November Newsletter
High-Quality Prekindergarten
Teacher Qualifications
The high-quality prekindergarten (HQPK) teacher qualification component aims to elevate the prekindergarten teaching profession in Texas by ensuring that teachers have the qualifications needed to effectively support the developmental growth and achievement of Texas’ youngest learners. This component focuses on appropriately certified teachers who have an additional qualification that is early-childhood specific. The Early Childhood Division will be hosting a webinar to include:
- NEW INFORMATION: Updates enacted by House Bill (HB) 2729, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 that impact the HQPK-teacher qualification requirement.
- NEW INFORMATION: Review of High-Quality Prekindergarten (HQPK) Early Childhood Data Systems (ECDS) 2023-24 coding requirements.
- Stakeholder breakout session to gather feedback to support professional development and coaching in early childhood education programs.
High-Quality Prekindergarten- Teacher Qualifications Webinar
Audience: Early Childhood Administrators, Teachers, and PEIMS personnel
Date: December 5, 2023
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqf-yurzojE9ymOjd3IEq3KzgNjSkveB8b
Professional Development
The Texas Education Agency actively supports early childhood educators in meeting high-quality prekindergarten components, including options to meet professional development hours. To access a comprehensive list of vetted TEA professional development options, visit the ECE Resources page and use the links under the “Professional Development” section. In addition, you can find more information on the TECPDS website about webinars, professional development trainings, and resources to support early childhood educators in Texas!
Curriculum-Instructional Materials
The Substitutions and Content Updates webpage now includes update requests from EDUSPARK to update content in EDUSPARK PreK System (English and Spanish), and from Children's Learning Institute at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to update content in CIRCLE Pre-K Curriculum: Spanish Edition, adopted under Proclamation 2021.
The public is invited to review and comment on the proposed content changes. Please submit an Instructional Materials Help Desk ticket if you need assistance.
Open Education Resources (OER)- TEACHING STRATEGIES
As a reminder, access to Teaching Strategies’ digital platform will end in November 2023. As part of contingency planning for the disruptions of COVID, TEA acquired temporary, statewide licenses for the Creative Curriculum® for Texas by Teaching Strategies, and it has been freely available for Texas schools as part of the state’s emergency response. As part of the emergency procurement process, TEA conducted a limited review of the content for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) coverage and quality.
Should you wish to continue using the digital platform, please visit the Teaching Strategies website.
Family Engagement
The High-Quality Pre-K Family Engagement statute requirement is as follows: TEC §29.168 (a) A school district shall develop and implement a family engagement plan to assist the district in achieving and maintaining high levels of family involvement and positive family attitudes toward education.
Reminder: Ensure your HQPK Family Engagement Plan is available on your website by November 1st of each school year. If you need additional support, submit a ticket to the ECE Support Portal.
Texas Home Visiting (THV) Programs
Texas Home Visiting is a free, voluntary program through which early childhood and health professionals regularly visit the homes of families with children under 6 years of age. THV programs can offer an array of supports to families, including evidence-based early learning strategies to promote overall early development and school readiness, such as Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) and Parents as Teachers (PAT).
Learn more about your local Texas Home Visiting Programs using the following links:
https://www.hippytexas.org/
https://www.txpat.org/
The Early Childhood Education division will host an office hour highlighting the impacts of home visiting programs, how they promote school readiness, and how they support the LEAs’ family engagement efforts. Panelists from three Texas Home Visiting programs will share details on their programs and ways LEAs can partner.
Texas Home Visiting Office Hour Showcase
Audience: Early Childhood Administrators, Teachers, and Family Engagement Advocates
Date: December 7, 2023
Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwqcemvpzkoHNJDjcb3U0hOF4bDbjkcnxT2
Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines
In the early childhood years, children gain a multitude of knowledge and skills related to all areas of development and learning. Understanding the progression across the early childhood continuum allows teachers, administrators, and families to offer the supports needed to foster optimal development and learning. In Texas, there are three sets of standards that cover the knowledge, skills, and behaviors across the early childhood years. They include the Texas Early Learning Guidelines for Infants, Toddlers, and Three-Year-Olds, the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. You can find vertical alignment across all three resources on the following webpage Vertical Alignments | Texas Education Agency.
Instructional Resources
In partnership with families, schools, and communities, the Early Childhood Education Division at the Texas Education Agency provides best practices guidance, resources, and support that are aligned to effective early learning opportunities. The Best Practices in ECE guides provide support for educators in the field by covering topics such as developmentally appropriate practices, research-based practices and effective learning environments. You can find the Best Practices in ECE guide webinar recordings on our ECE Resources page.
The ECE division would like to ask for your valuable feedback regarding all Texas Prekindergarten Guideline and Best Practices in ECE webpage resources. You may find the survey link here.
In addition, our upcoming office hours to support implementation of the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and Best Practices in ECE will occur as follows:
Date: December 6, 2023
Time: 4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIscu2vqD0tG9J-cRUFK50-Bxskle3qxVPP
T-TESS for ECE
The Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) is a system designed to support teachers in their professional growth. The T-TESS Instructional Leadership Tool for Early Childhood Educators is now available on the Teach for Texas website. You can find more information on our T-TESS Resources for ECE Administrators and Educators | Texas Education Agency webpage.
Quarterly Prekindergarten Program Webinars
The next round of Prekindergarten Program Webinars will be offered in January and February 2024.
Prekindergarten Registration and Enrollment Webinar
January 17, 2024, 1:30-3:00pm, CST. Registration is limited.
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwoc-GrrDgiGNXBBas6UHTutWYQsFtZO38b
Prekindergarten 3 Webinar
February 1, 2024, 3:30-4:30pm, CST. Registration is limited.
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAkcuqvpj0sHd0URVAumG82gcqRsnD8lwRJ
Prekindergarten Enrollment Toolkit Webinar
February 15, 2024, 3:30-4:30pm, CST.
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIkfuitrjosEtcmXDRwpq93fcngmcKeYclb
Early Childhood Data System
Attention local education agencies (LEA): The window for submitting data to the Early Childhood Data System (ECDS) application opens November 13th. We strongly encourage entering kindergarten and prekindergarten data as soon as the window opens to allow sufficient time to resolve any potential data issues.
For kindergarten, begin inputting beginning of year (BOY) reading instrument data from one of the two commissioner-approved reading instruments (TX-KEA or mCLASS).
For prekindergarten, begin entering all student data gathered, including BOY progress monitoring results. Suggestion: Chip away at pre-K reporting throughout the year rather than waiting until year end.
LEAs can seek training and support from their regional education service centers (ESCs) or assessment vendors. ESC staff members, trained in TSDS and data loading, can aid throughout the process.
The TEA Early Childhood Education Division will hold the following office hours to support ECDS submission needs:
For additional information on ECDS requirements, view the ECDS Submission Guidance video or visit the Early Childhood Data System (ECDS) for Kindergarten Data, Public Prekindergarten, and Private Prekindergarten Providers To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) letter.
Vendor-Specific ECDS Resources:
Amplify:
Children’s Learning Institute:
Early Learning Instruments
Early Reading Indicator Code Guidance
The Early Reading Indicator (ERI) code helps districts determine reading instruction needs for students. ERI codes are reported to the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) twice per year.
For the upcoming December 7th submission: report the ERI code based on the Beginning of Year reading instrument assessment results. While ERI codes should reflect data from the administered reading instrument, districts have flexibility to also consider formative assessment data collected by teachers. This allows districts to analyze multiple data points to inform instructional actions.
Early Reading Indicator (ERI) Code Resources:
Dyslexia Screening
The Texas Education Code (TEC) §38.003 mandates that districts perform universal dyslexia screening for kindergarten students by the end of the year and grade 1 students by January 31st. The updated Dyslexia Handbook provides current screening criteria. The criteria for English and Spanish screening instruments are as follows:
Kindergarten - Screened by End of Year
- Letter Sound Knowledge or Letter Naming Fluency
- Phonological Awareness
Grade 1 - Screened by January 31st
- Word Reading Accuracy or Fluency
- Phonological Awareness
The Commissioner's approved reading instruments that meet the requirement of TEC §28.006 (Early Reading Diagnosis) already include aligned dyslexia screening elements. These free tools meet TEC §38.003 requirements. Districts should ensure planned dyslexia screening instruments meet the revised criteria.
Connecting with Families after Beginning-of-Year (BOY) Assessments
The BOY instrument administration window is wrapping up across the state! With that in mind, it is important to remember to inform families.
According to Section 28.006 of the Texas Education Code, districts shall:
- Report students' results on BOY reading instruments to parents/guardians in writing within 60 calendar days of administration. This applies to state-approved K-2 reading instruments administered at BOY. (TEC 28.006(d)(2))
- Make a good faith effort to ensure this notice is provided in person or by mail, is clear and easy to understand, and is written in English and the parent/guardian’s native language. (TEC 28.006(h))
- Notify parents/guardians if their child is determined to be at risk for dyslexia or other reading difficulties based on the reading instrument results. (TEC 28.006(g))
*NEW!* 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 Commissioner's List of Approved Prekindergarten Assessment Instruments
Starting in the 2024-2025 SY:
TEA has released a new Commissioner's List of Approved Prekindergarten Assessment Instruments for use during the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 school years in accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC) §29.169 and 28.006. This list replaces the previous 2017-2022 list posted above and will go into effect starting the 2024-2025 school year. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools should now select instruments from the updated 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 Commissioner's List of Approved Prekindergarten Assessment Instruments when planning for the school year 2024-2025 and beyond.
Request for Information (RFI) Regarding Reading Interventions and Dyslexia Instruction Posted
2024 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST): Great Teachers Wanted!!!
The 2023–2024 nomination and application windows for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) program are now open. Teachers who teach grades ranging from kindergarten to grade 6 mathematics and science are encouraged to sign up to apply. The PAEMST awards are the nation's highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Teachers may be nominated for the award or may apply themselves at www.paemst.org. If you know great teachers, encourage them to join this prestigious network of professionals. In Texas, eligible teachers who submit a completed application by the application deadline will receive 25 continuing professional education (CPE) hours.
For questions, contact Math and Science Team at tx_paemst@tea.texas.gov or 512-463-9581.
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