1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Early Childhood Education
  4. Early Learning Assessments

Call for K–2 Reading Instruments

Purpose

Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.006(c) requires each school district to administer, at the kindergarten, first and second grade levels, a reading instrument on the list adopted by the commissioner or by the district-level committee.

TEC §28.006(b) requires the commissioner to adopt a list of reading instruments that a school district may use to diagnose student reading development and comprehension. For use in diagnosing the reading development and comprehension of kindergarten students, the commissioner must adopt a multidimensional assessment tool that includes a reading instrument and tests at least three developmental skills, including literacy. Each reading instrument adopted by the commissioner must be based on scientific research concerning reading skills development and reading comprehension.

The goal of the commissioner’s list is to ensure districts continue to have access to high-quality, standardized reading instruments aligned to current research on reading skills development and comprehension.

The purpose of this project is to conduct a competitive application process to identify a commissioner-approved alternative kindergarten reading instrument and to identify a list of grade 1 and grade 2 instruments. No funding is awarded to selected applicants. All guidelines and instructions for selected applicants will be incorporated by reference into the notice of authorization.

Scope of Project

Alternative Kindergarten Reading Instrument

The selection for the alternative kindergarten reading instrument is a competitive authorization process. Only one reading instrument vendor will be selected.

Approved Providers List of Reading Instruments for Grades 1 and 2

Reading instruments that meet the criteria outlined in the informational packet will be included on the commissioner’s list of reading instruments available for use in grades 1 and 2.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include reading instrument vendors, or entities able to demonstrate the capacity to offer local educational agencies (LEAs) a commissioner-approved reading instrument that meets the specified criteria.

Timeline

  • October 25, 2024 - Call for submissions posted and application available
  • November 8, 2024 - Notice of Intent to Apply (NOI) due. Failure to notify TEA of the intent to apply will not disqualify the applicant from applying. Submit the NOI through this form.
  • November 8, 2024 - Last date to submit questions to TEA. Submit questions through the ECE Support Portal and select “Call for Submissions”.
  • November 22, 2024 - Questions and Answers posted to the program webpage
  • December 12, 2024 - Due date for the application. Application must be received by TEA by 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time.
  • March 3, 2025 - Applicants are notified of decision and authorization notices are issued
  • March 14, 2025 - Public is informed of selected instruments
  • July 1, 2025 - Beginning date of authorization
  • August 30, 2028 - Ending date of authorization (if selected)

Application Information

  • Call for K–2 Reading Instruments Submissions Informational Packet 

    • Correction Notices: The "Call for K-2 Reading Instruments Submissions Informational Packet" attached to the Register Notice "Request for Student Reading Instruments, Kindergarten and Grades 1-2" published on October 25, 2024 contained a reference to a "minimum score to be considered section" which should be disregarded. Additionally, the application due date underneath the Where to Submit this Application section was incorrectly listed as November 22, 2024; the correct due date is December 12, 2024. This packet is the corrected version.

  • Request for Information (Application)

  • Submit completed applications (one for English and one for Spanish versions of instrument) and supporting documents to the Submission of Application for K–2 Reading Instruments form.

  • The applications must be received by TEA by 5:00 p.m., Central Standard Time, December 12, 2024.

Questions and Answers

The Questions and Answers period for this application has closed.

Submitted questions with their respective answers can be found on the Call for K-2 Reading Instruments: Questions and Answers document. 

 

  Print