Complaint Procedure

In compliance with Texas Education Agency Requirements, we post the following:

The Educator Preparation Program at Howard Payne University (HPU) has the following process for compliance with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) procedure for complaints against the Program. This process is for current and former candidates, applicants, current and former employees, cooperating teachers, field supervisors, and administrators serving in schools where our students are placed for fieldbased experiences.

If a student has a complaint about a particular course or professor, the student should first contact the professor in an effort to resolve the concern. If the student does not find the resolution agreeable, the student should complete the Educator Preparation Complaint Form . The Dean will acknowledge the complaint in writing within five working days of receiving the complaint. After deliberation, a written response will be sent within fifteen working days. If the student does not find the resolution agreeable, the student may file a complaint following the Student Complaint Process outlined in the HPU Student Handbook.

If a local district partner or HPU partner has a complaint about a professor or student in our program, they should first contact the Field Experience Coordinator. If the partner does not find the resolution agreeable, he or she should complete the Educator Preparation Complaint Form . The Dean will acknowledge the complaint in writing within five working days of receiving the complaint. After deliberation, a written response will be sent within fifteen working days. If the resolution is not agreeable, the partner may file a complaint with TEA.

Any other complaint may be filed directly with the Educator Preparation Program by completing the Educator Preparation Complaint Form . The Dean will acknowledge the complaint in writing within five working days of receiving the complaint. After deliberation, a written response to the complaint will be sent within fifteen working days. If the individual does not find the resolution agreeable, a complaint may be filed with TEA.

HPU Educator Preparation Complaint Form: Form may be obtained from the Dean’s assistant, or by clicking here . The completed form may be submitted in writing to the Dean’s assistant or emailed directly to the Dean.

Link to TEA Complaint Process and Complaint Form: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/preparation-and-continuing-education/complaints-against-educator-preparation-programs .

These policies comply with the following TAC requirements: TAC §228.123. Educator Preparation Program Responsibilities for Candidate Complaints. (a) The educator preparation program (EPP) shall adopt and send to Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff, for inclusion in the EPP’s records, a complaint procedure that requires the EPP to timely attempt to resolve complaints at the EPP level before a complaint is filed with TEA staff.

TAC §228.121. Complaints and Investigations Procedures. (a) Purpose. An applicant for candidacy in an educator preparation program (EPP), an employee or former employee of an EPP, a cooperating teacher, a host teacher, a mentor, a site supervisor, or an administrator in a public or private school that serves as a site for clinical teaching, residency, internship, or practicum experiences may submit a complaint about an EPP for investigation and resolution.