June 2026 Committee on School Initiatives Item 6
Review of Adoption of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 227, Provisions for Educator Preparation Candidates, Subchapter A, Admission to Educator Preparation Programs
June 26, 2026
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the State Board of Education (SBOE) an opportunity to review the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rule actions that would adopt the proposed revisions to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 227, Provisions for Educator Preparation Candidates, Subchapter A, Admission to Educator Preparation Programs. The proposed revisions would update current requirements for candidate admission into educator preparation programs (EPPs) to align with proposed revisions to Chapter 228, Requirements for Educator Preparation Programs, and Chapter 230, Professional Educator Preparation and Certification. The proposed revisions would implement House Bill (HB) 2, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The statutory authority for the SBOE to review rules that the SBEC proposes to adopt is Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.042. The statutory authority for 19 TAC Chapter 227, Subchapter A, is TEC, §§21.031; 21.041, including 21.041(e), as added by HB 2, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025; 21.044(a) and (g)(2) and (3); 21.0441; 21.04422, as added by HB 2, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025; 21.0489(c); 21.049(a); 21.050(a); and Texas Occupations Code (TOC), §§53.105, 53.151, 53.152, and 53.153.
TEC, §21.042, requires the SBEC to submit a written copy of each rule it proposes to adopt to the SBOE for review. The SBOE may reject a proposed rule by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the SBOE present and voting but may not modify a rule proposed by the SBEC.
TEC, §21.031, authorizes the SBEC to regulate and oversee all aspects of the certification, continuing education, and standards of conduct of public school educators and states that in proposing rules under the TEC, Chapter 21, Subchapter B, the SBEC shall ensure that all candidates for certification or renewal of certification demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the performance of the diverse student population of this state.
TEC, §21.041, as amended by HB 2, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizes the SBEC to adopt rules as necessary for its own procedures and to regulate educators, specify the requirements for issuance or renewal of an educator certificate, administer statutory requirements, and provide an exemption from the requirements of Texas Government Code (TGC), §2001.0045.
TEC, §21.044(a), requires the SBEC to propose rules establishing training requirements a person must accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or enter an induction-year program.
TEC, §21.044(g)(2) and (3), requires each EPP to provide certain information related to the effect of supply and demand forces on the educator workforce of the state and the performance over time of the EPP.
TEC, §21.0441, requires the SBEC to adopt rules setting certain admission requirements for EPPs.
TEC, §21.04422, as added by HB 2, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, requires the SBEC to propose rules for recruiting and admitting candidates into the Teacher Residency Preparation route.
TEC, §21.0489(c), requires the SBEC to adopt rules establishing eligibility requirements for an Early Childhood: Prekindergarten-Grade 3 certificate.
TEC, §21.049(a), authorizes the SBEC to propose rules providing for educator certification programs as an alternative to traditional EPPs.
TEC, §21.050(a), requires a person who applies for a teaching certificate for which SBEC rules require a bachelor’s degree must possess a bachelor’s degree received with an academic major or interdisciplinary academic major, including reading, other than education, that is related to the curriculum as prescribed under the TEC, Chapter 28, Subchapter A.
TOC, §53.105, specifies that a licensing authority may charge a person requesting an evaluation under the TOC, Chapter 53, Subchapter D, a fee adopted by the authority. Fees adopted by a licensing authority under the TOC, Chapter 53, Subchapter D, must be in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of administering this subchapter.
TOC, §53.151, sets the definitions of “licensing authority” and “occupational license” to have the meanings assigned to those terms by the TOC, §58.001.
TOC, §53.152, requires EPPs to provide applicants and enrollees certain notice regarding potential ineligibility for a certificate based on convicted offenses, the SBEC rules concerning the certificate eligibility of an individual with a criminal history, and the right of the individual to request a criminal history evaluation letter.
TOC, §53.153, requires an EPP to refund tuition, application fees, and examination fees paid by an individual if the EPP failed to provide the required notice under the TOC, §53.152, to an individual who was denied a certificate because the individual was convicted of an offense.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the links above.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The SBEC rules in 19 TAC Chapter 227 are organized as follows: Subchapter A, Admission to Educator Preparation Programs, and Subchapter B, Preliminary Evaluation of Certification Eligibility. These subchapters establish requirements for admission into an EPP and preliminary evaluation of certification eligibility.
Requirements in Subchapter A, Admission to Educator Preparation Programs, ensure that EPPs attract and admit applicants who demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the performance of the diverse student population of Texas.
At the September 19 and December 4-5, 2025 meetings, the SBEC discussed potential updates to 19 TAC Chapter 227 to align with revisions made to 19 TAC Chapters 228 and 230 and to implement HB 2, 89th Texas Legislature, 2025. The updates to 19 TAC Chapter 227 discussed included definitions, admission requirements for the Residency route, and contingency and formal admission requirements.
In response to subsequent updates in 19 TAC Chapter 228, additional refinements and revisions were proposed related to admissions requirements for other routes and to existing rules for clarity. Technical edits are also proposed to conform to Texas Register style requirements.
The following is a description of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 227, Subchapter A, shown in the attachment.
Subchapter A, Admission to Educator Preparation Programs
§227.5. Definitions
The proposed amendments to §227.5 would include the addition of definitions for Classroom Teacher, Late Hire, Partnership Preservice Program, Preparing and Retaining Educators Through Partnership (PREP) Program, PREP Alternative Preservice Program, PREP Residency Preservice Program, PREP Traditional Preservice Program, School Year, and Teacher of Record to align with requirements established by HB 2. The late hire definition was further updated to add the phrase “...and requires additional time to complete the pre-internship requirements” to clearly distinguish between a candidate who was hired late and did not complete pre-service requirements from a candidate who may have been hired late but who finished pre-service requirements prior to internship. Numbering of definitions was adjusted to accommodate the proposed new definitions.
The proposed amendment to §227.5(1), Accredited Institution of Higher Education, would increase clarity and consistency.
The proposed amendment to §227.5(2), Alternative Certification Route, would clarify and align the definition with requirements established by HB 2.
The proposed amendment to §227.5(6), Certification Class, would clarify the certification classes offered by EPPs.
Proposed new §227.5(7) would add a definition for Classroom Teacher and align with 19 TAC Chapter 228.
The proposed amendment to §227.5(8), Clinical Teaching, would update the definition to align with the revised definition in 19 TAC Chapter 228.
The proposed amendment to §227.5(11), Contingency Admission, would remove the term “conditional” from the definition of Contingency Admission for clarity and consistency.
The proposed amendment to §227.5(12), would update the definition of EPP for clarity.
Proposed new §227.5(14), Graduate Degree, would add clarity to degree requirements for admissions.
The proposed amendment to §227.5(18), Post-Baccalaureate Program, would realign the definition as applicable to a route that includes candidates pursuing certification in classes other than classroom teacher at university-based EPPs. This amendment would allow for the realignment of the Traditional route to include candidates in the Teacher class who are pursuing initial teacher certification concurrent with a graduate degree that is a result of new routes identified in HB 2.
Proposed new §227.5(26), Traditional Route, would distinguish the route as separate from the PREP Traditional route defined in §227.22 to align routes with those identified in HB 2.
§227.6. Implementation Date and §227.20. Implementation Date.
The proposed revisions to the admission requirements in Chapter 227 would specify that the requirements should be effective for applicants admitted into EPPs on or after the date the requirements are effective. The proposed repeal of §227.20 and new §227.6 would align with formatting in 19 TAC Chapter 228.
§227.10. Admission Criteria.
The proposed amendment to §227.10(a)(1) would clarify that candidates seeking a degree concurrent with certification must be enrolled in the university and align the route with new routes identified in HB 2.
The proposed amendment to §227.10(a)(2) would clarify the degree required at admission based on the new routes identified in HB 2 and add further clarity by aligning with existing admission requirements for the Superintendent class in §242.5, Minimum Requirements for Admission to a Superintendent Preparation Program.
The proposed amendment to §227.10(a)(3)(A) and (B) would maintain the statutory requirement in TEC, §21.0441, requiring a 2.50 GPA at minimum but update the language for clarity and to more closely align with the language in the statute for operational flexibility. The updates would further refine the language in the rule to align with new routes identified in HB 2.
A refinement to proposed §227.10(a)(3)(C) would clarify the CTE certificate categories that are exempt from the minimum GPA requirement. A proposed amendment to §227.10(a)(3)(D) would clarify the GPA requirement.
The proposed amendment to §227.10(a)(7) would align the language with the new route requirements identified in HB 2.
The proposed amendment to §227.10(a)(8) and proposed new subsection (a)(9) would separate the application submission and screening processes related to admission criteria. Proposed new subsection (a)(9) would add clarity to and elevate quality in requirements for the applicant screening process. The addition of proposed new paragraph (9) resulted in shifting the numbering of the subsequent paragraph to paragraph (10).
Proposed new §227.10(b) would align with the statutory requirements in TEC, §21.04422(b)(1), related to recruiting and admissions for SBEC-approved Residency programs; would require EPPs use research-based best practices for recruiting and admitting candidates into a Residency route; would elevate the Residency partnership experience by encouraging EPPs in partnerships to provide counseling and support for applicants to consider pursuing certification in areas that support partner local education agency (LEA) hiring needs. The addition of proposed new §227.10(b) would shift the citations following the additions.
Proposed new §227.10(d)(3) and §227.10(e) would support transparency for applicants to, and candidates in, EPPs regarding expiring certification examinations and/or certificates so that candidates are informed of expiration deadlines and can plan to complete preparation requirements efficiently to meet expiration deadlines.
The proposed amendment to §227.10(g) would clarify the language related to admission requirements for applicants seeking certification in Trade and Industrial Workforce Training: Grades 6-12.
The proposed amendment to §227.10(i)(4) would update the list of certificates that include certification in early childhood that qualify for admission into the Early Childhood: Prekindergarten-Grade 3 certificate area seeking additional training required in Chapter 228 for certification-by-examination purposes. The addition of one certificate category would require renumbering.
§227.15. Contingency Admission.
The proposal, including §227.15(a) and (e), would address updates to preparation routes to align with new routes identified in HB 2 and refine some existing language for clarity.
The proposed amendment to §227.15(c) would clarify the process EPPs use to notify the Texas Education Agency (TEA) of a candidate’s contingency admission into the EPP.
The proposed amendment to §227.15(d) would clarify that EPPs that contingently admit candidates must collect an official transcript to verify the degree has been conferred.
The proposed amendment to §227.15(f) would update the language to reflect the equivalent of a standard semester, which is identified as 16 weeks because the common calendar is no longer maintained by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board effective November 2024.
Proposed new §227.15(g) would clarify the consequence for a contingently admitted candidate if the required degree does not confer as expected as required in §227.15(f).
§227.17. Formal Admission.
The proposal, including §227.17(f), would address updates to preparation routes in alignment with new routes identified in HB 2 and refine some existing language for clarity.
The proposed amendment to §227.17(e) would clarify the process EPPs use to notify the TEA of a candidate’s formal admission into the EPP.
§227.19. Incoming Class Grade Point Average.
The proposal would address updates to preparation routes in alignment with new routes identified in HB 2 and align revisions with the GPA language referenced in §227.10(a)(3).
FISCAL IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. Jessica McLoughlin, associate commissioner for educator preparation, certification, and enforcement, has determined that for the first five years enforcing or administering the rules does not have foreseeable implications relating to cost or revenues of the state or local government. There are no additional costs to entities required to comply with the proposal.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal has no effect on local economy; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under TGC, §2001.022.
SMALL BUSINESS, MICROBUSINESS, AND RURAL COMMUNITY IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal has no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses, microbusinesses, or rural communities; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in TGC, §2006.002, is required.
COST INCREASE TO REGULATED PERSONS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. This proposal is exempt from the requirements of TGC, §2001.0045, per TEC, §21.041(e), as added by HB 2, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.
TAKINGS IMPACT ASSESSMENT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal does not impose a burden on private real property and, therefore, does not constitute a taking under TGC, §2007.043.
GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. TEA staff prepared a Government Growth Impact Statement assessment for this proposed rulemaking. During the first five years the proposed rulemaking would be in effect, it would create a new regulation by requiring the EPP to notify candidates upon admission if the certificate sought by the candidate, or the test required for the certificate sought by the candidate, is set to expire. This provides transparency to candidates for efficient processing. The proposed rulemaking would also expand an existing regulation by adding a requirement for residency programs that they must use research-based best practices for recruiting and admitting candidates into the route and offer counseling and support for applicants and candidates to consider pursuing certification in the areas of need for partner LEAs. This addition implements a statutory requirement.
The proposed rulemaking would not create or eliminate a government program; would not require the creation of new employee positions or elimination of existing employee positions; would not require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations to the agency; would not require an increase or decrease in fees paid to the agency; would not limit or repeal an existing regulation; would not increase or decrease the number of individuals subject to its applicability; and would not positively or adversely affect the state's economy.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. Jessica McLoughlin, associate commissioner for educator preparation, certification, and enforcement, has determined that for the first five years the proposal is in effect, the public benefit anticipated would be aligning the rules with statute and reflecting current procedures. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposal.
DATA AND REPORTING IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal would have no new data and reporting impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal does not require an environmental impact analysis because the proposal does not include major environmental rules under TGC, §2001.0225.
PRINCIPAL AND CLASSROOM TEACHER PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The TEA staff has determined the proposal would not require a written report or other paperwork to be completed by a principal or classroom teacher.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: In accordance with the SBEC rulemaking process, a summary of comments received by the SBEC on its proposed rules is shared with the SBOE under separate cover prior to this SBOE meeting.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: That the State Board of Education:
Take no action on the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 227, Provisions for Educator Preparation Candidates, Subchapter A, Admission to Educator Preparation Programs.
Staff Member Responsible:
Lorrie Ayers, Director, EPP Management
Attachment:
Text of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 227, Provisions for Educator Preparation Candidates, Subchapter A, Admission to Educator Preparation Programs