The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, Chapter 232 of this title (relating to General Certification Provisions), and Chapter 233 of this title (relating to Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates), shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) 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.

(2) Appropriate--Suitable for a particular purpose. The term denotes compliance with State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules and with SBEC procedures and policies posted on the Texas Education Agency website that are related to the stated particular purpose.

(3) Candidate--An individual who has been formally or contingently admitted into an educator preparation program; also referred to as an enrollee or participant.

(4) Certificate--Any educator credential issued by the State Board for Educator Certification under the authority of the Texas Education Code, Chapter 21, Subchapter B.

(5) Certification class--A certificate, as described in §230.33 of this title (relating to Classes of Certificates), that has defined characteristics and includes the following: superintendent, principal, classroom teacher, school counselor, school librarian, educational diagnostician, reading specialist, and master teacher.

(6) Charter school--A Texas public school operated by a charter holder under an open-enrollment charter school granted either by the State Board of Education (SBOE) or commissioner of education, whichever is applicable, pursuant to Texas Education Code, §12.101, identified with its own county district number.

(7) Classroom teacher--An educator who is employed by a school or district and who, not less than an average of four hours each day, teaches in an academic instructional setting or a career and technical education instructional setting. This term does not include an educational aide or a full-time administrator.

(8) Content certification examination--A standardized test or assessment required by statute or State Board for Educator Certification rule that governs an individual's admission to an educator preparation program.

(9) Content pedagogy examinations--A standardized test or assessment required by statute or State Board for Educator Certification rule that governs an individual's certification as an educator.

(10) Continuing professional education--Professional development required for the renewal of standard and/or lifetime certificates that is designed to ensure improvement in both the performance of the educator and achievement of his or her students.

(11) Educator--An individual who is required to hold a certificate issued under the Texas Education Code, Chapter 21, Subchapter B.

(12) Educator preparation program--An entity approved by the State Board for Educator Certification to offer training and coursework that must adequately prepare candidates for educator certification and meet the standards and requirements of the board.

(13) Examination--A standardized test or assessment required by statute or State Board for Educator Certification rule that governs an individual's admission to an educator preparation program, certification as an educator, continuation as an educator, or advancement as an educator.

(14) Hearing impairment--As defined in the Texas Education Code, §21.048(d)(1), a hearing impairment so severe that the person cannot process linguistic information with or without amplification.

(15) Initial certification--The first Texas educator certificate for a particular class issued to an individual as specified in §230.33 of this title (relating to Classes of Certificates).

(16) Intern certificate--A type of certificate issued to a candidate who has passed all required content examinations and is completing requirements for certification through an approved educator preparation program.

(17) Pilot exam--A certification examination that is subject to review by the State Board for Educator Certification prior to September 1, 2022.

(18) Private school--A non-public school whose educational program has been evaluated by a regional accrediting agency and whose program has met and is maintaining certain educational standards.

(19) Probationary certificate--A type of certificate issued to a candidate who has passed all required examinations and is completing requirements for certification through an approved educator preparation program.

(20) Professional class--A term that refers to certificates for duties other than classroom teacher (e.g., superintendent, principal, school counselor, school librarian, educational diagnostician, reading specialist, and master teachers).

(21) Standard certificate--A type of certificate issued to an individual who has met all requirements for a given class of certification, as specified in §230.33 of this title (relating to Classes of Certificates).

(22) Teacher--An individual who is required to hold a certificate issued under the Texas Education Code, Chapter 21, Subchapter B.

(23) Teacher of record--An educator who is employed by a school or district and who teaches in an academic instructional setting or a career and technical instructional setting not less than an average of four hours each day and is responsible for evaluating student achievement and assigning grades.

(24) Teacher service record--The official document used to record years of service and days used and accumulated under the state's former minimum sick leave program or the state's current personal leave program.

(25) Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)--The Kindergarten-Grade 12 state curriculum in Texas adopted by the State Board of Education and used as the foundation of all state certification examinations.

(26) Texas school district--A school district accredited and approved by the Texas Education Agency under the Texas Education Code, Chapter 11.

Source Note: The provisions of this §230.1 adopted to be effective August 12, 2012, 37 TexReg 5753; amended to be effective December 27, 2016, 41 TexReg 10309; amended to be effective October 13, 2019, 44 TexReg 5767; amended to be effective May 20, 2021, 46 TexReg 3126