The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1. (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. (2) 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.
3. (3) 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 certified classroom teacher.
4. (4) Candidate--An individual who has been formally or contingently admitted into an educator preparation program (EPP) who has not yet completed or exited the EPP.
5. (5) Certification category--A certificate type within a certification class, as described in Chapter 233 of this title (relating to Categories of Classroom Teaching Certificates).
6. (6) 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.
7. (7) Clinical experience--An assignment, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions).
8. (8) Clinical teaching--An assignment, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions).
9. (9) 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.
10. (10) 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).
11. (11) Content Pedagogy Test--Examination listed in the column labeled "Required Content Pedagogy Test(s)" in Figure: 19 TAC §230.21(e).
12. (12) Cooperating teacher--An individual, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), who supports a candidate during a candidate's clinical teaching experience.
13. (13) Demographic group--Male and female, as to gender; and African American, Hispanic, White, and Other, as to race and ethnicity.
14. (14) 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.
15. (15) Educator preparation program data--Data reported to meet requirements under the Texas Education Code, §21.045(b) and §21.0452.
16. (16) 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.
17. (17) 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.
18. (18) 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.
19. (19) Internship--An assignment, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions).
20. (20) Mentor--An individual, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), who supports a candidate during a candidate's internship experience.
21. (21) Pedagogy Test--Examination listed in the column labeled "Pedagogical Requirement(s)" in Figure: 19 TAC §230.21(e).
22. (22) Practicum--An assignment, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions).
23. (23) Reporting Year--September 1 through August 31.
24. (24) Residency--A supervised educator assignment, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions).
25. (25) Site supervisor--An individual, as described in §228.2 of this title (relating to Definitions), who supports a candidate during a candidate's practicum experience.
26. (26) 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; amended to be effective January 7, 2025, 50 TexReg 146; amended to be effective January 5, 2026, 51 TexReg 127.