The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.     
       (1) Academic year--If not referring to the academic year of a particular public, private, or charter school or institution of higher education, September 1 through August 31.      
       (2) Accredited institution of higher education--An institution of higher education that, at the time it conferred the degree, was accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.      
       (3) ACT®--The college entrance examination from ACT®.      
       (4) Administrator--For purposes of the surveys and information required by this chapter, an educator whose certification would entitle him or her to be assigned as a principal or assistant principal in Texas, whether or not he or she is currently working in such an assignment.      
       (5) Beginning teacher--For purposes of the Texas Education Code, §21.045(a)(3), and its implementation in this chapter, a classroom teacher with fewer than three years of experience as a classroom teacher.      
       (6) Candidate--An individual who has been formally or contingently admitted into an educator preparation program; also referred to as a participant.      
       (7) Certification category--A certificate type within a certification class, as described in Chapter 233 of this title (relating to Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates).      
       (8) Certification class--A certificate, as described in §230.33 of this title (relating to Classes of Certificates), that has defined characteristics; may contain one or more certification categories, as described in Chapter 233 of this title.      
       (9) Clinical teaching--An assignment, as described in §228.35 of this title (relating to Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training).      
       (10) Completer--A person who has met all the requirements of an approved educator preparation program. In applying this definition, the fact that a person has or has not been recommended for a standard certificate or passed a certification examination shall not be used as criteria for determining who is a completer.      
       (11) Consecutively measured years--Consecutive years for which a group's performance is measured, excluding years in which the small group exception applies, in accordance with §229.4(c) of this title (relating to Determination of Accreditation Status).      
       (12) Content Pedagogy Test--Examination listed in the column labeled "Required Content Pedagogy Test(s)" in Figure 19 TAC §230.21(e).      
       (13) Cooperating teacher--An individual, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), who guides, assists, and supports a candidate during a candidate's clinical teaching assignment.      
       (14) Demographic group--Male and female, as to gender; and African American, Hispanic, White, and Other, as to race and ethnicity.      
       (15) Educator preparation program--An entity approved by the State Board for Educator Certification to recommend candidates in one or more educator certification classes or categories.      
       (16) Educator preparation program data--Data reported to meet requirements under the Texas Education Code, §21.045(b) and §21.0452.      
       (17) Examination--An examination or other test required by statute or any other State Board for Educator Certification rule codified in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 7, that governs an individual's admission to an educator preparation program, certification as an educator, continuation as an educator, or advancement as an educator.      
       (18) Field supervisor--An individual, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), who is hired by an educator preparation program to observe candidates, monitor their performance, and provide constructive feedback to improve their effectiveness as educators.      
       (19) First-year teacher--For purposes of the Texas Education Code, §21.045(a) (2), and its implementation in this chapter, an individual in his or her first year of employment as a classroom teacher.      
       (20) GPA--Grade point average.      
       (21) GRE®--Graduate Record Examinations®.      
       (22) Higher Education Act--Federal legislation consisting of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 United States Code, §1070 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments, which requires reports of educator preparation program performance data.      
       (23) Incoming class--Individuals contingently or formally admitted between September 1 and August 31 of each year by an educator preparation program.      
       (24) Internship--An assignment, as described in §228.35 of this title (relating to Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training).      
       (25) Mentor--An individual, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), who guides, assists, and supports a candidate during a candidate's internship assignment.      
       (26) New teacher--For purposes of the Texas Education Code, §21.045(a)(5), and its implementation in this chapter, an individual in his or her first year of employment as a classroom teacher under a standard certificate.      
       (27) Pedagogy Test--Examination listed in the column labeled "Pedagogical Requirement(s)" in Figure: 19 TAC §230.21(e).      
       (28) Practicum--An assignment, as described in §228.35 of this title (relating to Preparation Program Coursework and/or Training).      
       (29) SAT®--The college entrance examination from the College Board.      
       (30) Site supervisor--An individual, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), who guides, assists, and supports a candidate during a candidate's practicum assignment.      
       (31) Texas Education Agency staff--Staff of the Texas Education Agency assigned by the commissioner of education to perform the State Board for Educator Certification's administrative functions and services.      
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §229.2 adopted to be effective April 18, 2010, 35 TexReg 2849; amended to be effective October 26, 2014, 39 TexReg 8395; amended to be effective December 27, 2016, 41 TexReg 10302; amended to be effective December 22, 2019, 44 TexReg 7689; amended to be effective December 29, 2022, 47 TexReg 8662