 The Division of College, Career, and Military Readiness and the Advanced Academics Team provide these updates and reminders that impact Advanced Academics courses, programs, assessments, services, and supports:
District and campus leaders are encouraged to attend this upcoming session on CCMR weighting implementation. The webinar will outline key milestones, clarify the timeline for future cohorts, and provide actionable planning guidance to support strong, forward‑looking decision‑making. Participation ensures alignment across teams and strengthens readiness efforts for the 2026–27 incoming freshman class and beyond.
Advanced Academics office hours are virtual technical assistance sessions offered by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) College, Career, and Military Preparation Division. These sessions support district and campus staff working in advanced academics and college readiness. Zoom registration is required.
AP Summer Institute (APSI) Registration Fee Grants Available
The College Board is offering participant grants for qualifying teachers who are new to an AP subject and plan to teach the AP course for the first time in the 2026–27 school year. The request form is open from March through June, or until all available grants have been awarded.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for an AP Summer Institute participant grant, teachers must:
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Be teaching an AP course for the first time in 2026–27
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Have not previously attended an APSI or received College Board funding for the same AP course
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Have not received professional learning funding from their school, district, or state for this purpose
What the Grant Covers
Participant grants may be used for College Board–endorsed AP Summer Institutes offered in the United States or internationally. Grants cover tuition only. Grants do not apply to the AP Annual Conference, Pre‑AP sessions, one‑day workshops, or other non‑APSI training.
Action Required: AP Fee Reduction Deadline – April 30
April 30, 2026, is the final deadline to indicate AP exam fee reduction status for eligible students in the College Board AP Registration and Ordering system.
AP Coordinators must confirm students’ AP exam fee reduction status in the AP Registration and Ordering (APRO) system by April 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. This step is required to ensure eligible students receive the AP exam fee reduction. Students not confirmed by the deadline may be charged with the full exam fee. Review records and submit updates before the deadline.
College Board Counselor Resources
The College Board Counselor Website provides free professional development and resources to support counselors in guiding students to college and career readiness.
The College Board Counselor Website features upcoming and on‑demand professional learning events, counselor toolkits, and advising resources. These materials support college advising, career exploration, assessment planning, and postsecondary transitions. Counselors are encouraged to explore the site to access current tools and stay informed on best practices.
International Baccalaureate: IBO Monthly Newsletter
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) has published a new monthly newsletter with key assessment deadlines, policy updates, and new programme resources across IB programmes.
The IBO Newsletter includes important reminders and updates for IB World Schools, including key assessment deadlines for the Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), and Career related Programme (CP). The newsletter also highlights policy updates, including information related to the revised Academic Integrity policy, as well as programme highlights and newly released resources to support implementation and student success.
IB coordinators and school leaders are encouraged to review the Newsletter to ensure timely planning, policy alignment, and awareness of current IB resources and expectations.
ACT: Create a MyACT Account for College and Career Planning
Students are encouraged to create a free MyACT Account to access ACT scores, manage test preparation, and send score reports to colleges at no additional cost.
A MyACT account allows students to access and review their ACT scores as soon as they are available, use personalized tools to plan and manage future test preparation, and support informed college and career decisions. Students can also send up to four free score reports to colleges or scholarship agencies, a benefit that can save up to $80 in additional reporting fees.
SAT Suite of Assessments: Student Preparation Resources
The College Board provides student preparation materials for SAT School Day, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 administrations. The SAT School Day Student Guide, PSAT 10 Student Guide, and PSAT 8/9 Student Guide build familiarity with test structure and expectations. The SAT Suite Practice Quick Start Guide supports student practice in the digital testing platform. These resources help reduce test day uncertainty and strengthen college and career readiness.
TSIA2: Supporting Student Score Access and Preparation
The TSIA2 Student Portal allows students to view, print, and share their TSIA2 score reports following testing. Campus staff can support students by ensuring they know how to access their results now and after graduation. The portal also provides free preparation resources, including practice tests, targeted learning tools, and tutorials aligned to student performance. Educators are encouraged to direct students who plan to retest these resources to support skill development and readiness for college level coursework.
Grant Compliance and Administration: Statewide Training Series
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) Department of Grants Compliance and Administration (GCA) offers ongoing guidance and support to educators, local education agencies (LEAs), and education service centers through its Statewide Training Series.
The March 23, 2026, Grant Compliance and Administration Newsletter announced the Statewide Training Series webpage, which provides up-to-date information on upcoming federal fund training webinars, including session dates, times, and registration details. These trainings are delivered virtually at no cost and facilitated by program directors within the Federal Program Compliance Division. Recordings and materials are posted to the webpage after each session, when available.
Additional Information and Support
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For programmatic questions related to federal grant compliance, contact the Federal Program Compliance Division at ESSAsupport@TEA.Texas.gov.
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For questions or assistance with training registration, contact the Statewide Title I, Part A Capacity Building Initiative at Education Service Center, Region 14 at t1si@esc14.net.
If you are not already subscribed to the TEA Grant Compliance Newsletter, stakeholders are encouraged to sign up to receive timely updates and announcements.
2025 TEA Annual Report Now Available
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has published the 2025 TEA Annual Report, providing a clear overview of the current state of public education in Texas.
The Texas Education Agency’s intent is to shine light on our commitment to ensuring that every one of the more than five million public school students in Texas is prepared for success in college, a career or the military. The full report and Pocket Edition are available on TEA’s website.
TEA Webinar Recording Available: State Accountability Tools
The Leveraging Accountability Tools: Empowering Success with Data webinar provides an in-depth overview of TEA accountability tools designed to support districts and campuses in understanding accountability systems, analyzing performance data, setting goals, and monitoring progress throughout the year. The session includes a structured walkthrough of TEA‑developed tools and trackers, with explanations of their purpose and guidance on year-round applications to support continuous improvement.
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