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 bachelor's [baccalaureate] degree. (3)Candidate--An individual who has been admitted into an educator preparation program, including an individual who has been accepted on a contingency basis; also referred to as an enrollee or participant [A participant in an educator preparation program seeking certification]. (4)Clinical teaching--A minimum 12-week full-day or 24-week half-day educator assignment through an educator preparation [alternative certification] program at a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (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. (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. (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 [ If required by the Texas Education Code, §21.051 and §228.35(a)(3) of this title (relating to Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training), field-based experiences must include 15 clock-hours in which the candidate is actively engaged in instructional or educational activities under supervision. In addition, field-based experiences should also include 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 in a school setting. [that reflect:] [(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 currently certified educator, hired by the educator preparation program, who preferably has advanced credentials, to observe candidates, monitor their [ his or her] performance, and provide constructive feedback to improve their effectiveness as educators [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 supervised, full-time educator assignment for one full school year [one academic year (or 180 school days) supervised educator assignment] at a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or other 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 during his or her intern year 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)Post-baccalaureate program--An approved educator preparation program designed for individuals who already hold at least a bachelor's degree and approved by the State Board for Educator Certification to recommend candidates for certification. (17) [(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. (18)Professional certification--Certification for superintendent, principal, school counselor, school librarian, educational diagnostician, reading specialist, and/or master teacher. (19)Site supervisor--For a practicum, a certified educator who has experience in the aspect(s) of the professional certification being pursued by the candidate; who has completed training or orientation for site supervision; who guides, assists, and supports the candidate during the practicum; and who reports the candidate's progress to the candidate's educator preparation program. [(17)Student teaching--A 12-week full-day teaching experience through a program provided by an accredited university at a public school accredited by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or other school approved by the TEA for this purpose that may lead to completion of a standard certificate.] (20) [(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. (21) [(19)] Texas Education Agency staff--Staff of the Texas Education Agency [TEA] assigned by the commissioner of education to perform the State Board for Educator Certification's [SBEC's] administrative functions and services. (22) [(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.
The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed
the proposal and found it to be within the state agency's legal authority
to adopt.
Filed with the Office
of the Secretary of State on May 23, 2014
TRD-201402442 Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez
Director, Rulemaking, Texas Education Agency
State Board for Educator Certification
Earliest possible date of adoption: July 6, 2014
For further information, please call: (512) 475-1497
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