Texas’ new teacher certification test faces opposition

Texas has adopted new certification standards for teachers that some education advocates fear will make it more difficult to staff classrooms and find diverse candidates. Before its vote Feb. 11 to move forward with the new requirement, the Board for Educator Certification heard from both sides of the issue with speakers and board members agreeing the current certification test, the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities, needs improvement. Unlike the PPR, the replacement certification, edTPA, is not a one-time test. Developed by Stanford University faculty and staff at the Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity, edTPA involves student teachers preparing a portfolio of materials during their clinical experience.

The portfolio involves a written reflective measure from the candidates in which they analyze whether their students are learning and how they adjusted their instruction to be more effective. Candidates are also required to submit unedited videos of themselves at work in a classroom. The price of edTPA is $311 for the initial submission, $195 higher than the PPR. If students fail certain elements of the edTPA assessment, they can resubmit that portion with fees varying from $100 to $300, depending on how many tasks they are resubmitting. Proponents of edTPA, launched as a pilot version in 2019, say the assessment better prepares teachers for Day One in the classroom, builds confidence, and helps with lesson planning and student engagement. The standards will be phased in during the next three years. Currently and during the 2022-23 school year, the edTPA assessment is optional, so students can still choose the PPR.