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, September 1 through August 31. (2)Alternative certification program--An approved educator preparation program, delivered by entities described in §228.20(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 baccalaureate degree. (3)Candidate--A participant in an educator preparation program seeking certification. (4)Clinical teaching--A 12-week full-day educator assignment through [teaching practicum in] an alternative certification program at a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or other [a TEA-recognized private] school approved by the TEA for this purpose that may lead to completion of a standard certificate. (5)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 university is equivalent to 15 clock-hours. Clock-hours of field-based experiences, student teaching, clinical teaching, internship, and practicum are actual hours spent in the required educational activities and experiences. [Fifteen clock-hours at an accredited university is equal to one semester credit hour.] (6)Cooperating teacher--The campus-based mentor teacher for the student teacher or clinical teacher. (7)Educator preparation program--An entity approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to recommend candidates in one or more educator certification fields. (8)Entity--The legal entity that is approved to deliver an educator preparation program. (9)Field-based experiences--Introductory experiences for a certification candidate involving interactive and reflective observation of Early Childhood-Grade 12 students, teachers, and faculty/staff members engaging in educational activities [Experiences in which the primary activity of a candidate for certification is the performance of professional educator activities while interacting with Early Childhood-Grade 12 students, teachers, and faculty/staff members] in a school setting. Field-based experiences must reflect: [that is part of regular classroom instruction. The professional activities include more than observation within a classroom. The interaction with students, teachers, and entity faculty/staff must be ongoing and relevant.] (A)authentic school settings in a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or other school approved by the TEA for this purpose; (B)instruction by content certified teachers; (C)actual students in classrooms/instructional settings with identity proof provisions; (D)content or grade level specific classrooms/instructional settings; (E)variable time length of observation; and (F)reflection of the observation. (10)Field supervisor--A certified educator, hired by the educator preparation program, who preferably has advanced credentials, to observe candidates, monitor his or her performance, and provide constructive feedback to improve his or her professional performance. (11)Head Start Program--The federal program established under the Head Start Act (42 United States Code, §9801 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments. (12)Internship--A one academic year (or 180 school days) [one-year] supervised educator [professional ] assignment at a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) [TEA] or other [a TEA-recognized private] school approved by the TEA for this purpose that may lead to completion of a standard certificate. (13)Late hire--An individual who has not been accepted into an educator preparation program before June 15 and who is hired for a teaching assignment by a school after June 15 or after the school's academic year has begun. (14)Mentor--For a classroom teacher, a certified educator assigned by the campus administrator who has completed mentor training; who guides, assists, and supports the beginning teacher in areas such as planning, classroom management, instruction, assessment, working with parents, obtaining materials, district policies; and who reports the beginning teacher's progress to that teacher's educator preparation program. (15)Pedagogy--The art and science of teaching, incorporating instructional methods that are developed from scientifically-based research. (16)Practicum--A supervised professional educator assignment at a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or other school approved by the TEA for this purpose that is in a school setting in the particular field for which a professional certificate is sought such as superintendent, principal, school counselor, school librarian, educational diagnostician, reading specialist, and/or master teacher. [Practical work in a particular field; refers to student teaching, clinical teaching, internship, or practicum for a professional certificate that is in the school setting.] (17)Student teaching--A 12-week full-day teaching experience through [practicum in] a program provided by an accredited university at a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) [TEA] or other [a TEA-recognized private] school approved by the TEA for this purpose that may lead to completion of a standard certificate. (18)Teacher of record--An educator employed by a school district who teaches the majority of the instructional day in an academic instructional setting and is responsible for evaluating student achievement and assigning grades. (19)Texas Education Agency staff--Staff of the TEA assigned by the commissioner of education to perform the SBEC's administrative functions and services. (20)Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)--The Kindergarten-Grade 12 state curriculum in Texas adopted by the State Board of Education and used as the foundation of all state certification examinations.
This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has
been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's
legal authority to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of
State on August 23, 2010
TRD-201004904 Jerel Booker
Associate Commissioner, Educator and Student Policy Initiatives,
Texas Education Agency
State Board for Educator Certification
Earliest possible date of adoption: October 3, 2010
For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497
|
