Applicants enrolling in a preparation program that requires a PACT exam beginning January 27, 2020, must complete a passing score on the appropriate new TX PACT content examination (TX PACT) that corresponds with each certificate area. TX PACT exams are not the same as the TExES content-pedagogy certification exams used for standard certification.
Candidates accepted to TOPP with the TX-PACT passed are required to complete TExES Preparation, pass practice testing in order to be approved for the official TExES exam. A TExES content exam is required to be eligible to be placed on an initial teaching certificate.
TOPP candidates are no longer eligible to take the TX-PACT after being formally accepted by TOPP.
Teacher candidates must pass a TExES content exam to be eligible to be placed on an initial teaching certificate (intern certificate). In addition teacher candidate must also have the following to meet eligibility requirements to be employed as a teacher for the 2021-2022/2022-2023 academic school year:
150 hours of training (online, virtual, and face-to-face)
30 hours of Field Based Experience
Candidates are required to pass their TExES core/non-core content exam. prior to preparing for an additional exam. Candidates who pass their core/non-core content exams with the online TExES preparation (240 Guarantee/Certify Teacher) may begin preparing for the following at no additional fee to increase marketability: ESL Supplemental, EC-12 Special Education, Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test and Bilingual Supplemental.
ESL Supplemental - highly recommended for all candidates to take (expect those seeking Bilingual Certification)
Non-core certification areas should consider taking this exam. Some districts may request non-core teachers to have this exam passed for contract renewal with the district.
Question: My focus is to be an English teacher at the Middle School or High School level, do I need to pass the ESL Supplemental? Yes. As soon as you pass your ELAR practice test in 240 Tutoring or pass the official TExES content exam begin preparing in 240 Tutoring for the ESL Supplemental exam.
Bilingual Certification - Requires (EC-6/4-8 Core Subjects) exam, BTLPT and Bilingual Supplemental
All three exams must be passed in order to be placed in a bilingual/dual-language teaching position.
EC-12 Special Education - Requires (EC-6/4-8 Core Subjects, 4-8 Core, 7-12 Core) exams
Candidates who take a Core Subjects content exam are provided more opportunities in Special Education employment placements.
Candidates with a single core exam passed employment placements must match content and grade-level of exam, or may be placed in supporting core teachers an the inclusion teacher.
Question: Should I focus on the ESL Supplemental first or EC-12 Special Education if my goal is to be employed as a Special Education teacher? Begin the Special Education preparation first.
Applicable only to the following certifications:
EC-6 Core Subjects
4-8 Core Subjects
4-8 ELAR
4-8 ELAR & Social Studies
Texas is piloting a performance-based assessment (edTPA) that would replace the Pedagogy and Professional responsibility exam (160). The Teacher Educator Preparation Program (TOPP) is a participant in the pilot for the 2021-2022/2022-2023 academic school year.
TEA will provide additional information on the status of edTPA spring 2022.
The edTPA assessment requires a candidate to be employed with a public school ISD or charter school district.
The edTPA is a portfolio assessment with 15 scoring rubrics focused on:
• Classroom management,
• TEKS-based lesson planning,
• Lesson delivery, and
• Evaluation/assessment of students.
The edTPA submission will include both written documentation and classroom video evidence.
During the pilot year, a successful uploaded submission will provided a passing score. edTPA submission will replace the requirement of the Early Childhood-Grade 12 Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities exam (PPR).
Successful submission consists of written documentation and classroom video evidence with no more than one error per each of the TASKS.