Spanish Curriculum Standards Newsletter, January 2025

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Texas Education Agency

January 2025

Spanish Curriculum Standards

Curriculum Standards & Student Support

Spanish Curriculum Standards Newsletter


Thank you for subscribing to the TEA Spanish curriculum standards newsletter.

Today's newsletter provides information related to the following topics:

  • March Reading Language Arts (RLA) and Social Studies Stakeholder Engagement Sessions
    • Topic: K-5 Cross-Curricular Connections for Social Studies and English Language Arts and Reading
    • Dates: March 5 and 6
  • 2025-2027 Interactive Online Learning Grant, Cycle 2 
  • Texas Virtual School Network: Need Help Meeting a Student’s Course Needs?
  • Upcoming Innovative Course Application Cycle
  • Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA)


March Reading Language Arts and Social Studies Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

Topic: K-5 Cross-Curricular Connections for Social Studies and English Language Arts and Reading

Target Audience: Reading Language Arts and Social Studies Stakeholders- Teachers, District Administrators, Campus Administrators, Education Service Center Specialists, Parents, Professional Organizations

Session Description: The TEA reading language arts and social studies team will share research regarding the importance of knowledge building and the impact it has on literacy. The team will then provide an overview of a cross-curricular connections tool developed by TEA staff for grades K-5. The team will explain the different parts of this tool and share how this tool supports cross-curricular instructional planning. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to participate in questions and discussion with members of the TEA social studies and English language arts team.

Date and Times:

Wednesday, March 5, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. March 5 Registration Link

Thursday. March 6, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. March 6 Registration Link


2025-2027 Interactive Online Learning Grant, Cycle 2 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is providing a competitive grant opportunity to award funding to support the implementation of an effective cross-curricular interactive online learning model(s) in middle school and/or high school for instruction in English language arts and U.S. history and/or Texas history. All school districts and open enrollment charter schools are eligible to apply for funding to support the implementation of an interactive online learning model(s) in the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The 2025-2027 Interactive Online Learning Grant, Cycle 2 application is available on the TEA Grants Opportunities web page.

Key Dates

Date

Timeline Events

January 6, 2025

IDC application available in eGrants

January 15, 2025

Last day to submit FAQs to TEA contact person

February 5, 2025

IDC application due by 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) via eGrants

March 14, 2025

Anticipated award announcement

March 14, 2025

Beginning date of grant (if selected for funding)

August 1, 2026

Status report due

February 1, 2027

Final report due

April 30, 2027

Ending date of grant (if selected for funding)

 

Program Contact

If you have any questions, please email Eric Fredrickson at eric.fredrickson@tea.texas.gov. All questions received will be answered through a separate frequently asked questions document and posted to the TEA Grants Opportunities web page on January 24, 2025.


Texas Virtual School Network: Need Help Meeting a Student’s Course Needs? 

TXVSN

The Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) can help meet students’ needs through TEA-approved online courses. The TXVSN statewide course catalog provides English language arts courses that may meet a student's graduation requirement.

The TXVSN courses are aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and taught by Texas-certified teachers trained in best practices in online instruction. Schools can use the TXVSN courses to create flexibility in a student’s schedule, allow a student to accelerate their learning, or address local teacher shortages. Students enrolled in a TXVSN course can generate funding regardless of whether the student is physically present at school while participating in the course. For more information about the courses offered through the TXVSN, please visit the TXVSN website or contact the TXVSN Help Desk


Upcoming Innovative Course Application Cycle

The next available opportunity for stakeholders to submit new and renewal innovative course applications is coming soon. Innovative course applications that are considered and approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) for this upcoming cycle will be made available for districts and open-enrollment charters for the 2026-2027 school year. Some important dates include the following:

Date

Milestone

January 17, 2025

Information regarding innovative courses and renewals is made available on the TEA innovative courses webpage.

February 24, 2025

Application window is open for the 2026-2027 cycle. Applicants may begin to submit materials.

September 12, 2025

Application deadline—New innovative course and renewal applications are due. 

Stakeholders can learn more about innovative courses and the upcoming application cycle on the TEA innovative courses webpage.


Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA)

TEA is seeking educators and subject-matter experts across Texas to serve as instructional materials reviewers for the 2025 IMRA review process.

As part of this selective group, IMRA reviewers make a significant impact on Texas public education while working with a collaborative group of dedicated educators from across the state. Reviewers will work in small teams to conduct quality reviews and collaborate with other educators to produce ratings and reports for assigned reading language arts, phonics, and mathematics products. IMRA reviewers are provided a competitive stipend and continuing professional education (CPE) credits for their contributions to this statewide initiative.

To learn more about the IMRA process, visit the IMRA web page.

For questions regarding IMRA, please submit an Instructional Materials Help Desk Ticket.


Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.

Reading Language Arts Team
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
(512) 463-9581

For questions or additional information, please visit the Spanish language support webpage or submit a Curriculum Request Form through the TEA Help Desk.

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