Emergency Permit Information

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released an updated Emergency Permits Guide for Districts to help districts successfully navigate the online permit process.

The guide includes rules and best practices for district personnel and outlines the steps to submit emergency permit applications through the Educator Certification Online System (ECOS).  School district personnel must have a Texas Education Agency Login (TEAL) account to apply for emergency permits. Information about TEAL and ECOS can be found on the TEA webpage TEAL and ECOS Resources.

Emergency permits can only be requested by a school district for a vacant position that can’t currently be filled with an appropriately Texas certified educator. Candidates may already be certified, serving in an assignment for which they aren’t certified, and registered for the next available exam, or enrolled in an Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and have a certification/deficiency plan from the EPP. See pages 6-8 of the guide for specific assignment requirements.

EPP Candidates

Special steps must be taken for a candidate currently enrolled in an EPP as the emergency permit doesn’t count towards the program requirements. Some of the most challenging steps the district must take include:

• Verify on the emergency permit application that the district has obtained a certification/deficiency plan from the EPP (including alternative certification programs (ACPs);
• Confirm a conversation occurred with the candidate and the EPP by including the name of the advisor with whom the district spoke (see page 17 in the guide) along with a description of the conversation; and
• Use the hardship option if the candidate doesn’t meet the requirements for the assignment.

For more information on the topic, check out the School District Personnel Certification Information on the TEA website, and the HRX article Teacher Certification: Part 3 – Emergency Permits.