News About New Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 3 Certificate

The Texas Education Code 21.0489 requires the SBEC (State Board for Educator Certification) to add a certificate for Prekindergarten - Grade 3. However, we have not heard when the new exam will be offered. This new certification area will allow educators to show expertise in knowledge of early childhood education. However, this exam will NOTE BE REQUIRED to teach Pre-K thru Grade 3. The Core Subjects EC-6 exam will still allow educators to teach Pre-K thru 6th Grade. It is not yet clear if the new Pre-K thru Grade 3 exam by itself will allow people to teach those grades, or if this exam must be paired with the Core Subjects EC-6. The new certification area will not be available until January 2020. To see the law code, refer to Sec. 21.0489 at this site: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.21.htm