The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
(1) Academic year--If not referring to the academic
year of a particular public, private, or charter school or institution
of higher education (IHE), September 1 through August 31.
(2) Accredited institution of higher education--An
IHE that, at the time it conferred the degree, was accredited or otherwise
approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board.
(3) Alternative certification program--An approved
educator preparation program, delivered by entities described in §228.25(a)
of this title (relating to Governance of Educator Preparation Programs),
specifically designed as an alternative to a traditional undergraduate
certification program, for individuals already holding at least a
bachelor's degree from an accredited IHE.
(4) Analysis--examining teaching and/or instructional
resources (e.g., student work samples, a video of teaching practices)
to recognize key teaching practices enacted in a variety of ways,
build understanding of the practice through repeated review, develop
a shared vision for a teacher practice, and compare their own practice
for improvement.
(5) Assignment start date--For an internship, clinical
teaching, or residency, the first day of instruction with students.
For a nonteacher practicum experience, the first day of the window
in which the candidate is authorized by the EPP to begin the practicum
experience.
(6) Authentic school setting--For the purpose of field-based
experiences, during the school day and the school year and including
summer school; not to include professional development, extracurricular
activities, workdays when students are not present, and before- or
after-school childcare or tutoring.
(7) Benchmarks--Reference points throughout the preparation
process where candidates are assessed for progress toward completing
EPP requirements (e.g., admission, passing a specific course or courses,
passing a certification exam, completing preservice requirements).
(8) Campus supervisor--A school administrator or designee
responsible for the annual performance appraisal of an intern or a
candidate pursuing a residency certificate.
(9) Candidate--An individual who has been formally
or contingently admitted into an EPP; also referred to as an enrollee
or participant.
(10) Candidate coach--A person as defined in §228.39(b)(1)-(3)
of this title (relating to Intensive Pre-Service) who participates
in a minimum of four observation/feedback coaching cycles provided
by program supervisors, completes a Texas Education Agency (TEA)-approved
observation training or has completed a minimum of 150 hours of observation/feedback
training, and has current certification in the class in which supervision
is provided.
(11) Certification category--A certificate type within
a certification class, as described in Chapter 233 of this title (relating
to Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates).
(12) Certification class--A certificate, as described
in §230.33 of this title (relating to Classes of Certificates),
that has defined characteristics; may contain one or more certification
categories, as described in Chapter 233 of this title.
(13) Classroom teacher--An educator who is employed
by a school or district and who, not less than an average of four
hours each day, teaches in an academic instructional setting or a
career and technical instructional setting. This term does not include
an educational aide, a full-time administrator, or a substitute teacher.
(14) Clinical experience--A supervised educator assignment
through an EPP at a public school accredited by the TEA or other school
approved by the TEA for this purpose where candidates demonstrate
proficiency in the standards for the certificate sought and that may
lead to completion of a standard certificate. Clinical experience
includes clinical teaching, internship, practicum, and residency.
(15) Clinical teaching--A supervised teacher assignment
through an EPP in the classroom of a cooperating teacher at a public
school accredited by the TEA or other school approved by the TEA for
this purpose that may lead to completion of a standard certificate;
also referred to as student teaching.
(16) Clock-hours--The actual number of hours of coursework
or training provided; for purposes of calculating the training and
coursework required by this chapter, one semester credit hour at an
accredited IHE is equivalent to 15 clock-hours. Clock-hours of field-based
experiences, clinical teaching, internship, residency, and practicum
are actual hours spent in the required educational activities and
experiences.
(17) Contingency admission--Admission as described
in §227.15 of this title (relating to Contingency Admission).
(18) Completer--A person who has met all the requirements
of an approved EPP; also referred to as finisher. In applying this
definition, the fact that a person has or has not been recommended
for a standard certificate or passed a certification examination shall
not be used as criteria for determining who is a completer.
(19) Cooperating teacher--For a clinical teacher candidate,
an educator who is collaboratively assigned by the EPP and campus
administrator who supports the candidate during the clinical teaching
experience.
(20) Co-teaching--A practice in which two or more teachers
share instructional responsibility for a single group of students
to address specific content and related learning objectives through
a variety of approaches that best support the students' learning needs.
(21) Educator--An individual who is required to hold
a certificate issued under TEC, Chapter 21, Subchapter B.
(22) Educator preparation program--An entity that is
approved by the SBEC to prepare and recommend candidates for certification
in one or more educator certification classes.
(23) Enactments--Opportunities to engage teacher candidates
in sheltered/protected practice to develop a skill through such examples
as doing student work, role playing student interactions, coached
lesson rehearsals, and peer run throughs of a proposed lesson. Candidates
should have the opportunity to receive feedback on current practice
and integrate feedback into future practices.
(24) Enhanced standard certificate--A type of certificate
issued to an individual who has met all requirements as specified
in §230.39(b) of this title (relating to Enhanced Standard Certificates)
under the teacher class of certificates.
(25) Entity--The individual, corporation, partnership,
IHE, public school or school district that is approved to deliver
an EPP.
(26) Field-based experiences--Introductory experiences
for a classroom teacher certification candidate, incorporated with
preparation coursework that involve, at the minimum, reflective observation
of and interaction with Early Childhood-Grade 12 students, teachers,
and faculty/staff members engaging in educational activities in an
authentic school setting.
(27) Field supervisor--A currently certified educator,
who preferably has advanced credentials, hired by the EPP to observe
candidates, monitor their performance, and provide constructive feedback
to improve their effectiveness as educators.
(28) Formal admission--Admission as described in §227.17
of this title (relating to Formal Admission).
(29) Head Start Program--The federal program established
under the Head Start Act (42 United States Code (USC), §9801
et seq.) and its subsequent amendments.
(30) Host teacher--for a teacher resident candidate,
an educator who is jointly assigned by the EPP and the campus administrator
who supports the candidate through co-teaching and coaching during
their teacher residency field placement.
(31) Initial certification--The first Texas certificate
in a class of certificate issued to an individual based on participation
in an approved EPP.
(32) Intensive pre-service--An educator assignment
supervised by an EPP accredited and approved by the SBEC prior to
a candidate meeting the requirements for issuance of intern and probationary
certificates.
(33) Intern certificate--A type of certificate as specified
in §230.36 of this title (relating to Intern Certificates) that
is issued to a candidate who has passed all required content pedagogy
certification examinations and is completing requirements for initial
certification through an approved EPP.
(34) Internship--A paid supervised classroom teacher
assignment for one full school year at a public school accredited
by the TEA or other school approved by the TEA for this purpose that
may lead to completion of a standard certificate.
Cont'd... |
