A new comprehensive reading initiative:Texas Readers

Since first taking office in 2016, I have worked to develop and establish a strategic plan that helps focus all our work at the Texas Education Agency on programs and initiatives that improve student outcomes statewide. All work at the agency is now centered around four strategic priorities. Building a foundation of reading and math is among the priorities – and for good reason. 

Reading will always be the foundation that determines success in the classroom for every child at every grade level. That’s why I am pleased to join Governor Greg Abbott in announcing a new comprehensive reading initiative for our state – Texas Readers. 

The Texas Readers initiative provides our teachers with needed educational supports to ensure our children will be equipped to read from the earliest grades through high school graduation and beyond. 

Texas Readers is composed of three major components – Parental and Public Awareness, High-Quality Professional Development Opportunities, and Innovative Classroom Tools. Each component includes resources designed to assist public elementary schools enhance their reading instruction by providing enriched teacher-development opportunities and additional innovative classroom tools.

In addition, the initiative will soon have a public awareness campaign, called Raising Texas Readers, which will focus on ways to build our children’s literacy and reading skills at home.

I am proud to say that, thanks to the work here at TEA and the support of the Governor, many of the Texas Readers components are already in the works or underway. Reading is the key to success in the classroom and in life. We must do all we can to ensure every child can become a strong reader and is poised for success no matter what they choose to do.

To learn more about the Texas Readers initiative and all its components, read the Governor’s news release at https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-greg-abbott-announces-texas-public-elementary-school-reading-initi. 

Commissioner Mike Morath
July 19, 2017