso ISD
testified on TASPA's behalf, and additional changes were made to the
rules prior to final adoption, including allowing ACP candidates
to take the TExES prior to full admission into the program, as well
as allowing passing the content area TExES to be considered adequate
demonstration of knowledge of the content area.
You can view the adopted rules for for Chapter 227, Provisions
for Educator Preparation Students
here, and the rules for Chapter 228, Requirements for
Educator Preparation Programs can be viewed
here.
SUMMARY/HIGHLIGHTS OF ADOPTED CHANGES:
Chapter 227, Provisions for Educator Preparation Students
Highlights:
-
Requiring a GPA of 2.5
(C+ letter grade) for all certification candidates (all routes).
An exception was added in a separate handout that would allow up
to 10% of an ACP cohort to not meet the GPA requirement, provided
the program director of the ACP documents and certifies that the
individual's work, business, or career experience demonstrates
comparable achievement to the GPA requirement.
-
Requires a minimum of
12 hours in the content area for all certification candidates
regardless of route, or a passing score on an SBEC-approved
content test, which now includes the content area TExES.
-
For initial
certification, requiring a basic skills test, for which the
"within the past 5 years" was removed. Oral communication
was separated out, as none of the tests listed (SAT, ACT, etc)
have an oral component included.
-
Demonstrate critical
thinking skills (measured by a test)
-
Allows exceptions for
Career and Technology education cert.
-
Allows for contingency
admission into an ACP program
-
Teach for Texas Pilot
program is eliminated from rule, as it is not being used.
Chapter 228, Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs
Highlights:
- Requires that all programs provide a minimum of 300
clock-hours (7.5 40-hr weeks) of coursework and/or training
that include:
A) 30 clock hours of field-based experience
prior to internship or student teaching*
B) 80 clock hours of pre-service training prior
to internship or student teaching*
C) 6 clock hours of test preparation
* late hires (hired after June 15 of the summer before the school
year starts) are allowed to meet A and B by the first 90 work days
of employment.
- Refines Field-based experiences definition to clarify they are
face-to-face with EC-12 students, teachers, staff in a school
setting.
- Requires entities to reapply for continuation of operations
every 10 years
- Allows only programs with an "accredited" status to request
additional certificate fields, and these must be approved by TEA.
A program accredited to certify people in math, for example, can't
just add science or other fields without proving to TEA they have
the capacity to do so with the same rigor as their initial
subject(s).
- Programs cannot expand to other geographical areas without
prior SBEC approval. Some programs were approved for one
city, and without official approval or review by SBEC are now
operating in several cities.
- Specifies the curriculum to be covered
- Campus mentors and cooperating teachers are required for
internship year and student teaching respectively. In a
separate handout given at the Board meeting, language was removed
that required the program to ensure that mentors be
adequately compensated for the services provided.
Thank you to all of you who provided feedback to TASPA and SBEC
in this process!
best,
alex
Dr.
Alejandra (Alex) Martin
Executive Director
TASPA
406
East 11th Street
Austin,
TX 78701
Tel
(512) 494-9353
Fax
(512) 494-9354
amartin@taspa.org
http://taspa.org
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