Frequently Asked Questions

Employment/Internship

• Does Region XIII place interns with school districts?

Financial

• During the internship, am I paid a salary?
• When will I begin receiving my salary?
• What kind of salary can I expect to earn?
• Is there financial aid available for this program?

Application

• How do I make application to the Region XIII Educator Certification Program?
• Is there an application deadline?
• Once I complete the application process and meet the academic requirements, am I automatically accepted into the program?

Requirements

• Are there any technology requirements for program participation?

Program Logistics

• Who provides the program instruction?
• Will the program require much of a time commitment?
• What if I have to miss some classes?

Still have questions? Ask our program staff, or call the Information Hotline at 512-919-5323.

Does Region XIII place interns with school districts?

Prior to final acceptance into the Region XIII CTE-ECP, each applicant is responsible for securing his/her own employment in a public school district, charter school or Texas Education Agency accredited private school. Participants in the Austin-area cohort who choose the student teaching option are placed with a cooperating teacher by Region XIII ECP.

During the internship, am I paid a salary?

Yes, once accepted into the ECP, and hired by a school district, interns are paid a first-year teacher's salary. As with any employment, it is the employee's responsibility to inquire with the employing school district as to salary and benefits. Interns are considered a teacher of record and an employee of the school district. As such, interns are subject to all rules and responsibilities as outlined in local school board policy. Once interns earn their certification, the internship year counts as the first year of service. Participants in the Austin-area cohort who choose the student teaching option are not paid a salary.

When will I begin receiving my salary?

Teachers, in general, are paid on a monthly basis on the last working day of the month. First-year teachers typically receive their first paycheck at the end of September even though they may have begun working in August. Interns should be prepared for a lean first month. Participants in the Austin-area cohort who choose the student teaching option are not paid a salary.

What kind of salary can I expect to earn?

All school districts pay a minimum state base salary; many districts pay above state base. Please check with individual districts about their respective salary scales and benefit packages. Trades and Industrial Education, Marketing Education, and Health Science Technology teachers are also credited with a minumum of 2 years of teaching experience due to required industry employment prior to certification. Participants in the Austin-area cohort who choose the student teaching option are not paid a salary.

Is there financial aid available for this program?

Each CTE program participant automatically receives a $2,000 deduction from the program internship fee, funded by grant monies.

Military Personnel and Veterans are eligible to receive further assistance for teacher certification through the Region XIII Troops to Teachers Program. Read more.

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How do I make application to the Region XIII Educator Certification Program?

Complete the application (SOQ), submit $75.00 Application Fee, and provide copies of all post secondary transcripts, if applicable.

Is there an application deadline?

Pending available space in the program, applicants will be admitted into the current year cohort program up to September 6, 2007. If hired after September 6, 2007, Region XIII CTE-ECP will coordinate participation in the following year's cohort. Contact CTE-ECP specialist.

Are there any technology requirements for program participation?

The ECP integrates technology into the preparation program both for communication and course delivery. Some instruction is delivered via the Internet. All program participants must own or have daily access to a personal computer, printer and Internet connection.

Minimum system requirements:

• Personal computer with a minimum of a pentium based processor or Mac OS 8.0 or higher
• Internet connection with a preferred minimum speed of 56K
• Web browser: Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher or Netscape 7.0 or higher
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 plug-in or higher
• Minimum RAM 64 MB
• Prefer access to MSWord 2000 or higher

Who provides the program instruction?

The ECP faculty, Region XIII Education Service Center staff members, master teachers and other contracted instructors provide classes in a variety of relevant education topics.

Will the program require much of a time commitment?

Yes, the Educator Certification Program is an intense, high quality program. In addition to the pre-service training, interns will be expected to attend, on the average, 2-3 sessions each month during the school year. The program is designed only for highly committed candidates who are able to excel in an intense, fast-paced training environment.

What if I have to miss some classes?

Attendance at all ECP class sessions is required. The ECP allows a maximum of two absences throughout the entire time in the program. When a participant misses a class session, he/she must make up the instruction in that session with similar instruction. It must be approved by the ECP specialist in advance of attending the make up session. Class attendance takes precedence over campus or district inservices, meetings, or activities.

At the point in which the participant misses more than the two allotted absences, the staff advisory committee meets to discuss the absences and makes decision concerning continuation in the program.

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