| (a) New Entity Approval. Entities seeking initial approval to deliver educator preparation shall submit a proposal in accordance with guidelines established by the Executive Director, with evidence indicating the ability to comply with the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 227 of this title (relating to Admission to an Educator Preparation Program). The proposal must also identify the certificates proposed to be offered by the entity. The proposal will be reviewed under procedures approved by the executive director, and the executive director shall recommend to the Board whether the entity should be approved or denied accreditation pursuant to Chapter 229, §229.3(c) of this title (relating to the Accreditation Process). (b) Continuing Entity Approval. Entities approved by the State Board for Educator Certification under this chapter shall be reviewed at least once every five years under procedures approved by the executive director; however, a review may be conducted at any time at the discretion of the executive director. Entities accredited under a Texas State Partnership Agreement with a national accrediting body shall be considered to have met the cyclical review requirements, unless the executive director determines that a review conducted by the SBEC is appropriate. (c) Addition of Certificate Fields. (1) Preparation programs which are fully accredited may request by "letter of intent" additional certificate fields within the classes of certificates for which they have been previously approved by the Board. The Executive Director must approve the request. (2) Preparation programs which are fully accredited may request the addition of certificate fields in a class of certificates that has not been previously approved by the Board. Under guidelines established by the Executive Director, the entity must present a full proposal for consideration and approval by the Board. (d) Approval of all education preparation programs by the Board or by the Executive Director, including each specific certificate field, is contingent upon approval by other lawfully established governing bodies, such as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, boards of regents, or school district boards of trustees. Continuing program approval is contingent upon compliance with superceding state or federal law or booth. (e) Denial of Approval. Entities that fail to meet the requirements of this chapter; Chapter 227 of this title (relating to Admission to an Educator Preparation Program); or Chapter 229 of this title (relating to Accountability System for Educator Preparation), will not be approved to deliver educator preparation. |
