Letter of Agreement – WCACP:

Please read the following statements carefully:

  • I understand my application for WCACP will remain active for 6 months (from the application submission date). If I have not been accepted to WCACP by the end of the six month period, I will need to reapply and submit updated paperwork to be considered for admission to the program.
     
  • Once accepted to WCACP, I will have six weeks to process my curriculum access fee payment to start the online program. After six weeks, I must reapply and submit updated paperwork to be considered for admission to the program.
     
  • I understand that under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (“FERPA” 20 USC 123g; 34 CFR §99; commonly known as the “Buckley Amendment”) no disclosure of my records can be made without my written consent unless otherwise provided for in legal statutes and judicial decisions. I also understand that I may revoke this consent at any time (via written request to WCACP) except to the extent that action has already been taken upon this release.
     
  • I certify that all statements made in this application are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any false statements or omissions made on my application are grounds for dismissal from the program.
     
  • I understand that I will be subject to a criminal background check prior to employment as an educator in the classroom. This applies to a teaching internship, clinical teaching assignment, or in-class observations completed in a school.
     
  • I understand that my conferred Bachelor’s degree must be from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning or permissible national accrediting agency. This is a requirement to become a certified teacher in the state of Texas.
     
  • I understand that all official transcripts from universities/colleges attended must be reviewed by Program Directors before entry into the program can be confirmed.
     
  • I understand that if my name changes during the course of the program, a scanned copy of my updated driver’s license confirming the name change should be emailed to your assigned program specialist.
     
  • I agree to complete all online training modules and assessments on my own, without the assistance of other individuals
     
  • If my application for WCACP is denied by the Application Review Committee, I will be required to re-apply no sooner than 90 days from the initial application to be considered for program acceptance. If I decide to re-apply to WCACP, no guarantees are made of acceptance to the program.
     
  • TEA Approval - You agree to allow WCACP staff to review any records on the TEA website for verification of any previous testing, certificates held or previous enrollment in another teacher certification program.
     
  • Technology Fee - The program is now responsible to collect a $35 technology fee per candidate who are admitted on or after 3/15/17. The technology fee collected is paid to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) so the state can upgrade their website/database. A payment link will be provided in the My WCACP portal and the $35 tech fee must be paid within 90 days from the date of acceptance to the program.

    Candidates who are admitted on or after 3/15/2017 will be required to pay the program the new $35 Technology Fee. TAC 229.9 in state law code


Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation

(1) pursuant to the Texas Education Code (TEC), §22.083, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator; and

(2) pursuant to the TEC, §22.0835, candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching.

Potential impact of criminal convictions on becoming certified: (19 TAC 249.15)

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/sbecrules/tac/chapter249/ch249b.html#249.15

Rules regarding specific criminal offenses: (19 TAC 249.16)

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/sbecrules/tac/chapter249/ch249b.html#249.16

How a criminal history may impact my eligibility for the classroom and how to check with the state to see if a problem exists that would prevent certification: