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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)Employment/Internship
Financial
Application
Requirements
Program Logistics
Still have questions? Ask our program staff, or call the Information Hotline at 512-919-5366. Does Region XIII place interns with school districts? After acceptance into the Region XIII ECP, each applicant is responsible for securing his/her own employment in a Region XIII public school district, charter school or Texas Education Agency accredited private school. Intern employment information is shared with all Region XIII school districts. Eligibility for the District Referral Program cycle, requires that applicants be hired by a school district and referred to the program by that hiring principal or district. It is not unusual for school districts to delay hiring personnel until late summer. In response to this, the majority of the pre-service training is offered evenings and Saturdays so that prospective interns can retain existing employment as long as possible. What public school districts are located in Region XIII? Visit 'School Directory' on the Region XIII web site for more information about public school districts in Region XIII.
With program approval, interns may pursue employment outside of Region XIII. There is a $500.00 additional charge for employment in districts outside of Region XIII to defray staff travel expense. For CTE areas of certification we also offer statewide sites that with no additional fee. Visit CTE Statewide link' for a complete listing. 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. When will I begin receiving my salary? Teachers, in general, are paid on a monthly basis on the last working day of the month. Check your hiring district for details. What kind of salary can I expect to earn? All school districts pay a minimum state base salary. Please check with individual districts about their respective salary scales and benefit packages. How do I make application to the Region XIII Educator Certification Program? The Region XIII ECP uses an online application process. The application process can be initiated from the Apply page of the ECP web site. Are there any technology requirements for program participation? Yes, 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:
Is there an application deadline? Yes, please refer to the individual program's Apply page for details on dates and requirements. What do I do if my transcripts are from a foreign country? All foreign transcripts must have official U.S. translations showing degree and grade equivalency. Contact Foreign Credentials Service of America at 512-459-8428 or visit http://www.fcsa.biz about foreign transcript evaluations. In addition, candidates must complete the THEA (TASP) requirements as described in the Certification Areas section of this web site. Once I complete the application process and meet the academic requirements, am I automatically enrolled in the program? No, submitting an application begins the process of admission to the ECP. Applications and transcripts will be reviewed for eligibility. All candidate information is reviewed and selections are made based on program capacity and strength of the candidate in relation to the pool of other applicants. Please refer to the individual program's Apply page for details on requirements. If I do not have all the necessary coursework at this time, may I still submit an application and be considered for this program? Applicants may submit an online application; however, applicants will not be eligible for program admission unless all entry requirements are met. In some instances, candidates may be conditionally admitted while they are completing coursework to obtain their bachelors degree. A written letter of request for conditional admission must be submitted to the program office following the submission of the online application. Candidates who are conditionally admitted, and who do not complete the requirements, are not eligible for a refund of initial program fees and will be required to exit the program at that time. 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. Is there financial aid available for the programs? Yes, we offer a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships for select certification areas.The following is a list of those options.
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 (12-18 hours per week), interns will be expected to attend, on the average, at least 12 - 18 hours of training each month during the school year. The program is designed for highly committed candidates who are able to excel in a fast-paced training environment. When will I be notified if I am accepted into the program? Acceptance letters will be mailed. Applicants not accepted into the program will also be notified. What if I currently or have ever been the subject of an arrest that has resulted in deferred adjudication, probation or conviction? The Texas Education Agency rule requires that every individual applying to a Texas Certification Program be subject to a criminal record check. Submission of an application authorizes the Region XIII, Educator Certification Program (ECP) to obtain any existing criminal history records pertaining to you the applicant. Failure to disclose information will result in dismissal from the program. 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 program specialist in advance of attending the make up session. Class attendance takes precedence over campus or district instructions, meetings, or activities. At the point in which the participant misses more than the two allotted absences, the staff advisory meets to discuss the absences and makes the decision concerning continuation in the program.
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