| (a) An educator preparation program (EPP) that is consolidating
or closing must comply with the following procedures to ensure that
all issues relevant to EPP consolidation or closure have been addressed.
(1) The EPP must submit a letter on official letterhead
to Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff signed by the legal authority
of the EPP that contains a formal statement of consolidation or closing
with an effective date of August 31 for consolidation or closure.
(2) The EPP must contact candidates currently in the
EPP with notification of consolidation or closure and the steps candidates
must take in relation to their status. The EPP shall maintain evidence
of the attempts to notify each candidate.
(3) The EPP shall not admit candidates or recommend
candidates for an intern or probationary certificate within one year
of the August 31 closure date.
(4) The EPP must identify and keep current a representative's
name, electronic mail address, and telephone number that will be valid
for five years after an EPP's closure to provide access to candidate
records and responses to former candidate's questions and/or issues.
If an EPP is consolidating, the candidate records will transfer to
the new EPP.
(5) The EPP must complete required State Board for
Educator Certification (SBEC) and TEA actions, including required
submissions of information, surveys, and other accountability data;
removal of security accesses; reconciliation of certification recommendations;
and payment of the Accountability System for Educator Preparation
Programs technology fee as specified in §229.9(7) of this title
(relating to Fees for Educator Preparation Program Approval and Accountability).
(b) The chief operating officer, legal authority, or
a member of the governing body of an EPP that fails to comply with
the consolidation or closure procedures in this section is not eligible
to be recommended to the SBEC for approval as an EPP.
(c) The chief operating officer, legal authority, or
a member of the governing body of an EPP that closes voluntarily due
to pending TEA or SBEC action or involuntarily due to SBEC action
is not eligible to be recommended to the SBEC for approval as an EPP.
(d) If an EPP is consolidating and fails to comply
with the consolidation procedures in this section, TEA staff may make
a recommendation that the SBEC impose sanctions affecting the new
EPP's accreditation status in accordance with §229.5 of this
title (relating to Accreditation Sanctions and Procedures) and/or
continuing approval status in accordance with §229.6 of this
title (relating to Continuing Approval).
(e) If an EPP violates any of the requirements as prescribed
in subsection (a)(1)-(5) of this section, TEA staff will recommend
revocation of the EPP's continuing approval to recommend candidates
in accordance with §229.6(c) of this title.
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