Here you can find answers to commonly asked questions received by our office. If you do not find your question below, feel free to reach out to our helpful staff to provide assistance.
Per Texas Administrative Code (TAC Rule 228.35) A candidate must have a clinical teaching assignment for each subject area in which the candidate is seeking initial certification. Clinical teacher candidates working at an accredited district may be offered DECT (district employed clinical teaching) through the clinical teaching program. Students must still apply for Clinical Teaching via Tk20 and must meet all program requirements.
According to Texas Administrative Code 228.69, Candidates employed as certified educational aides may satisfy their clinical teaching assignment requirement through their instructional duties.
The following clinical teaching requirements must be met:
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- Must have a clinical teaching assignment for the subject area in which the candidate is seeking certification. For example, if candidate is seeking bilingual certification, the candidate must complete the clinical teaching assignment in a bilingual classroom.
- Be under the supervision of a qualified cooperating teacher
- at least three creditable years of teaching experience;
- valid certification in the certification category for the clinical teaching assignment for which the clinical teacher candidate is seeking certification;
- an accomplished educator as shown by student learning;
An individual employed in a Texas school district as a paraprofessional must be certified according to requirements established by the State Board for Educator Certification. Students must hold a valid Educational Aid I, II, or III Certificate.
District Employed Clinical Teaching (DECT) is a program initiative that may allow teacher candidates that meet certain criteria to complete clinical teaching at their current district employment should it be approved. UTRGV and your district must have an MOU in place. Candidates employed as certified paraprofessional may satisfy their clinical teaching assignment requirements through their instructional duties. However, final placement assignment and approval to proceed as a district employee while in clinical teaching is at the discretion of the school district (HR and principal). It is important that you plan accordingly to ensure you receive final confirmation of approval from the district and your principal, there are many factors to take into consideration.
The semester of your clinical teaching application, you will be asked to provide proof of a 1) valid TEA certification (i.e. educational aide I, II or III certificate), 2) current service record from your HR department, 3) a letter from both your HR and principal, and 4) detailed placement information (campus and mentor teachers full name). Placement must be with a teacher certified in the area of certification clinical teacher is seeking, mentor must have 3 or more years of experience, and students with All-Level are required to have 2 placements in which the second placement will take place mid-semester. To check if you hold a certificate, please contact your human resource department and/or TEA. If you have any questions, please email Melissa Ipina Melissa Ipina melissa.ipina01@utrgv.edu or ofe@utrgv.edu (956) 665-5910. Students must still apply with the Office of Field Experiences for clinical teaching via Tk20.