Item 7. Approve New Educator Certification Programs

							State Board for Educator Certification                       New Educator Certification Programs


                                      Item 7.
                     Approve New Educator Certification Programs


ACTION

Desired Outcome: The Board will approve the creation of the Amber University School
Counselor Program, the Lamar State College-Orange Accelerated Certification for Educators
(ACE) Program, and the Schreiner College Superintendent Certification Program.

Impact of Action: Approval of these programs will provide the state with additional preparation
and training programs to assist the State in better meeting the needs of school districts for
teachers of mathematics, school counselors, and superintendents.

Summary:

•   The Amber University School Counselor Program was developed by a partnership
    consisting of Amber University, the Education Service Center/Region 10, and counselors
    from the area school districts and the local community.

    Ø The anticipated start date for the program is Fall 2001.
    Ø Amber University anticipates having 25-30 teachers in the program during the first year.
    Ø The full program is a two-year program providing a Master of Arts in Counseling and
      certification as a School Counselor. The cost of the program is $6,065 per person for
      tuition.
    Ø The program meets the Board’s new standards for the School Counselor as described in
      19 TAC Chapter 239 Student Services Certificates.

•   The Lamar State College-Orange Accelerated Certification for Educators (ACE) Program
    was developed by a partnership between Lamar State College-Orange, the Education Service
    Center/Region V, and school districts in the Region V area. The ACE Program will initially
    focus on teacher certification in Secondary Math, grades 6-12.

    Ø The anticipated start date for the program is April 2001.
    Ø Lamar State College-Orange anticipates having 30 teachers in the program during the
      first year.
    Ø The program is a one-year program. The cost of the program ranges from $1600 to
      $2,600 depending upon the person’s training requirements.
    Ø The program incorporates the standards for the Pedagogy and Professional Requirements
      (PPR) 8-12, the Secondary Mathematics certificate, grades 8-12, the Texas Essential
      Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Mathematics as well as the competencies contained in
      the current Secondary Professional Development grades 6-12 and the Secondary Math 6-
      12 Examination for Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET).

•   The Schreiner College Superintendency Certification Program is presented through an
    integrated, interactive block format for instruction and includes benchmarks for student
    success in the program.

    Ø The anticipated start date for the program is immediately upon SBEC approval.
    Ø Schreiner College anticipates having 28 candidates in the program during the first year.



March 2, 2001                                                                       Item 7.-Page 1
State Board for Educator Certification                         New Educator Certification Programs


                                             Item 7.
                                           (continued)


    Ø Superintendents in the field and fulltime faculty at Schreiner with doctorates will be
      teaching the blocks.
    Ø The program is a one-year program. The cost of the program is $2,100 per semester for
      two semesters.
    Ø The program, developed with administrator involvement, incorporates the Board-
      approved standards for the superintendency, field based experiences, administrative
      mentors for program participants, and the use of technology on school campuses.
    Ø Particular efforts to recruit under-represented populations will be conducted.


Projected Implementation Date: Immediately following Board approval.

Background Information:

•   Amber University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association
    of Colleges and Schools. Amber University offers seven undergraduate and seven graduate
    degree programs. The Master of Arts in Counseling is the largest and provides students with
    the academic preparation required by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional
    Counselors for licensed professional counselors (LPC). Amber University is located in
    Garland, Texas. The university is a specialized institution designed to meet the specific
    educational needs of mature students.

•   Lamar State College-Orange received funding through the SBEC Teacher Shortage Initiative.
    The grant award was for $105,000 to develop a secondary mathematics program.

•   Schreiner College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association
    of Colleges and Schools. The College offers undergraduate teacher preparation as well as a
    certification program for principals and is rated “Accredited” under the Accountability
    System for Educator Preparation.

•   Texas Education Code §21.044 and §21.049 authorizes the Board to propose rules
    establishing training requirements to obtain a certificate and to establish additional educator
    preparation programs. Texas Administrative Code Chapter 227 Admission to an Educator
    Preparation Program and Chapter 228 Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs
    describe the components and/or requirements that all entities must have to be approved as
    educator preparation programs. Chapter 239 Student Services Certificates. Subchapter A.
    School Counselor Certificate describes the requirements for the school counselor certificate
    effective September 1, 2002.

Previous Board Discussion: None.




March 2, 2001                                                                          Item 7.-Page 2
State Board for Educator Certification                        New Educator Certification Programs


                                            Item 7.
                                          (continued)


Executive Director’s Recommendation and Rationale : I recommend that the Board approve
the creation of the following programs:

•   Amber University School Counselor Program.

•   Lamar State College-Orange Accelerated Certification for Educators Program for the
    Secondary Mathematics certificate grades 6-12.

•   Schreiner College Superintendent Certification Program.

These entities will provide additional preparation and training programs to assist the State in
better meeting the needs of school districts for well-prepared school counselors, superintendents,
and teachers of mathematics.

SBEC Goal Addressed: 3—The Board will promote and approve new preparation programs
targeting individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree and individuals seeking certification in
career and technology fields.

Staff Members Responsible: Ron Kettler, Office of Accountability
                           Bill Wale, Office of Accountability

Attachments :
I. Amber University-School Counseling Certification Proposal
II. Lamar State College-Orange Accelerated Certification for Educators Program Proposal
III. Schreiner College Superintendent Certification Program Proposal




March 2, 2001                                                                        Item 7.-Page 3