SBEC adopts tougher standards for educator preparation programs

At its October meeting, the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) adopted new rules to ensure all educator preparation programs meet minimum standards and provide adequate training for prospective teachers.

The move came in part due to the proliferation of teacher alternative certification programs (ACPs) in Texas. In their early years, ACPs provided an additional pipeline of teachers to fill critical shortage areas, albeit a relatively small one. That’s not the case anymore. With the state’s 145 ACPs producing more than 40 percent of its new teachers, ACPs have become a major player in teacher preparation.

For years, ACPs have trained prospective teachers without requiring candidates to meet a minimum grade-point average or complete a specific amount of training. The new standards and training required by the rules were intended to level the playing field for educator preparation programs.

Under the rules, all teaching candidates except those in career and technology education must meet the following standards to be admitted into a teacher preparation program:

• A grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours (ACP directors will have the option of exempting 10 percent of program candidates from the GPA requirements if they have other exceptional qualifications)
• A minimum of 12 semester hours of college credits in the subject area they plan to teach or a passing score on an SBEC content test
• A passing score on a college-entrance exam or a basic skills test

In addition, the rules stipulate that all educator preparation programs provide 300 hours of coursework, including 30 hours of field experience and 80 hours of preservice training (prior to internship or student teaching), plus six hours of test preparation.

Traditional educator preparation programs will have no problem complying with the rules, as they already have equal or stricter requirements that prospective educators must meet. In particular, traditional educator preparation programs provide teacher candidates with ample classroom experience.

That’s not the case for ACPs, and ACP program directors will have to work with local school districts to secure the additional field experience hours for their candidates. The change may come as a surprise to school administrators, some of whom haven’t followed the rule’s progress and will be asked to make additional training time available to accommodate ACP needs.

The Texas Education Agency plans to work with districts to make them aware of the requirement and ask for their help in securing additional training time. As for school administrators, many say they’ll try to accommodate the needs of ACP candidates to ensure better-prepared teachers entering the classroom in the future.

On Nov. 20, the State Board of Education will decide whether to adopt the rules, which could receive final approval as early as December. If so, they would be in effect for the 2009–10 school year.