According to Texas HB 1130, passed in 2001, an educational aide may apply to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to be a part of their “Educational Aide Exemption Program.” Once approved by THECB, the university may exempt students from participating in student teaching. At the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), this means the Internships I and II experience. Any educational aide participating in the THECB’s program seeking a teaching certificate at UHCL who wants an exemption from Internships I and II must complete the form, “THECB Educational Aide Exemption Program Internship I and II Waiver.”
THECB Requirements of the Students
Students must have served for at least one year as an educational aide during the five years preceding the start date of the semester they are being exempted from tuition, certain fees and Internships I and II.
Students must have been accepted into THECB exemption program for at least one semester within the five years prior to the start of the semester in which they would have taken Internship I.
As required by Texas Senate Bill 9, students will be required to submit to a criminal background check conducted by the district upon acceptance into and prior to beginning TCED 4737 (THECB Aide Project). In order for the criminal background check to be conducted, each student must provide all required documentation, including his/her social security number and his/her driver’s license number. If a student does not have a driver’s license, the state identification number must be provided.
UHCL Requirements of THECB Aide Project Students to Waive Internships I and II
Students must sign the waiver and submit it to B1231 BEFORE enrolling in the final year of their degree plan. Students must have a UHCL undergraduate degree plan on file which includes seeking teacher certification. Students must attach a Verification of Experience form verifying at least one year of the education aide experience within the specified time guidelines. Students must also attach a copy of the THECB letter of acceptance into the aide exemption program.
Students must be undergraduates at the time the waiver is signed. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree or higher before signing the waiver are not eligible for this program.
• Students must complete an additional 12 semester credit hours of advised UHCL course work to replace Internships I and II. These grades will be calculated into the pedagogy course work, which requires a minimum 3.000 GPA. These 12 hours will include the following courses:
TCED 4737—THECB Aide Project. This three-hour, five-week course includes one week of observations and four weeks of teaching in the area and level of the certificate being pursued. This course is offered only in the first five-week summer session. The UHCL Director of the Center for Professional Development of Teachers (CPDT) will place the students. Students should attend an informational meeting, which is held in early September and February each year. Dates and times are posted on the bulletin board outside Suite B1231. The applications for TCED 4737 THECB Aide Project are due March 1 and are available at the informational meeting or by contacting the CPDT. Mailed forms must be postmarked by February 24. No faxes or late applications will be accepted. TCED 4737 requires co-enrollment in (or previous completion of a semester in) TCED 4010: Senior Seminar; prior admission to the Teacher Education Program and successful completion of MATH 3032 or MATH 3037 if required on the Candidate Plan of Study (CPS). TCED 4737 will replace Internship I and will require a grade of "B-" or better. Students may only have six hours or less of course work the long semester following TCED 4737. Academic Advising will conduct an audit to determine students’ eligibility for TCED 4737
TCED 4033—Creating Positive Learning Environments in EC-6 or TCED 4034—Creating Positive Learning Environments in 4-8 and 8-12. (Students with TCED 4033 or TCED 4034 already on their plan must substitute a different 3-hour course, approved by an academic adviser, as part of this 12-hour package).
