Pandemic Related Ed-Prep Rule Adopted
The SBEC board, during a special meeting (July 31), adopted this rule revision to give flexibility to educator preparation programs (EPPs) and their teacher certification candidates in light of the pandemic altered Texas public school landscape.
The rule specifies that in lieu of in-classroom settings, the required in-classroom field experiences and clinical teaching mandates for teacher certification candidates — and for the candidates to be formally observed by their EPPs — can occur virtually, either in synchronous (real time) or ansychronious (recorded) settings.
The version of the rule that was tentatively approved by the board in June (see TEN, June 22) would have required the formal observations to occur only in synchronous settings.
This is the text of the rule revision, as finally adopted:
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EPPs, although supportive of the rule as finally adopted, pointed out in virtual testimony that there could still be some issues caused by: 1) ISDs potentially not allowing teacher candidates and/or EPP representatives into their school buildings due to pandemic safety concerns, 2) districts citing federal privacy mandates in disallowing instruction that includes students to be recorded or broadcast and 3) the fact that in some districts, certain subjects may not be taught to students synchronously.
The board received assurances from TEA staff that the agency will work with EPPs to ensure that the virtual instructional experiences for certification candidates will be of the highest quality possible.
The final rule — to be effective for School Year 2020-21 only — is expected to be cleared by the State Board of Education on Sept. 11, and is targeted to become effective on Oct. 15.
- Note: We’ll have highlights of the SBEC board’s July 24 regular meeting in next week’s issue.