NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS:

The Region III Educator Preparation Program (hereafter referred to as EPP) is now accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year.  Persons interested in applying to the program may download the application, information session schedule, PACT information, online coursework cycle training dates, and the year's schedule of training and testing dates.  Persons interested in submitting applications should call and schedule an appointment with the program supervisor, Ronel Roberts, at 361-573-0731, ext. 207.  The interview will require about 1-1/2 to 2 hours to explain and discuss the entire program and answer any questions that applicants may have.  The EPP will begin accepting applications for all certification areas on July 20, 2009.  The application deadline for EC-6, Generalist 4-8, and Special Education areas will end on February 8, 2010.  After that date no further applications for those areas will be accepted.  However, applications for secondary (high school or all level) certification areas will continue to be accepted until Monday, March 1, 2010.  After this date, no more applications will be accepted for the 2010-2011 school year.

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INFORMATION SESSIONS:

Information sessions will be conducted to share information with the general public and interested applicants.  Enclosed below is a list of dates when information sessions will be conducted.  Each session will be conducted at the Region III Education Service Center at 1905 Leary Lane, Victoria, Texas.  Persons interested in attending a session may park in the rear parking lot and enter through the back lobby doors.  A sign in the lobby will direct candidates to the appropriate meeting room.  Each session will begin at 6 p.m. and continue until 7:30 p.m.  Attendees at information sessions may obtain an application, a cycle training schedule of dates for online coursework for Generalsit EC-6, Generalist 4-8, and Special Education coursework, and a copy of the PowerPoint presentation concerning the program.

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GENERAL INFORMATION:

Applicants to the Educator Preparation Program must meet the following requirements:

1.  Possess at least a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above.

2.  Have a 2.5 GPA or above in the coursework qualifying the applicant for the certification area selected.

3.  Submit TASP/THEA scores of 230 in reading, 230 in mathematics, and 220 in writing (other tests and scores may be acceptable - check wih EPP staff).

Specific Certification Area Qualifications:

Generalist EC-6 and Special Education EC-12 applicants must have 24 semester hours in a combination of English, math, science, and social studies with a GPA of 2.5 or above with at least 3 semester hours in each subject area.

Generalist 4-8 applicants must have at least 36 semester hours in a combination of English, math, science, and social studies with a GPA of 2.5 or above with at least 6 semester hours in each subject area.

Secondary applicants must have at least 24 semester hours in a specific content area (i.e. English, math, science, social studies, music, Spanish, Agriculture Science, Technology Education, etc.) with at least 12 of the 24 semester hours being upper level (junior-senior classification) coursework with a GPA of 2.5 or above.

Information to Include With Applications:

The application should include a completed Criminal History Background Check form.  Region III EPP conducts a criminal history background check on all individuals that apply to the program.  Applicants must receive a positive criminal history background check before being accepted into the program.  School districts may also conduct a separate criminal history background check before employment is offered.  As part of the program, all candidates must have fingerprinting completed before a probationary certificate will be granted by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted to the EPP.  Photocopies are not acceptable.  Foreign transcripts must include one official translation and a course-by-course evaluation from an approved credential evaluation service (i.e. SpanTran).  Official TASP/THEA, SAT, ACT, or other acceptable test scores must be submitted to the program.  Test scores printed on official transcripts are acceptable.

A nonrefundable application fee of $100 must be submitted with the application.  Applications will not be processed without the complete payment.  Make checks payable to Region III ESC EPP.  MasterCard and VISA credit cards are accepted with appropriate documentation and ID.  Checks returned for any reason will have a $35 return fee added.

PRE-ADMISSION CONTENT TESTS (PACT):

Significant changes to Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Sect. 227.10 (a) (3) (C) were approved by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) on October 10, 2008.  The new rule, which went into effect on December 14, 2008, allows degreed individuals who have not been enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) to take Pre-Admission Content Tests (PACT) to demonstrate content proficiency for possible admission into an EPP.  Taking PACT does not ensure admittance into a program.  EPPs may have additional admission requirements.  Registration for a content certification exam offered by Education Testing Service (ETS) began on January 5, 2009.  Downloading the PACT documents below will explain the process of Pre-Admission Content Tests.

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

To obtain additional information, have questions addressed for you, or set an appointment for an interview please contact Ronel Roberts, Supervisor of Educator Certification, or Velma Robinson, Program Secretary, at 361-573-0731, ext. 207 or 208, respectively.  Program Specialists employed in the program that provide training, observation, and supervision of program candidates are John Streetman, and Rudie Kay Bludau.