217 ELAR 4-8 Exam Transition 

 

The 117 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) 4-8 exam has been replaced by the new 217 ELAR 4-8 as of January 21st, 2022. 

 

Per TEA – the last date that an Intern can be issued a certificate in the 117 ELAR 4-8 is October 30th,2022.  

 

Any intern on an intern or probationary certificate with a start date before 10/30/2022 for the 117 ELAR 4-8 must retest and take the 217 ELAR 4-8 to qualify for a standard certificate.  

 

What does this mean? 

If an intern is in Hired Status, on an active intern cert and that intern cert is set to expire before 10/30/2022 we CAN recommend them for a standard certificate in the 117 ELAR 4-8.  

Qualified candidates MUST be recommended for a standard certificate on or before 10/30/2022 for the 117 ELAR 4-8.  

 

If an intern is in PAID Status, qualifies for hire, and gets hired before 10/30/2022 we CAN recommend them for an intern certificate for the 117 ELAR 4-8.  This intern will however, need to retest during their intern year of teaching and pass the 217 ELAR 4-8 before we can issue a standard certificate.  

Qualified candidates MUST be recommended for an intern certificate on or before 10/30/2022 for the 117 ELAR 4-8.  Then they must also retest during their intern year of teaching and pass the new 217 ELAR 4-8.  

 

Important Tips When Helping Interns: 

  1. Check the candidate status.  Are they in PAID status or in Hired Status 
  2. Check to see which exam they have passed i.e. 117 vs. 217.  
  3. Check to see if they are on an active or expired intern certificate 
  4. Check the expiration date of the intern cert. Does it expire before 10/30/2022?   Will they qualify for a standard before 10/30/2022 with time taught? 
  5. If an intern is in Hired status, completes all requirements, time taught, pays in full before 10/30/2022 and are on an active intern cert for the 117 ELAR 4-8 we can still issue their standard certificate before 10/30/2022.  
  6. If the intern is in PAID status, has passed the 117 ELAR 4-8, 293 STR exams, completed their required courses, and 30 hours of field-based experience, and gets hired before the 10/30/2022 deadline we can still issue them an intern certificate in the 117 ELAR 4-8 cert area.  They will however, have to retest during their intern year of teaching and pass the 217 ELAR 4-8.  
  7. Keep in mind the 293 STR must also be passed for either the 117 or 217 exams.