001Hello and welcome to the chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rule updates webinar 1 May 2025. In our webinar today we will review the background context for recent rulemaking updates to chapter 231 subchapter F. Review the updated chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rule text. Explore the new Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record and preview additional implementation supports that will be available summer 2025. We have a four-part agenda for this asynchronous webinar. In part one, we'll review the background context for rule updates. In part two, we'll take a close look at the chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rule text. In part three, we'll take a deep dive into each section of the Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record. And in
002part four, we'll review additional implementation supports and review the associated timelines. We'll begin with part one background context. Prior to rulemaking updates, the chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rule text read. If an individual is providing content instruction in a special education classroom setting, a valid certificate that matches the subject and grade level of the assignment is also required or the individual must demonstrate content through the state's 2010 and 2011 high objective uniform state standard of evaluation house for elementary and secondary special education teachers of record. Within this rule text, there was a need to clarify the rules, evaluate potential options for alternate content proficiency demonstration, as well as ensure qualified educators serving in Texas classrooms. We'll now take a look at an overview of ESPEC action related to the chapter 231 subchapter
003F rule updates. Beginning in 2018 with TEA special education strategic plan refresh, the agency then held a series of special education forums and stakeholder engagement that culminated in the adoption of new special education and deafb blind standards in 2020. Beginning in December of 2023, the ESP engaged with a series of discussion items related to necessary changes to the chapter 231 subchapter F rule text. In this initial discussion item, core challenges were shared with the board related to current rule text as well as an initial set of recommendations for their review. At this time, board members and stakeholders provided feedback to develop a Texas specific worksheet as an alternative to house. At the February 2024 ESPC meeting, board members were provided additional context for the House provisions and necessary changes and were also provided a worksheet
004update. At the July 2020 24 aspect meeting, board members reviewed draft rule text and an updated set of recommendations as well as an initial draft of the Texas worksheet. Board feedback was also sought that impacted worksheet development and implementation. At the September 2024 ESPEC meeting, board members shared feedback on worksheet development as well as the associated point values within different sections of the worksheet. Beginning in December 2024, board members were presented a proposal of the updated chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rule text, including the Texas worksheet. At the February 2025 meeting, ESPC adopted the updated chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rules. In April of 2025, SBOE reviewed and took no action on the updated chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rules. We'll now transition to part two,
005taking a look at the updated chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rule text. Within the updates to chapter 231 subchapter F, three subsections were updated. First, subsection 231.701 related to special education teachers. Subsection 231.709 related to teachers of deaf and heart of hearing. These updates included technical edits to align naming conventions used in other subchapters. And finally, subsection 231.710 for teachers of students who are deafb blind. These rulemaking updates include a new subjection that outline certification requirements for assignment of teachers of students who are deafb blind as well as specify the aligned aspect issued certificate. In today's webinar, we will focus on special education teachers in subsection 231.701 and the content competency requirements for special education teachers of record at the elementary and secondary levels as well as the aligned list of ESPEC
006issued certificates. The new chapter 231.701 special education teacher personnel assignment rules specify that all special education teachers must have a special education certificate. Specifies that content competency requirements are specific only to special education teachers of record and bifurcates between previous content proficiency demonstration via house as well as include specific callouts to sections in the figure, the Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record, grades EC through 12. The Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record is included as a figure in 19 TAC chapter 231.701D. In summary, the updated chapter 231.701 special education teacher personnel assignment rules continue to require that all special education teachers hold a valid ESPC approved special education certification to serve as a special education teacher. The rule text also requires content certification for special education teachers
007of record that matches the subject and grade level of the teacher's assignment. In the event the teacher does not hold the appropriate content certification, this updated rule text provides an alternate option for demonstration of content competency for special education teachers of record via the Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record. The rule text also clarifies the requirements for special education teachers of record who previously demonstrated content competency through house prior to September 1st of 2025. The rule text also directs special education teachers of record who did not previously utilize house prior to September 1st, 2025 to the appropriate sections of the Texas worksheet. We'll now transition to part three, the Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record, grades EC12. As an overview, we'll now take a look at the
008core differences between the old house worksheets and the new Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record. Via the previous house framework and worksheets. Elementary teachers who were providing content instruction needed to hold either their appropriate generalist certificate or meet a point threshold through a combination of years of teaching experience, college coursework, and professional development. At the secondary level, special education teachers providing content instruction needed to hold the appropriate content certificate, have a major, the equivalent coursework, or a graduate degree in the content area, or through a combination of points earned for meeting elementary proficiency, generalist or content 4 through 8 certificates, years of teaching experience, college coursework, and professional development. The previous house framework also explicitly stated that a secondary teacher teaching at the elementary level to students assessed on an alternate
009test could meet elementary requirements and no other requirements. In the new Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record, grades EC12, elementary special education teachers of record, those serving an EC through five classrooms must meet requirements in section section C of the worksheet by meeting an overall 24 point threshold across ELAR, math, science, and social studies. Secondary special education teachers of record in grades 6 through 12 must meet requirements in section D of the worksheet by meeting an 18point threshold in each core content area the educator is assigned as teacher of record. Note special educators who hold the appropriate content certification will not utilize the Texas worksheet as an overview. The Texas content competency worksheet for special education teachers of record is organized into six sections. Section A houses the educator's general information.
010Section B is for use by special educators utilizing previous subject matter competency provisions. Section C is for elementary special education teachers of record. Section D is for secondary special education teachers of record. Section E is for firstear special education teachers of record and secondary teachers of multiple content areas only. Section F of the worksheet includes the administrator attestations and section G includes the appendix information at each grade level. Special education teachers of record can generate points to meet their point threshold through a combination of college credit hours, previous teaching experience, high quality professional development, approved residency experiences, previous pair professional experience, a passing score on the science of teaching reading exam or successful completion of the Texas Reading mies by holding a national board certification or a TIA designation or a passing score on an
011aligned packed exam. Please note those activities with an asterisk are additional flexibilities adopted by the ESPC in the Texas worksheet which were not previously included in house. We'll now take a closer look at each section of the Texas worksheet. Beginning with section A, general information. Within section A, teachers will provide their name, their TEA ID number, the date their worksheet was completed, and section A also includes an additional verification that the educator holds the appropriate special education certification for their placement. Please note, LEAs may determine which district and or campus staff may serve as the authorized administrators for completion of the Texas worksheet. For example, a principal, a special education coordinator, an HR representative, or an additional identified staff member. We'll now take a closer look at section B for special educators utilizing previous subject
012matter competency provisions. Within section B, this should be completed for teachers who demonstrated their content proficiency via house prior to September 1st of 2025. The administrator supporting the teacher in completing the worksheet will indicate with the checkbox the grade level or levels at which the teacher met previous house requirements. Note within section B, the administrator also attests that the special education teacher has demonstrated the required subject matter content knowledge to continue to serve in their placement. Some additional notes on section B. For teachers who previously demonstrated content proficiency through House and are completing section B of the Texas worksheet, authorized administrators should verify previous content competency requirements were met via House as documented on the older determining highly qualified status and determining subject matter competency worksheets for teachers at both the elementary and/or secondary levels.
013Once the teacher's previous house utilization has been verified by an authorized administrator, there is no requirement to attach old house documentation to the new Texas worksheet. However, we do encourage retaining these documents for recordkeeping. In the event a teacher is assigned to a placement that matches their previous house utilization, only sections A, B, and F of the Texas worksheet should be completed for the educator. If that same teacher is then reassigned to a new grade band and or content area outside of their previous house utilization, for example, a teacher who previously demonstrated elementary proficiency via house and then is reassigned to a secondary math placement, that teacher would need to meet updated requirements within the appropriate section of the worksheet. We'll now take a look at section C for elementary special education teachers of record.
014Within section C for elementary special education teachers of record, grades EC through 5, these teachers must meet a point threshold of at least 24 points represented across all content areas with no content areas having fewer than three points. Point generating generating activities are listed in the rows and applicable content areas are noted in the columns on the right hand side of the worksheet. The teacher's total number of points per activity should be calculated and indicated in the applicable box. Please note points generated from a passing score on the science of teaching reading exam and or the Texas readingmies may only be documented in the eer column. To calculate a teacher's total points, first calculate totals per content area. As a reminder, no teacher may have a content area with less than three points total. Then
015add two points total if a TIA designation applies. And finally, sum the teacher's total points. Some additional notes on section C. For elementary special education teachers of record completing section C of the Texas worksheet, authorized administrators should work with the educator utilizing the worksheet to review documentation of college coursework. Previous teaching and paraprofessional experience should be verified by the administrator. Score report documents should be used to verify points associated with a passing score on the STR exam. CPE records should be reviewed to document any points associated with qualifying professional development. Also note certain secondary activities, teaching experience and professional development carry a point value at the elementary level. We'll now transition to section D of the worksheet for secondary special education teachers of record. Within section D of the worksheet for secondary special education teachers
016of record g grades 6 through 12, teachers must meet the required 18 points in each content area for which they are assigned as teacher of record. Point generating activities are listed in rows with the applicable content areas noted in the columns on the right hand side of the worksheet. The teacher's total number of points per each activity should be calculated and indicated in the applicable box. Please note at the secondary level, a teacher may generate 18 points from holding a minor or a major in the content area. Points generated from science of teaching reading exam and successful completion of the readingmies may only be documented in the eer column to sum the teacher's total points. Totals per each content area should be documented in the bottom row. Additional notes on section D. For secondary special
017education teachers of record completing section D of the Texas worksheet, teachers must meet an 18point threshold in each content area they are assigned as teacher of record. Authorized administrators should work with the educator utilizing the worksheet to review documentation of college coursework. Previous teaching and paraprofessional experience should be verified by the administrator. Score report documents should be used to verify points associated with the passing score on the STR exam. CPE records should be reviewed to document any points associated with qualifying professional development. A teacher with a TIA designation may document two points total distributed across a total of two content areas at the secondary level. We'll now take a look at section E of the worksheet for firstear special education teachers of record and secondary teachers of multiple content areas only. Additional flexibilities are provided
018within section E for firstear teachers. Section E of the worksheet also clarifies the certificate type a firstear teacher may hold. And section E should only be used in the teacher's first year providing instruction to students, not the first year of the assignment. First year teachers are provided a year-long runway to meet their content requirements as outlined in section C or D of the worksheet and a space to document the start and end dates of their runway year is provided within section E. Also within section E are additional flexibilities for secondary teachers of multiple content areas. For secondary teachers of multiple content areas, these teachers are also provided a year-long runway to meet their content competency requirements as outlined in section D of the worksheet. Teachers must be assigned at the secondary level to two or
019more content areas at the start of their assignment to utilize the flexibilities within section E of the worksheet. Section E also provides a space to document the start and end dates of the teacher's runway year. Additional notes on section E of the worksheet. The goal of section E is to provide additional layers of flexibility to these groups of special education teachers of record. Both firstear teachers and secondary teachers of multiple two or more content areas are provided a year-long runway which is documented within section E of the Texas worksheet to meet content competency requirements. During the teachers runway year, both firstear teachers and secondary teachers of multiple content areas can engage in targeted highquality professional development in their deficient content areas. satisfy their content competency requirements for their grade band and content area by opting
020to take and pass an aligned pact exam or seek full content certification to meet the requirements of updated personnel assignment rules. For example, a special education teacher of record assigned to a secondary ELR classroom may seek their ELAR 712 content certification. Please note, teachers and administrators are not required to complete a new copy of the Texas worksheet after a teacher has utilized flexibilities within section E. Administrators may document the educator's point values in either section C or D of the worksheet with a notation around the updated completion date and administrator initials beside the section to streamline documentation. We'll now take a look at section F, administrator attestation. Section F of the Texas worksheet includes the administrator asurances, where the authorized administrator supporting the teacher in completing their Texas worksheet will verify the teacher has met
021the requirements in the appropriate section of the Texas worksheet. The authorized administrator will also provide their signature and printed name. Please note, in addition to the assurances listed above, the administrator within section F also attests that the teacher's campus administration will assist the teacher in seeking out continuing professional education as required by 19 TAC chapter 232.11. that addresses both CPE requirements for the teacher special education certificate renewal and education related specifically to the content area or areas for which the teacher is assigned to support or teach. Next, we'll take a look at section G of the Texas worksheet, which includes the appendix. Within the first section of the appendix is a provided packed alignment chart. The appendix should be referenced for teachers using a passing score on an aligned packed exam to meet their content
022requirements. Point values for a line packed exam should be documented in the appropriate row and column in section C and D of the worksheet. Point information for generalist exams as well as content specific packed exams is provided within our packed alignment chart. Closely related field information is also provided within the appendix. Note closely related field flexibility is allowable only at the secondary level within section D of the worksheet. Teachers may generate points from college credit hours, secondary teaching experience, qualifying professional development, an approved residency placement, and/or pair professional experience in the content area or a closely related field listed above. Note the closely related field list is not exhaustive and school districts may consider additional fields but must maintain documentation to support the determination. Also included within the appendix is information related to approved residency
023placements. Teachers who complete an approved residency placement per 19TC chapter 228.15 under the supervision of a special education teacher of record in a self-contained setting should reference this section. Teachers may be able to document up to 12 points given the specifics of their residency. For example, a teacher who completed an approved residency placement under the supervision of a special education teacher of record in a self-contained setting, who was responsible for all four core content areas, could document three points in math, three points in ELR, three points in social studies, and three points in science. National board certification alignment is also provided within the appendix section. National Board Certification is a voluntary advanced professional certification for pre-K12 educators that identifies teaching experience through performance-based peer-reviewed assessment. National board certified teachers in Texas may utilize their national
024board certificates on the Texas content competency worksheet. Finally, a definition section is provided within the appendix with tax citations provided for clarity across different sections of the Texas worksheet. We'll now transition to part four and a discussion of additional implementation supports related to the new chapter 231 subchapter F special education personnel assignment rule updates. The first implementation support which will be available beginning May 16th, 2025 is the rule text worksheet walkthrough webinar. On May 23rd, 2025, an initial FAQ 1.0 document will be available. We'll be collecting additional questions related to the chapter 231 special education personnel assignment rule updates and we'll plan to provide an updated FAQ 2.0 no later than July 25th, 2025. Finally, no later than August 8th, a second chapter 231 rules webinar will be available. Once available, all materials and resources
025can be found on the TEA educator certification page under assignment information. Thank you for viewing the chapter 231 special education personnel assignment updates and worksheet walkthrough webinar. Questions for consideration in the updated chapter 231 special education personnel assignment rule updates FAQ 2.0 know should be submitted to the FAQ submission form via QR code on the screen.