Critical Issues in Human Resources Presented by Melissa Aguero Ramirez HR Director

Welcome, Introductions, & Announcements

Welcome, Introductions, Announcements New Edinburg CISD Sharyland ISD Retirements EPP representatives

Principal Survey May 1 - principals will have the principal survey link on the blue screen added to their ECOS account via TEAL. Currently, HR contacts or superintendent’s designee, are able to access ECOS (green screen) for any changes they need to make to names of principals and/or teachers. If names are not found in the system then TEA can add them. Send the following information to on the teacher(s) or principal(s) that need to be – Full legal name – DOB – Last 4 digits of SS# – County/District/Campus number – Survey collection ends June 16, For additional information please visit the Principal Survey Website where you will find FAQs and training modules. –

SBEC / TEA Updates

TEA surveys Professional Development Audit (HB 2012, 83 rd Legislative Session) – Original Dates: March 31, 2014 – April 14, 2014 – New Dates: May 1, 2014 – May 31, 2014 – Audience/Purpose: seeking to eliminate conflicting/duplicative professional development/initiatives Principal Survey to Evaluate Texas Educator Preparation Programs (SB 174, 81 st Legislative Session) – Original Dates: April 2, 2014 – June 16, 2014 – New Dates: May 1, 2014 – June 16, 2014 – Audience/Purpose: Principals fill the survey out; providing feedback on effectiveness of EPPs Teaching and Learning Conditions Survey (HB 2012, 83 rd Legislative Session) – Original Dates: April 7, 2014 – May 5, 2014 – New Dates: May 1, 2014 – May 31, 2014 – Audience/Purpose: Teachers/principals, counselors & other school based professional staff; providing feedback on teaching conditions that have been shown to be important to student achievement and teacher retention

Generalist EC-6 and Generalist 4-8 test Update House Bill (HB) 2012, 83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2013,  more rigorous examinations are being developed for the new Generalist certificates that will independently assess the four core subject areas: English Language Arts and Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Slated for implementation in January Educational Testing Service (ETS) working on procedures to allow candidates that pass subject areas of the new Generalist tests to retain that passing performance and only be required to retake sections on which they are not successful. More information about this process will be shared as it becomes available. Current Generalist EC-6 and Generalist 4-8 tests administered through August  will have two additional years to use the passing results;  all remaining requirements for those certificates must be completed by August 31,  An application and a recommendation must be received by October 30, 2017, in order to issue the current Generalist EC-6 and Generalist 4-8 certificates

Clarification on Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) and TeXES Supplemental Tests Impacted exams:  Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test (BTLPT) and  any of the TExES Supplemental tests (Bilingual, English as a Second Language, Gifted and Talented, and Special Education) need further clarification in State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rule  There will be opportunities to provide feedback on the proposed revisions as well as testimony at board meetings. Until further notice from the agency, educator preparation programs and school districts should advise candidates that while the BTLPT and TExES Supplemental tests are not required for issuance of the Probationary Certificate and/or emergency permit, the testing requirements remain in place for issuance of the five-year Standard Certificate

Process for Formal Name Change Requests Process to submit a change or correction of name, gender or date of birth requires individuals to the following documents along with a daytime telephone number: – 1. Current state driver’s license or state ID – 2. Last four digits of social security number – 3. Previous name – 4. Out-of-country educators who do not hold a state-issued driver’s license may submit a copy of a current passport – 5. A current address and valid daytime telephone number. Individuals should scan documents and them to: or mail the documents to TEA-CRT, 5th Floor, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, TX Please allow 7 to 10 business days for processing. Test takers are advised to request and receive verification that name changes have been processed prior to test registration. If names on ID documents, admission tickets and the test center roster do not match, test takers may not be able to test.

No Child Left Behind Update 6 th grade = Secondary teacher – Effective immediately Use secondary method for HQ determination “This change is solely to add flexibility to HQ determinations. It takes nothing away. An EC-6 test still makes you HQ for EC-6 subjects. 4-8 still works for never worked for 7 or 8, and it still doesn’t. But it did work for 6 th, and it still does.” – No changes to current submission required – Forms will be updated for 14-15

Institution of Higher Education – Paraprofessional Requirements 1)admits as regular students only persons having a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate; 2)is legally authorized within such State to provide a program of education beyond secondary education; 3)provides an educational program for which the institution awards a bachelor’s degree or provides not less than a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward such a degree; 4)is a public or other non-profit institution; and 5)is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association or, if not so accredited, is an institution that has been granted pre-accreditation by such an agency or association that has been recognized by the Secretary for the granting of pre-accreditation status, and the Secretary has determined that there is satisfactory assurance that the institution will meet the accreditation standards of such an agency or association within a reasonable time. NCLB: Section 9101(24) See Handout for list of For-Profit Institutes!

SB9 update from DPS-Luz (Diaz) Dove 3/11/14 Preparation for FBI National Rap Back feature Online training/testing at Must complete within 90 days

School contractors hired 1/1/08 or after who meet the following criteria must be fingerprinted: – Work on a contract for services; – Have continuing duties related to the contract; and – Have direct contact with students. Covered contractors

Contractor should certify to the school district or charter school that they are compliant with fingerprinting their employees. Districts may subscribe to the records of contractors/subcontractors employees that are subject to fingerprinting. District should unsubscribe to records in the FACT Clearinghouse when the contract or the employment has terminated. Contractor/District responsibilities

Independent School Contractors If they are the one and only provider of the services, they should be now printed with the GENERIC FAST PASS Contractors that have employees and need an account still need to contact DPS.

Contractors must contact DPS to be set up with a secure site account. Access and Dissemination Bureau Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Records Service P. O. Box Austin, Texas Phone: (512) DPS Contact info

Employee or Contractor? Speech/language pathologists can be hired as independent contractors? Game workers are independent contractors and can be paid directly by the athletic department? The district can hire students as independent contractors to paint lockers during the summer?

Courtesy Todd Weidner, IRS (Finance Advisory Council 3/21/14)

Order of Leave Usage courtesy TASB HR Exchange TEC – “a district may not restrict the order in which an employee may use the state minimum personal leave and any additional personal leave provided by the school district” June 2013 Commissioner of Education decision Board policy DEC Local – order of leave if employee doesn’t designate otherwise Leave must be for intended use though State does NOT restrict district from requiring CT to be used first since CT is not a form of leave

Records Retention Schedule Minimum retention periods for records normally placed in personnel and pay­roll files. Incorporate the periods established by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) or prescribed by federal and state law, rule, or regulation. Board policy CPC Legal Local record control schedule must meet these minimum retention periods. Information on records management requirements is available on the Texas State Library Web Site (

Coming Events and Announcements Bilingual and BTLPT Review Session

Coming Events and Announcements Teacher Appreciation Week May 5 – 9, 2014 Region One Educator Job Fair June 5, 2014 Take our Daughters & Sons to work day June 9, Substitute Teacher Certification Academy June 9 th and 12 th Creditable Years of Service workshop June 10th from 8:30 – 34:30 Workshop # Administrator’s Academy of Legal Issues July 31 or August 2, 2014

Texas Teacher of the Year Due to Region One ESC (HR office) – 5 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2014 ENCOURAGE electronic submission – Application – Picture 2 district representatives (1 Elem / 1 Sec) Clarifications: – 2 year commitment – FT employees; can be PT teacher (minimum 4 hours/day) BUT other duties NOT administrative

TASPA News TASPA Summer Conference ( July 16 th – 18 th Summer Law Conference (Schwarz & Eichelbaum) July 16 th from 1 – 5:00 NEW Location!!! Westin Austin Hotel at the Domain Domain Dr. Austin, Texas 78758

TASPA News contd. Documentation Workshop 8/5/14 New member login

Comments, Concerns, and Solutions Update on Back to School Trainings Substitute teachers New teacher orientations Mentor teacher training Webinar: Strategies for Winning Unemployment Compensation Hearings: Are you prepared?