Test re-approvals for the 2nd through 5th attempts


Goal: Have an in-depth, supportive conversation to help the successful testing progression of our interns when they’ve had a previous failed attempt. As you know, it takes time and money to continue to study and test so our goal in these conversations is to uncover gaps that could be impacting their success and offer suggestions & resources that can help them be more successful. 

  • Review Testing History in TEA (https://tealprod.tea.state.tx.us/); This will help you to understand their previous testing history and engage in questions that can help you to support their preparedness for successful progression. 

Ex Questions: 

  • ‘I see you’ve attempted this exam before, how did you feel about your experience and preparedness for it last time? How does that compare to now?’ 

  • ‘What have you been working on this time to prepare that’s different than the last?’ 

  • 1 failed (what area) 

  • 2+ High risk; what area?  

  • What score did they receive relative to passing score needed (see below) 

*Please note, the score is not always available in Prince or TEA 

(Sample Intern ID/TEA ID: TX1131305 & 2444996   

 

A close up of text Description automatically generated 

Ex Questions:  

  • ‘What teaching experience do you have in this area? How prepared do you feel on a scale of 1-10; one being not confident and 10 feeling ready to ROCK the test?’ 

  • Notice that the first test is in Math, then in science and is pursuing the retest of science. This is a great opportunity to learn more about why he changed. ‘I noticed that you changed your area of focus from Math to Science, can you tell me more about that? What prompted the switch?’ 

 

  • Review Transcripts: By reviewing their transcripts, this can help you get a better understanding of their college major, how long ago it was and perhaps how much of their content exam exposure they’ve had. If you don’t feel comfortable reviewing their transcript like below, see questions you can ask to gather the same information or work with your manager for additional support. 

  • When did they graduate? See highlight below 

A close up of a document 

  • What did they study?  

In the example above, you can see this individual has been out of school for 5 years and had a significant amount of psychology classes (Major: Psychology Minor: Anthropology) so exposure to traditional life science and math would be a question to engage  

Ex Questions: 

  • What did you study in college? How long ago did you graduate? How many courses would you say you’ve taken in this subject area? 

  • What exposure have you had recently to traditional life science and math courses? Any teaching experience in this area?  

  • Does it align with their area of study? 

  • Grades? 

  • Volume of course? 


  • Field Based Experience: Has the intern completed their field-based experience? If not, this would be a GREAT way to add some additional exposure to the course content and classroom experience they hope to join. This intern had exposure late last year in a math classroom based on reviewing their FBE submission, but he is currently pursuing the approval for a science test. This is a great opportunity to ask more about recent observation opportunities that may help him with the content application as well as perhaps asking about why the change from math to science. 


Recommendations for action: 


For the intern above, having a better understanding of their background is helpful to know that he did not have traditional content exposure in college, at a high level, and filling in the gap with his experience is helpful as well. Getting a better idea of their testing confidence will help us to better understand their current study opportunities and resources we can offer. Based on his results, it would benefit him to take additional time studying the content material and gaining more experience so that he can be confident in the success of his next testing opportunity.  

  • Study.com full coursework (30-50 hours) 

  • TLL or other test preparation programs 

  • Field based experience to observe several hours within the area being pursued and different teachers for greater exposure/experience 


If the intern passes our test prep, but fails the exam the advisor should: 

  1. Check the date of the test prep. If it was completed before the intern's last failed attempt, the intern is required to complete outside test  prep.  
  2. Advisor should inform the intern that additional test prep is required before another approval can be issued because we want them to be successful in passing the exam.   Interns can select from the following resources to complete an external practice test with an 85% or higher.  
  • The Learning Liaisons: 30-day free trial available through your intern portal under Menu>Premium Test Prep
    1. Upon completing the corresponding test prep course through the Learning Liaisons, you will receive a certificate of completion that you may send to teach@texasteachers.org for approval of your exam.
      • (To Advisors: A Certificate of Completion is required for The Learning Liaisons) 
  • Exam Edge Practice exams: https://www.examedge.com/texes/
    1. Successful completion of a practice test with an 85% or higher is required
    2. You may send proof of a passing score to teach@texasteachers.org for exam approval.
      • Please make sure to select the current exam for your area. 
      • (To Advisors: Proof of a passing score of an 85% or higher on the practice exam is required.  PDF is preferred but not required.  Must be legible and show the intern's name, date and score completed) 
  • Certify Teacher: https://www.certifyteacher.com/products/list/texas
    1. Successful completion of a practice test with an 85% or higher is required.
    2. You may send proof of a passing score to teach@texasteachers.org for exam approval.
      • (To Advisors: Proof of a passing score of an 85% or higher on the practice exam is required.  PDF is preferred but not required.  must be legible and show the intern's name, date and score completed) 


Please note: 

  • The above resources are TOT's recommendations.  However, candidates can use any TEA-approved provider listed on their website for approved outside test prep to receive re-approval of their exam. TEA approved CPE providers
  • Interns cannot use the same provider for multiple attempts.  For example: Intern used Certify Teacher for their 2nd attempt, they would need to choose a different provider to gain approval for their 3rd attempt.  
  • If the intern completes a test prep course, they must show a certificate of completion for the entire course.  PDF is preferred but not required.  The certificate of completion must be legible and show the name, date and course completed.  
  • If the intern completes a practice test, they must show proof of successful completion with an 85% or higher.  PDF is preferred but not required.  It must be legible and show name, date of completion and  subject area tested in.   


Upon receiving proof of the passed practice test, the advisor should email it to TXprogramfulfillment@teachersoftomorrow.org 

Our TX program fulfillment team will 

  1.  Verify test prep has been completed with an 85% or higher 
  2. Upload proof of external passed practice test (list as "External Test Prep" under documents) to the intern's prince account. 
  3. Notate the account with the following: "Intern has completed outside test prep through XXXXXXX for exam XXXXXXX.  Test re-approval granted. 
  4. Re-approve the exam.  


Account Notation: HP Note  

FBE complete: Y or N, Job in testing area Y or N if Yes than job "igajf" on file. Discuss transcript review Y or N    Study resources discussed:           Next Step: