Dear Chief Academic Officer,

Welcome to this month’s update curated for district Chief Academic Officers. As always, please feel free to reach out with ideas and questions, either to me or to the points of contact in the content below. I look forward to connecting with you.

Penny Schwinn
Chief Deputy Commissioner, Office of Academics

Draft Pilot IMQE Rubric

The goal of the Instructional Materials Quality Evaluation (IMQE) pilot is to provide LEAs with free, transparent, and user-friendly information about the quality of instructional materials. Review teams consisting of Texas educators will use a Texas-specific rubric to evaluate the quality of materials and write comprehensive reviews. The rubric will serve as the backbone of the review process, so it is crucial that TEA receive input from Texas educators to ensure the rubric will provide helpful information. There are two ways to share feedback on the draft version: 1) use the feedback form (linked below); and 2) share feedback on an upcoming webinar. The deadline for feedback is November 15. 

Submit Feedback

College and Career Ready School Models

Campuses are invited to apply for planning year designation for College and Career Readiness School Models (CCRSM) to receive specialized technical assistance. The Texas CCRSM Network is a network of Early College High Schools (ECHS), Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (T-STEM) Academies, Industry Cluster Innovative Academies (ICIA), and Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH). Applications for the planning year must be submitted online on or before 5:00 p.m. CST on November 16.

Apply Here

Dyslexia and Related Disorders Reporting Study

TEA seeks to understand the reporting procedures used by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools regarding the dyslexia indicator in the Texas Student Data System (TSDS) Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). To do so, TEA has contracted with American Institutes for Research (AIR) to conduct a study investigating the processes and procedures currently used by school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and their campuses to identify and report students with dyslexia and other related disorders. Beginning on October 15, 2018, AIR will survey districts and charter schools via an online survey.

Read the TAA

Changes to the Texas Assessment Program

Please read the Student Assessment correspondence sent on September 28, 2018 that provides information about important changes to the Texas Assessment Program for the 2018–2019 school year.

Read the Email

Read past bulletins at our Chief Academic Officer Bulletin Archive.

Opportunities for Texas Educators

See below for opportunities where your teachers can expand their impact beyond the classroom.

Instructional Materials Quality Evaluation Reviewers

Safal, in partnership with TEA, is seeking Texas educators to participate in the Instructional Materials Quality Evaluation (IMQE) pilot by becoming a reviewer of instructional materials. As part of this select group, reviewers will have the opportunity to broaden their impact, work with a talented group of peers in a supportive environment, and receive continuing professional education (CPE) credit and a stipend. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis; however, positions are expected to be filled by November 16.

Apply Here

Proclamation 2020 State Review Panel 

TEA needs volunteers to review English language arts and reading instructional materials for high school courses and English as a second language instructional materials for middle and high school courses. Teachers, administrators, parents, business community members, and others with appropriate content knowledge are all welcome. After entering the required information on the online form, select Instructional Materials TEKS Review Panel in the Committee Preference section.

Apply Here

Educator Certification Examination Development 

TEA is seeking Texas educators who wish to participate in exam development activities for the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program. 

Apply Here

The Texas Education Agency will improve outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.