District Referral Program
Designed specifically for school districts needing to employ an uncertified applicant during the summer and fall months. The application for this program is now open for 2024. Apply with code b355t.
About the Program
The Region 13 District Referral Program (DRP) is a 2-year preparation program for all content areas and grade levels. This program is unique in that an applicant must be already in the process of being hired by a district or currently working for a district. Candidates will receive training and content preparation to be ready for their intern certificate in August 2025 while balancing the demands of a first-year teacher.
Districts can utilize any of the available hiring options when hiring a participant in the District Referral Program. Review our Certification Guide for these options.
Application Process
- Click here to complete the online application with code b355t, and pay the $100 application fee. Please note all application fees are non-refundable
- Submit ALL official transcripts to ecp@esc13.txed.net even if already submitted to your district. Unofficial copies can be used for a conditional pre-approval.
- If you do not meet the minimum credit hour and GPA requirements you will need to pass the Pre-Admission Content Test (PACT) for your certification area. You can register and find more information about the PACT here.
- If your degree is from a foreign institution, submit your Foreign Credential Reviewed Transcripts to ecp@esc13.txed.net
- Submit TOEFL if required. TOEFL scores are only valid for two years to ecp@esc13.txed.net
- Submit your offer of employment from the district to ecp@esc13.txed.net before October 1st, 2024. Conditional acceptance can be made without the offer of employment, but it must be received by 10/01/2024 to remain in DRP.
- Submit ALL official transcripts to ecp@esc13.txed.net even if already submitted to your district. Unofficial copies can be used for a conditional pre-approval.
- Allow up to three business days for review of application materials.
- Receive Notification of Offer from Region 13 ECP via email with Online Orientation information.
- Complete Orientation and accept an offer of admission from ECP by signing paperwork in Orientation.*
*Deficiency Plans cannot be sent to the district until all four steps have been completed.
Information Sessions and Schedule
To gain a better understanding of this program, watch these pre-recorded information sessions covering the DRP overview, timeline, and admission process. You can also download the DRP Schedule for 24-26.
Certification Options
Certification Options
View all the certification options available through ECP
Core Subjects
ESL Core Subjects
Bilingual Core Subjects
The Bilingual Core Subjects certification area allows participants demonstrating proficiency in Spanish to teach English language arts and Reading (ELAR), Spanish language arts and reading (SLAR), math, science, social studies, music, art, health, and physical education in Early Childhood through 6th grade in a bilingual environment.
Participants must demonstrate a near-native proficiency level in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in Spanish to qualify. Applicants must pass a bilingual screener to be conducted during the application process. If language proficiency is not determined applicants will be encouraged to pursue the ESL certification pathway.
Dual Certification
Middle Level
Secondary Level
All Level
SPED EC-12
Program Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
Candidates must have a degree earned from and conferred by an accredited institution of higher education.
Min 2.5 Grade Point Average
Official College Transcripts
Request your official transcripts be sent to the ECP office.
Offer of Employment
Applicants for this program must submit their offer of employment from a district.
Application
Complete our online application with all required documents.
Requirements
View your content area's specific certification requirements
Pricing
We offer an affordable fee schedule that is competitive with other programs. Program fees cover:
- Field experience training
- Pre-service and In-service training
- Test preparation
- Sustained support
- Flexible Schedule
Fee Breakdown
- Application Fee – $100
- Registration Fee – $125
- In-Service Fees
- Year 1: $2250 (payable in 9 monthly payments)
- Year 2: $4970 (payable in 9 monthly payments)
- $2,000 critical needs scholarship available (not yet applied to pricing)
Curriculum
Our certification program curriculum is aligned with Texas Education Agency standards and educational best practices. All curriculum is taught by certified staff and content area experts.
Training
About 2/3 of our classes are face-to-face and 1/3 of our classes are online. Participants employed by schools within the Region 13 service area, as well as those from schools within a 100-mile radius of Austin, attend their face-to-face classes at the Education Service Center Region 13 in Austin.
Starting in Phase III, statewide participants employed by school within a defined area surrounding each of the distance learning sites attend their face-to-face classes via video teleconference at the site designated for that area. Statewide is only available for Secondary and CTE certification areas.
Participants will be required to attend training that will continue to build on instruction learned during pre-service training.
- delivering engaging instruction
- integrating content specific strategies into lesson design
- developing and using student assessments
- understanding student diversity and instructional differentiation
- preparing for formal classroom observations
- preparing for TExES PPR exam
- preparing for TExES content exams
- implementing Marzano’s high yield strategies
- developing and using a variety of questioning strategies
- integrating the core principles from The Fundamental Five
Technology
- incorporating the effective use of current technology in instruction
- evaluating students’ technologically produced products and projects
- utilizing technology applications in problem-solving situations and project-based learning activities
- using developmentally appropriate instructional practices, activities, and materials to integrate the Technology Applications TEKS into the curriculum
- managing technology platforms to increase communication with student families on academic and behavior progress