Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Reasons a candidate will be withdrawn from the ETBU educator preparation program (EPP) are as follows: 

• A candidate who chooses to withdraw from the EPP must notify the certification officer by stating their intentions by written letter or ETBU Tigermail. A copy of the notification will be placed in the candidate’s department file. 
• If a candidate chooses to enroll in a different EPP, the receiving program will need to request a TEA Candidate Transform Form to be completed by the ETBU certification officer. At that time, the certification officer will be required to inform the receiving program if the candidate was in good standing. 
• If a candidate is not meeting the requirements of the EPP (e.g., disciplinary reasons and/or academics), the candidate will begin the Departmental Student/Candidate Review Process. Upon completion of the process, the EPP will determine whether the candidate will be required to withdraw or continue in the program. 
• If a candidate is inactive and fails to communicate with EPP and/or advisor for one semester, the candidate will not be able to return to the EPP and TEA will be notified. 
• If a candidate is not successful in passing 50% of their required certification exams by the written deadline, they will be automatically withdrawn from the EPP. 

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS   

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires that a criminal history background check is conducted on each candidate at various stages of our program in order to determine suitability for public school placement. This will happen prior to entering public schools for field-based experiences, clinical teaching and certification.   

Should any subsequent background checks by ETBU or Texas Education Agency (TEA) reveal any adverse findings, the candidate may be removed from the program and/or be unable to secure teacher certification. East Texas Baptist University, the School of Education, or employees of these entities cannot be held responsible for the outcome or the student’s inability to receive teacher certification.   

Requirements from TAC §227.1(d)   

Regardless of whether the applicant or enrollee has been convicted of an offense, our EPP is required to notify candidates of the following (including live links to relevant forms):   

(1) the potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate on completion of the EPP; (2) the current State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules prescribed in 249.16. http://txrules.elaws.us/rule/title19_chapter249_sec.249.16 (3) the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter as provided in Chapter 227, Subchapter B of this title https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/crimHistoryEval.htm”   

Requirements from TAC §227.1(e)   

If the SBEC determines that an EPP has failed to provide the notice required by subsection (d) of this section to an individual entitled to receive the notice and that the individual's application for a certificate for which the EPP prepares the individual was denied because the individual has been convicted of an offense prior to the EPP providing notice, the SBEC shall order the EPP to:   

(1) refund the amount of any tuition paid by the individual to the EPP; and   

(2) pay to the individual an amount equal to the total of the following, as applicable:   

(A) the amount of any application fees paid by the individual to the SBEC; and   

(B) the amount of any examination fees paid by the individual to the SBEC and/or to a provider of examinations required for certification.  An EPP is not liable for examination fees if the examination was not required to be passed to meet admission requirements of the EPP and/or the EPP did not provide test approval for the examination.  

ADMISSION  

Admission to the Teacher Education Program of the University is a separate application to the Master of Education Program Director. Candidates who have applied to the University Graduate Program in any TEA-certification area (i.e., teacher, counselor, principal, or superintendent), must not only be admitted to the graduate program, but must also be admitted to the Teacher Education Program.   

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS   

In addition to the University’s minimum criteria for graduate programs, the admission process for the Master of Education requires the applicant to meet the following criteria for full admission:    

Educational Leadership:    

1. Submit proof of teacher certification (fax or email copy of teacher         certificate)    

2. Candidates will complete a formal interview with the program director      and/or dean    

3. Students wishing to enroll only in the 18 hours that are required to take the principal certification exam must already have completed a master’s program. Original college transcripts demonstrating the completed master’s degree must be submitted before a student can enroll in courses.    

Practicum Experiences 

During this program you will have to spend 160 hours working in a practicum setting in a Texas public school. If you are currently working full time in a Texas public school, it may be possible for you to complete your practicum experience in your school. Our practicum experience covers two semesters, fall and spring, resulting in the acquisition of 80 hours each semester. In addition to showing competence in the principal standards, you will also work on completing your PASL tasks, which are required for certification. Details about the structure of the practicum is covered in a separate handbook given to you during your first practicum training. Please contact the program director at MEd@etbu.edu if you have questions.    

Certification  

In order to become certified as Principal as Instructional Leader you must meet the following requirements:  

1. Possess a Master’s degree. If you do not possess a Master’s degree, you can earn one in this program.  

2. Complete the EPP program requirements to earn the Principal as Instructional Leader certificate. See TAC Chapter 241 for further details.   

3. Complete two years of service in public schools. If you did not have two years of creditable service on the service record you submitted during the admissions process, you will be required to submit another one prior to certification.   

4. Pass the TExES Principal as Instructional Leader (268) certification exam. Details about that process will follow later in this handbook.   

5. Pass the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL). Details about that process will follow later in this handbook.   

6. Apply for certification in your TEAL account through TEA.  

7. ETBU will approve the certification request once you have met all of the above requirements.   

TExES  

One of the steps toward certification is the passing of TExES #268, Principal as Instructional Leader. Here is the process:  

1. Enroll in EDUC 5002—Principal Certification Test Preparation.   

2. Complete the requirements of the course.  

3. Sign up for, take, and pass the ETBU practice exam for TExES #268. If you live more than 45 minutes from Marshall, Texas, you can take the Pearson online practice TExES #268 available at https://www.tx.nesinc.com/TestView.aspx?f=HTML_FRAG/TX268_PrepMaterials.html  

4. Sign up for, take, and pass the state TExES #268 through Pearson.  

If you are unsuccessful during any of these steps, the program director will prescribe a specific program of study designed to work on weak areas of knowledge, skills, and mindsets before proceeding toward the certification exam.   

PASL  

PASL is a performance assessment that is designed to be completed in the field. During your two practicum courses you will work on completing the PASL tasks and submit them for review by the program director. The program director and School of Education will provide feedback to you on your tasks. Once all three tasks have received feedback you will then be given approval to officially submit your completed PASL package. You will sign up for PASL on the ETS website.   

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS   

For the Master of Education, there are 30 graduate credit hours required.  Students will complete 12 foundation hours in education, and then the student’s selected specialization will require a minimum of 18 credit hours beyond the foundation courses.  The teacher certification specialization requires an additional one-hour course to prepare students to take the state teacher certification exams.  This course will not count toward the master’s degree.  Students must complete all credit hours with a grade of “C” or higher and maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average.  Students must complete all requirements for the degree within five years of starting the program.     

Students may be dismissed from the program for the following reasons:   

1. Failure to maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average.   

2. Earning a grade of “D” or “F” in any class.   

DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW  

When candidates hoping to be admitted into our Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and candidates who have already been accepted into our EPP fail to meet the substantive expectations of our University, faculty, or education preparation program a candidate review process will be initiated.  The goal of this review process is to supply support and supervision in the areas that are being identified as needing growth or correction so the candidate can become successful in being accepted into the program and/or ultimately graduating from our University.   

Levels of Review (Also found in Academic Catalog):   

Informal Review - with candidate and faculty member.  This is initiated by faculty members who have concerns regarding identified students meeting the University’s criteria or expectations.   

• Faculty members will discuss concerns directly with the candidate/student.   

• The Department Head or Dean will be advised of the informal review outcome.   

• Faculty members will supply written documentation of the informal review to be placed in the student/candidate’s file within 7 days of meeting with the candidate and a copy will be offered to the candidate.   

Level One – Formal Departmental Review    

Made with a candidate, faculty member and Dean of School of Education.  This is initiated when a faculty member has sufficient concerns to question a candidate's “fitness to teach” and has tried different avenues to provide solutions such as informal meetings.    

• An action plan will be discussed and developed, and a copy will be provided to all parties    

• Candidate is placed on probationary status until issues have been resolved.    

Level Two - Formal Departmental Review   

 Made with two members from the Teacher Education Committee and Dean of School of Education.   If candidate fails to be successful with developed plan or creates additional continuing concerns then:    

• Subcommittee will review all documentation    

• Candidate and faculty members involved- interviewed individually    

• Recommendation made - regarding suitability of candidate continuing in the program    

• Sub-Committee will summarize its findings and make written recommendations forwarded to the full Teacher Education Council and Advisory Committee (UCC)

Final Decision of Review Process:   

The Teacher Education Council will make a final decision regarding a candidate’s suitability and acceptance to continue in our Teacher Education program.   

APPEALS PROCESS    

An appeals process is available to candidates at any stage of the Teacher Education Program including being denied admission into any stage of our program. (entrance, clinical teaching, and certification)    

• This appeal must be done in writing and submitted to the Dean of the School of Education.   

• This will be reviewed by the Teacher Education Council or Teacher Education Faculty.   

• Final Decision will be sent in writing to student/candidate.    

• If a candidate wishes to appeal further, it needs to be done in writing and sent to the Vice President for Academic Success.   

• This decision is final.   

COMPLAINTS/GRIEVANCE PROCESS   

Complaint Process TAC 228.70   

1. Purpose. Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff shall maintain a process through which a candidate or former candidate in an educator preparation program (EPP), an applicant for 143 TEACHER EDUCATION candidacy in an EPP, an employee or former employee of an EPP, a cooperating teacher, a mentor, or an administrator in a school district, charter school, or private school may submit, in accordance with subsection (c)(1) of this section, a complaint about an EPP for investigation and resolution.    

The School of Education policy is to provide an avenue for a candidate, employee, former employee, cooperating/mentor teacher, and school administrator to make an informal or formal complaint when deemed necessary. We encourage the resolution of complaints through timely communication at and near the point of origin in order to be addressed in a timely and effective manner.    

• If the complaint is concerning courses offered by the School of Education, direct your concerns to the professor directly responsible for teaching the course.    

• If the complaint is concerning the program/decisions offered by the School of Education direct concerns to the Dean of the School of Education.    

If the party is not satisfied with the outcome of this informal process, then a formal written complaint should be completed and submitted to the office of the Dean of the School of Education within a timely manner. This office will maintain a record of all formal written complaints linked to all Educator Preparation Program components from: applicants, employees, former employees, cooperating/mentor teachers, administrators of schools. NOTE: The form for this process can be obtained from our School of Education office and is located on our Teacher Education webpage.   

FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCESS  

1. Formal written complaint form – completed by complainant including clear description of the complaint, dates connected to cause for complaint, and description of desired outcome or solution.    

2. Formal Meeting - within 10 working days – from the written complaint being received, the Dean’s office or Department Chair will set up a meeting with all parties linked to the complaint. A copy of the form submitted by the complainant and outcome will be written and sent to the office of Academic Affairs AND party registering a complaint. Within three working days the Office of Academic Affairs will send written acknowledgement of receipt of complaint to the concerned party.    

3. If resolution has not been achieved: Vice President for Academic Affairs will: Try to come to an agreeable conclusion between all parties involved by meeting with them    

OR    

Assign a special committee or standing university committee to rule on related complaint – which if used, will present a ruling on the party's written complaint within 30 calendar days of receipt of the complaint form. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will inform in writing (or by email) of the final decision to the following: party filing the complaint, Dean of the School of Education, appropriate Department Chair, and Office of Student Affairs.    

If an issue cannot be resolved internally through our complaint process, one may file a complaint with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and/or the Texas Education Agency website at: https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/contact-us/complaints-and-investigations   

TEA PROTOCOL:  

• The violation triggering the complaint cannot have occurred more than one year prior to the date that the complaint is received, unless a longer period is reasonable because the violation is considered systemic or ongoing.    

• A complaint is a written allegation that a school, school district, other agency authorized by a school district or the TEA, or the TEA itself has violated the law in the administration of education programs.    

• A complaint may be filed by an individual, organization or agency if that individual, organization or agency believes an offending entity is violating a federal statute or regulation that applies to an education program   

TEACHER EDUCATION TEC 21.044(g)    

The Texas Education Agency’s and our Teacher Education Program’s belief is that it is essential for students aspiring to become a certified teacher in a public-school setting to be fully aware and educated as much as possible about all facets of the teaching profession inside and outside the classroom setting to increase teacher retention rates for Texas. The following are a listing in compliance with this identified need and when they are shared with our student/candidates provided by our Certification Officer’s orientation session for admission into Teacher Education Program:   

• Educator Personal Skills and Expected Responsibilities    

• Current SBEC rules prescribed in TAC 249.16 relating to Eligibility of Persons with Criminal History   

• TExES testing over Time for our Educator Program    

• Classroom Discipline Strategies    

• Valuable Resources and Links for Educators    

• Supply and Demand for Teachers Orientation Session Handouts – Admission into Clinical Teaching    

• Teacher/Principal Appraisal System during Clinical Teaching    

East Texas Baptist University School of Education Exit Policy   

TEA requires all EPPs to have an exit policy for the dismissal of teacher candidates that is published, reviewed, and signed upon admittance to the program. This can be found in 19 TAC §228.20(h).    

Teacher candidates who are admitted into East Texas Baptist University’s Educator Preparation Program (EPP) are expected to act as professionals in their behavior as well as abilities. All teacher candidates who are recommended for certification in the state of Texas are expected to demonstrate that they are prepared to teach in their respective certification fields by completing all required university coursework, demonstrate professionalism and ethical behavior, and adhere to professional standards and the Educators’ Code of Ethics.    

“Fitness to Teach” Expectations of Candidates    

A candidate is required to perform the following functions:    

A. Observation: A candidate must be able to accurately observe instruction and students to learn effective teaching strategies as well as gathering student data.    

B. Communication: A candidate must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using the English language. A candidate must also be able to read and comprehend written material.    

C. Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities: A candidate must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, integrate, and apply information provided by professors, school district employees, and students.    

D. Behavioral and Social Attributes: A candidate must have the emotional and mental health required to fully use their intellectual abilities (using sound judgment and able to develop mature, appropriate, and effective relationships) with all stakeholders. A candidate must be able to function under stress and be able to be adaptive and flexible.    

E. Compliance and Application of Ethical Standards and Behavior: A candidate must demonstrate professionalism in all areas and perform in an ethical manner with all stakeholders.    

*A candidate with a disability who requests a reasonable accommodation must initiate a request by completing the Accommodating Request and Consent Form. The Disability Accommodations Committee of East Texas Baptist University will meet and consider the request and discuss the documentation provided.    

Reasons for DISMISSAL from ETBU educator preparation program (EPP) are as follows:    

-Candidates who are not meeting the requirements of the EPP (e.g., disciplinary reasons and/or academics), will begin the Departmental Student/Candidate Review Process. Upon completion of the process, the EPP will determine whether the candidate will be dismissed or continue in the program.    

-Candidates who are not successful in passing their required certification exams by the written deadline will be automatically dismissed from the EPP.    

-Candidates who are unable to show “fitness to teach” will be dismissed from the program and not receive recommendation for certification.     

-Candidates who are inactive and fail to communicate with EPP and/or advisor for one semester will not be able to return to the EPP and TEA will be notified.    

-Candidates who participate in any action deemed a violation of school district and/or campus policy during field-based experiences, clinical teaching, or internship.    

-Candidates who are dismissed from ETBU will automatically be dismissed from the EPP.      

*Dismissal from the EPP is determined by a committee composed of faculty members and Teacher Education Council (TEC).  Dismissal may occur at any time.  All decisions of dismissal can be appealed following University policies.    

Voluntarily withdrawal from the EPP:    

-A candidate who chooses to withdraw from the EPP must notify the certification officer by stating their intentions by written letter or ETBU Tigermail. A copy of the notification will be placed in the candidate’s department file.    

-If a candidate chooses to enroll in a different EPP, the receiving program will need to request a The Texas Education Agency (TEA) Candidate Transform Form to be completed by the ETBU certification officer. At that time, the certification officer will be required to inform the receiving program if the candidate was in good standing.    

-If a candidate withdraws from the university, that will translate to a withdrawal from the EPP.    

-If a candidate chooses to change their major to something outside of education, that will translate to withdrawal from the School of Education and the EPP.