Apprentice Teacher Materials

ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible to apprentice teach, students must maintain the minimum UT GPA for their teaching field, as well as their UT overall GPA. Students must also have at least a grade of 'C' or better in courses in the major and prerequsites courses. If this requirement is not met or if any Professional Development Sequence (PDS) courses are not passed, the student will be dropped from the program until these requirements are fulfilled. All prerequisite course must have been transferred to UT and must show a passing grade. Students with an 'X' in any prerequisite course must have that grade changed to a passing grade no later than the first day of class.

Admission to, and progression within the PDS also requires the maintenance of a minimum 2.5 cumulative university GPA and a minimum grade of 'C' in each of the PDS courses. Students who do not maintain the minimum GPA or make at least a 'C' in each PDS course are not allowed to progress within the sequence. Any course in the PDS in which a grade of 'C' is not earned must be repeated and a minimum 'C' grade obtained before the student can further progress in the PDS.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHING

If an unusual situation arises, apprentice teachers may be permitted to substitute for their cooperating teacher for a few days. This usually occurs after the mid-term point. Permission to substitute for any other classroom teachers is granted after the final class day of the semester.

For the AISD substitute application and instructions click here. Pay special attention to the checklist at the end of the application. All materials must be cleared before the application can be processed. In addition, students must attend the district substitute orientation. This orientation is held once a semester in the evening for UT students (see the apprentice teaching calendar) and on most Fridays. If it is not possible to attend the evening session, you should plan on attending the regular district session before the semester begins so that no field days are missed. AISD will not allow students to substitute if they have any misdemeanor within 5 years or any felony conviction at all. Pending charges must be cleared in order to substitute teach. Request for changes should be made in person at the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Other districts have their own substitute application, orientation, criminal background check, and requirements. Please see the HR department for any district in which you are interested in substitute teaching.

ANTICIPATION LETTER

It takes 10 to 14 working days for a letter to be sent to students. In the absence of a teaching certificate, many school districts ask for an anticipation letter when students submit an application for a teaching position or when you interviewing with them. Students can request a letter of anticipation from Laura Mecanick, in SZB 216 (512-471-3485) in the last semester of course work. This letter indicates the date that students anticipate completing degree and/or certification requirements. To prepare this letter, the office needs students' name, EID, address, and teaching field. Students should not wait until the week you are interviewing or sending applications to request this letter.

TExES AND ExCET TESTING

Prospective teachers are required to take at least two TExES or ExCETs (except for secondary Russian) before being certified. Exams can only be taken in the last semester of course work or after all course work for certification has been completed. Recruiters encourage students to take the early-semester rather than the late-semester exams so that test scores are posted for interviewing and hiring purposes.

Online registration is highly recommended, but registration may also be done by paper.
Online registration is available once all the apprentice teachers are put into the eligibility database. The Dean’s Office (SZB 216) will e-mail all apprentice teachers when this has been completed.
There are two steps to online registration:
- Students should first log in to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) Web site under the “Educator Login” section and update their user profile, or create a new profile by clicking the “NEW USER?” link. Once the profile is updated, they will receive a 7-digit number called a TEA ID.
- Students should then use the TEA ID on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Web site to create a new account. Once logged in, they will be able to register for the tests for which they are eligible.

Secondary: All secondary Spanish and French certification seekers must take the TOPT in order to be certified in that field. If students are seeking a single field of Spanish or French, and they do not pass or take the TOPT, students are ineligible for any certification.

Elementary: All EC-4 Bilingual Generalist students must take the TOPT to have Bilingual on their certificate. If students choose not to take the TOPT, their certificate will read only EC-4 Generalist.

TEXAS ORAL PROFICIENCY TEST (TOPT)

You will need a bar code sticker for the TOPT.

Students must take and pass the Spanish Screening Procedure (SSP) exit exam.
Registration can be done by paper or by Internet Registration.
To receive a bar code sticker by paper, students must first complete their application form and turn it in to SZB 216. The application must be completed, with money enclosed, and include a self-addressed and stamped envelope included before leaving it for the bar code sticker. The Dean's Office will mail the students' application.
Internet Registration can be done at www.texes.nesinc.com. Students should contact staff in SZB 216 with a request for a bar code number to complete the internet registration. After bar code requests are processed, students will receive an e-mail that will provide the bar code number, as well as the names and numbers of the tests for which they are eligible to register. However, the College of Education cannot be responsible if APPLICANTS ENTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION INCORRECTLY.
Application should be delivered to the office early so it can be processed and mailed by deadline. The Dean's Office will not be responsible or liable for late applications or late fees.
Students should be sure to save test results. After five years, the testing agency purges its records and students will no longer be able to get a copy of their scores. Even if students do not plan to teach in Texas, it is strongly advised to take the tests. If students apply for a certificate in another state based on their Texas certification, they will need to complete the Texas certification tests.
For any additional questions about the TExES or ExCETs exams, call Laura at 471-3485.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE TEACHING CERTIFICATE

It takes 10 to 14 working days to process an application.

Pick up the application information for certification in SZB 216 at the end of the apprentice teaching semester.
To be recommended, students must have all course work completed with grades and degree (if applicable) posted on the UT Mainframe, and they must have passed all required tests.
Complete the 5x8 card and the official online SBEC application. The application can be found at www.sbec.state.tx.us. Once students have completed the online application, they should turn in the card to SZB 216. Students will send the $77.00 application fee directly to the State Board for Education Certification. There will be a remittance form within the application. This form will contain SBEC's address.
As part of the certification application, students will find information about the fingerprinting process now required by the state for all people receiving an initial teaching certificate. Order a fingerprinting packet when online to apply for certification. A card for fingerprints can be found in the packet. Get fingerprints rolled at a local law enforcement agency. Send the required fingerprinting information to the State Board for Educator Certification. There is a $47 fee required for SBEC to send your information to the DPS and the FBI for processing.
After applying for certification, potential employers are able to verify , on the SBEC Web site, that students have been recommended for certification by the University.
The online application process required for certification can be found on the SBEC Website.

TUBERCULIN SCREEING

Tuberculin screening is required by some Districts before students enter the schools.

POLICIES, HANDBOOKS, FORMS

TAPING AGREEMENTS

APPRENTICE TEACHER CALENDAR 2008 - 2009

August 18, 2008	RRISD Mandatory Apprentice Teacher Orientation* RRISD Administrative Offices** 1311 Round Rock Ave. Round Rock, TX 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. * All apprentice teachers placed in RRISD ** Orientation is held in the Old Hopewell building (restored school building in front of RRISD administrative offices at 1311 Round Rock Ave). Students should report to lobby of the administration building as they arrive to have pictures taken for name badges, then walk over to Old Hopewell (next door) for orientation.
August 22, 2008	RRISD Mandatory Apprentice Teacher Orientation (MAKE-UP)* RRISD Administrative Offices** 1311 Round Rock Ave. Round Rock, TX 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. * All apprentice teachers placed in RRISD who did not attend RRISD Mandatory AT Orientation held August 18, 2008 ** Orientation is held in the Old Hopewell building (restored school building in front of RRISD Administrative offices at 1311 Round Rock Ave). Students should report to lobby of the administration building as they arrive to have pictures taken for name badges, then walk over to Old Hopewell (next door) for orientation.
August 25, 2008	First Day of Class for AISD, DVISD, EISD, HCSD, LISD
August 26, 2008	First Day of Class for RRISD and PISD
August 27 , 2008	First Day of Class for UT Fall Semester
September 10, 2008	School Law Seminar TCC 1.110 5 - 6:30 p.m. * All apprentice teachers who have not attended previously
September 16, 2008	AISD Mandatory Apprentice Teacher Orientation* Baker Building Cafeteria 3908 Avenue B Austin, TX 78751 5 - 7 p.m.** * All apprentice teachers placed in AISD ** Followed by substitute orientation (optional)
September 18, 2008	Job Search Tools Workshop - School Districts Recruiter Panel Presentation Location: SZB 104 (Al Kiva) 5 - 6:30 p.m. * All apprentice teachers must attend at least one Job Search Tools Workshop
September 24, 2008	ESL Strategies Seminar - Part II Location: TCC 2.108 Time: 5 - 7 p.m. * All EC-4 intern II students who have not taken ALD 325 Second Language Acquisition or are not enrolled in the ESL program are required to attend
September 29 , 2008	Job Search Tools Workshop - Resume Writing and Interviewing Skills Location: UTC 3.122 5 - 6:30 p.m. * All apprentice teachers must attend at least one Job Search Tools Workshop
October 1, 2008	ESL Strategies Seminar - Part I Location: TCC 1.126 Time: 5 - 7 p.m. * All EC-4 intern I students who have not taken ALD 325 Second Language Acquisition or are not enrolled in the ESL program are required to attend
October 7, 2008	Job Search Tools Workshop - Resume Writing and Interviewing Skills Location: GAR 0.102 5 - 6:30 p.m. * All apprentice teachers must attend at least one Job Search Tools Workshop
November 5 , 2008	College of Education Teacher Education Career Fair Frank Erwin Center 9 - 11:30 a.m. (browsing) 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. (interviews - by invitation only) * Open to the public

SCHOOL DISTRICT INFORMATION

EVALUATIONS

EDUCATION SERVICES: CAREER SERVICES

INDUCTION SUPPORT

TIES
WINGS

Last updated on November 18, 2008

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