The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) provides support to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), Texas Education Agency (TEA), public institutions of higher education, K-12 schools, school districts, Education Service Centers, parents, students and community leaders in a collaborative, constructive network.
New Education Degree Programs
Institutions interested in developing new degree programs in education should follow the same procedures for other degree program approvals. Institutions should indicate in the proposal which certification areas, if any, are aligned with the proposal degree program.
New Educator Preparation Certificate Programs
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) oversees all aspects of educator preparation certification programs and standards of conduct of public school educators. The TEA Educator Certification division provides information and assistance for educators, school districts, and the public, especially as it pertains to becoming a teacher or administrator in Texas or renewing certification.
SBEC Texas Administrative Code Rules, Title 19, Part 7, Chapter 228, rule 228.10, states that the “approval of an EPP by the SBEC, including each specific certificate class and category, is contingent upon approval by other lawfully established governing bodies such as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, boards of regents, or school district boards of trustees.” Institutions of higher education requesting approval to offer a new educator certificate must submit a request for a THECB approval letter through the submission portal. The THECB approval letter may be presented to SBEC to satisfy its educator preparation program approval requirements.
Please note: The THECB approval letter in no way guarantees an educator preparation program or proposed teacher certification program will be approved by the SBEC.
All educator certificate programs must be approved by the SBEC, and questions about that approval process should be directed to the Division of Educator Standards at the Texas Education Agency.