Undergraduate Teacher Candidate Handbook:Educational Aide (Paraprofessional) Program

Candidates currently employed by an approved TEA district as a Certified Educational Aide:

  • For program benchmarks and certification details, see the requirements in your program area in the above sections.
  • In addition to the above benchmarks, the following additional requirements must be met for the educational aide candidates. These are found in the responsibility framework.

Requirements at the time of application:

Responsibility Framework

A copy of the Educational Aide Framework is to be presented to, initialed and signed, by the building principal and human resource department. All copies of the framework must be uploaded with the completed Educational Aide application. If there are any questions, please contact Mitzi Hughes at 903.468.3061 or email [email protected].

NOTE: Approval of the school district is required for any educational aide to complete student teaching while maintaining employment status as an educational aide. This is at the discretion of the school district.

Educational Aide Job Placement

The student teaching job placement must be approved by the Center for Educator Certification and Academic Services (CECAS) and must meet the requirements as outlined by the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) for clinical student teachers.

  1. Match the grade level and specialization/teaching field in which the candidate is seeking certification.
  2. Be assigned a cooperating teacher in an authentic classroom setting.
  3. Engage in instructional activities through which the educational aide is “doing the work of a teacher of record” under the guidance and supervision of their cooperating teacher. For example, lesson planning, delivering instruction, implementing classroom management plan, grading, communicating with parents, etc.
  4. Clinical teaching shall not be less than five (5) hours per day / three (3) days per week in the subject area and grade level of certification sought.
  5. Complete clinical student teaching for two full semesters.
  6. Must hold educational aide certification from TEA.

Note: It is at the discretion of the school district to allow an educational aide to complete student teaching and meet requirements as mandated by TEA, while maintaining employment status as an educational aide.

Coursework & Certification Requirements

Educational Aide candidates completing their senior year clinical student teaching experience as a certified educational aide must be aware of some key information:

  • Seminar coursework is delivered in a synchronous online format during both semesters. Candidates are required to attend the zoom sessions and complete the coursework expectations.
  • TEA's requirements span multiple areas.
  • There are program requirements beyond TEA requirements that must be met.
  • Check the certification website for application open and closed dates as well as other details pertaining to the educational aide requirements.

EXAMPLE:

  • If a candidate is seeking EC-6 Core Subjects certification, the candidate must be placed in an instructional setting that aligns with their target certification.
    • If the candidate plans to take the Supplemental English as a Second Language (ESL) exam prior to applying for the initial certificate. In order to get this certification, the cooperating teacher must have ESL certification and students in the classroom must be identified as ELL.
    • If a candidate is seeking an EC-6 Special Education (SPED) supplemental certification, they must have a placement in both a general education and special education setting.

Also, placement with a cooperating teacher must comply with specific TEA requirements such as:

  • placement is collaboratively assigned by district and EPP
  • must have a minimum of 3 years teaching experience
  • holds the current certifications the candidate is seeking
  • an accomplished educator as shown by student learning
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