Texas Reading Academies

Participants in the 2021-2022 Reading Academies Cohorts are busy completing their courses. The July 2021 cohorts close on July 17th at 11:59pm. Close out information has been sent out to those districts. If you have any additional questions, please let me know. The 2022-2023 June cohorts opened on June 13th. Many participants have already gotten started and working through the content. July cohorts will open on July 11th at www.tealearn.com.

The Suggested Pacing Guides for the 2022-2023 cohorts are shared with partipants during registration and then again inside their course. This pacing expectation will also be a part of your monthly module progression report.

In a continuing effort to streamline seat time for learners, TEA has decided to consolidate the Module 3 content and share it in an updated Participant Notebook. This will allow your learners to have access to the resource but will further align the overall time requirement for the Reading Academies with the projection of 60 hours. All courses have been updated to reflect this change. When you go to Module 3: Establishing a Literacy Community in your Canvas course, you will notice that the module now consists of the overview page with a brief summary of literacy communities and the Participant Notebook. Learners may review the Participant Notebook when they get to Module 3 or at any time during their Reading Academies course.

In the past, participants have automatically had access to their course for up to a year to download resources, lessons, etc. However, moving forward, learners will not automatically have access to these resources unless they opt-in to the new alumni course being offered. To gain access, participants will need to request access through the ALUMNI COURSE FORM. The access term will run from September 1, 2022, to August 31, 2023.

Each month, you will receive a module progression report. This report shares which module your participants have completed and which modules they are currently working in. However, if a participant need to resubmit a discussion post, retake a CFU, or resubmit an artifact, it is not listed here. If you would like a more detailed report for a particular participant, please let me know.

Upon review of the HB3 language, the clarification has been provided by TEA that only K-3 teachers (general and special education only) and principals are required to complete the Texas Reading Academies. However, it is a local decision if LEAs would like to require additional staff to participate. See the graphic below. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Districts that wish to request a waiver of Texas Reading Academies for mathematics teachers who have passed the STR exam can do so through this application. Districts will need to provide basic information in the application, a screenshot showing the teacher's STR certification, and an assurance that the teacher will only teach mathematics in the 2022-23 school year.

Teachers who have passed the STR exam will still need to attend Reading Academies. However, TEA is working on a seperate STR Certified Pathway. Details on this pathway are still being worked out. TEA suggest that the STR teachers postpone starting academies until more information is released.

TEA recognized that there are participants that already possess the knowledge and expertise regarding the science of teaching reading. Therefore, they will be offering an option for participants to show this proficiency. This will be offered in the fall. Once TEA releases additional information, I will send it out.

See the latest information below from TEA in regard to HB 1525.

If a participant will be out on on FMLA or leave, please let me know so I can adjust my metrics for the time they are out. They will still have to complete Reading Academies during the 11 months; however, it helps us to know why someone may not be working through the modules.

Please see the information below that outlines support for participants that need additional time to complete Reading Acadmies. If you have a participant that meets this need, please reach out to me and I can discuss all options that are available and our next steps.

Here are some additional opportunities from Region 13!!

• Small Group Reading Instruction 101 Workshop ID: FA2146753 In this self-paced, online learning course, you will build foundational knowledge and skills needed to conduct a small group reading group/lesson effectively whether in person or virtually.
• TXRA Make and Take Workshop: This Make and Take in person workshop will provide teachers with hands-on lessons and activities that are directly in alignment with the HB3 Reading Academies and TEKS that will support all learners. We had a great turn out in June. We will be bringing this back in the Fall. Watch for updates!!! We are also offering the opportunity of bringing the PD to you. If this is something that you would be interested in, please reach out to me. beckyschneider@esc13.txed.net

If you missed a newsletter, visit : https://www.smore.com/u/texasreadingacademies

Becky Schneider

Program Lead for Texas Reading Academies

Email: becky.schneider@esc13.txed.net
Website: https://esc13.net/services/texas-reading-academies
Location: Education Service Center Region 13, Springdale Road, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-470-1822