Teacher Certification According to the U.S. Constitution, education is a states right… Every state controls/monitors its own educational system Curriculum Teacher preparation / certification

What is Certification? Certification is a process by which the state evaluates the credentials of prospective teachers to ensure that they meet the professional standards set by the state education agency. Texas educators must meet the standards set out by the Texas Education Agency.

TEA Standards Must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Must complete teacher training through an approved program. Must successfully complete the appropriate teacher certification tests for the subject and grade level you wish to teach.

Texas Educator Preparation Programs The Texas Education Agency is committed to ensuring quality educator preparation programs that recruit and prepare qualified educators who meet the needs of all learners in today's and tomorrow's Texas classrooms. Within TEA, the State Board for Educator Certification provides certification testing for educators, and assists colleges, universities and alternative programs in developing and implementing teacher certification training programs, and ensures the quality of these programs.

Is Certification Required? Public schools in the state of Texas require teacher certification Private schools normally do not require certification, but some do Charter schools are independent public schools governed by a board of trustees. Some states require charter school teachers to be certified, others leave it up to the school. Texas does not require certification unless teaching special education or bilingual education/English as a second language (ESL)

Types of Certification There are separate certification for teachers, administrators, and other school professionals such as librarians, vocational educators, reading specialists, and counselors. Specific certification for subject area and grade level. Some states will grant reciprocity to applicants who have completed approved teacher preparation programs

Types of Texas Teacher Certification Early Childhood – Grade 6 Middle School – Grades 4-8 Secondary School – Grades 8-12 Bilingual Special Education

Texas Educator Preparation Programs 3 Routes U=University-Based Programs – teacher training offered by colleges and universities as part of an undergraduate degree program. PB=Post-Baccalaureate Programs – teacher training offered by colleges and universities for individuals who already hold a baccalaureate degree. (Post-Baccalaureate- students & adults who have completed their bachelor’s/undergraduate degree) A=Alternative/Accelerated Programs – teacher training offered by education service centers, school districts and other entities, as well as colleges and universities, for individuals who already hold a baccalaureate degree.

How many Texas EPPs are there?

University of Dallas EPPs: University Undergraduate Certification with degree Post Baccalaureate UD offers Initial Certificate, which is focused on Teacher Certification UD does not offer Professional Certificate, which could include Librarian or Principal On average UD has 15 future teachers per year seeking certification UD offers 33 approved certificate areas, which includes art, bilingual, languages, ESL, and Theatre, and many others

This Chart shows Initial Standard Teaching Certificates for the year Thus, “most teachers of all races and ethnicities obtained alternative certifications, followed by university undergraduate, out-of-state, and university post-baccalaureate certifications” for the year 2009.

At the national level… National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Most common set of standards for state educator preparation programs in constant revision Interstate Reciprocity Compact Initiated in states superintendants have signed legal contracts which allow the granting of certificates and the movement of teachers across state lines provides for graduates of approved teacher education programs in one participating state to be granted a certificate in another participating state Texas is included

National Certification National Board for Professional Teaching Standards offers an advanced teaching credential. It complements, but does not replace, a state’s teacher license. It is valid for 10 years. It can take as long as three years to become nationally certified. As part of the certification process, candidates complete 10 assessments that are reviewed by trained teachers in their certificate areas. The assessments include four portfolio entries that feature teaching practice and six constructed response exercises that assess content knowledge.