April 12, 2010

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT: Principal Surveys to Evaluate Texas Educator Preparation Programs

Senate Bill 174, passed by the 81st Texas Legislature in 2009 and included in 19 TAC Chapter 229, Accountability System for Educator Preparation (ASEP) require that principals respond to a survey to measure the performance of beginning teachers. The principal survey results will measure two items:

·  the performance of beginning teachers, and

·  the educator preparation program’s effectiveness in preparing program participants to succeed in the classroom

Texas Education Agency (TEA) established a partnership with three nationally recognized educational organizations that include the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality (NCCTQ), SEDL and WestED to develop the principal survey. The TEA held two stakeholder meetings to gather input regarding the content of the surveys on February 11, 2010 with principals and professional educator associations and February 12, 2010 for the Educator Standards Advisory Committee.

As authorized by Texas Education Code 21.0452 (g), Chapter 229 of the TAC requires all principals in Texas who have beginning teachers employed at their schools to complete the ASEP Principal Survey.

§229.3. Required Submissions of Information, Surveys, and Other Data

(b) Any individual holding a Texas-issued educator certificate who willfully or recklessly fails to provide information required by this chapter and the TEC, §21.045 and §21.0452, as set forth in subsection (e) of this section, shall be subject to sanction of his or her certificate, including the placement of restrictions, inscribed or non-inscribed reprimand, suspension, or revocation.

The TEA will begin distribution of the survey on April 30th – May 7th 2010. The survey will be sent through email and will be submitted electronically. Each principal or designated administrator must submit a survey for each beginning teacher with an associated educator preparation program. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Each year the survey must be submitted by June 15th .

Texas Education Agency will be conducting four technical assistance webinar sessions. Please register for a webinar by clicking on the web link below.

May 6th at 10:00 register by accessing https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/453954506

May 6th at 1:00 register by accessing https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/290957955

May 7th at 10:00 register by accessing https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/553568171

May 7th at 1:00 register by accessing https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/880401691

Thank you for helping us prepare future teachers in Texas!

Janice Lopez, Ph.D

Director of Educator Standards

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