Data-Driven Instruction Best Practices
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) developed this collection of resources with the goal of empowering educators to use data to drive instruction and support early learners. The online modules, training sessions, and materials provide best practices for working with state-approved reading instrument data.
By making these targeted resources available, TEA aims to increase assessment literacy and data utilization among prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers across Texas. The resources assist educators in understanding assessment requirements, implementing reading instruments properly, analyzing results, and using data to inform teaching.
Data-Driven Instructional Best Practices (DDBIP) Modules
The following asynchronous modules developed by the Early Childhood Assessment Support (ECAS) Initiative are based on the Commissioner-approved kindergarten reading instruments.
Purpose
This library of free resources helps local education agencies and Texas stakeholders understand the purpose and usefulness of the approved reading instruments. The modules provide best practices for using the tools and data obtained from them.
Key Features
The DDIBP modules are on-demand, easily accessible, research-based, and available free of charge. The video-based modules are organized by topic to support the ongoing implementation of the Commissioner-approved kindergarten reading instruments.
- Purpose of Reading Instruments - The goals for this module are to understand the purpose of reading instruments, look at the characteristics of reading instruments, and understand the collection of data with the reading instruments.
- Administering Kindergarten Reading Instruments with Fidelity - The goals for this module are to review reading instrument norms, recommend training for the reading instruments, and share how to complete fidelity checks at the district and/or campus levels. The following resources can be found within the module:
- Fidelity Checklist for Campus Test Administrators
- Sample Fidelity Checklist QuickSheet (Campus Assessment Observation)
- Fidelity Checklist for Campus Leaders
- Data Collection Best Practices - Coming soon!
-
Reporting Best Practices - Coming soon!
Upcoming Webinars and Office Hours
| Title | Session Date and Time | Registration or Session Link |
|---|---|---|
| For Head Start- Prekindergarten Partnership Office Hour | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0qce6vqzkuHtzZGZAvFytH3iQbaiB2Tzwd#/… | |
| Prekindergarten Enrollment Toolkit Webinar | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kdemhpzgoHNR7KoG0Uf4sN6IC0VId8T5f#/… | |
| For Charter Schools- Prekindergarten Partnership Office Hour | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApce-sqTwrEtaxVSuVZjSOW7gxldrlfH3T#/… | |
| Prekindergarten Partnerships and Childcare Providers Office Hour | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsdOutqDstG9ClUpFCl_qRZYMotij0a7hD#/… | |
| Early Childhood Data Submission Webinar | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlde2hqTovHNRbyNNTO-asUA-n-bDTUehY#/… | |
| Prekindergarten 3 Webinar | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYuc--trzIjEt3Wh5wlLvdxclXWnLplYoyo#/… | |
| Program Evaluation Webinar | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkdOmtqDsuGd1XdjZWBcX8Aylpn371B4Ct#/… |
Recorded Webinars and Office Hours
| Title | Description | Session Date and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Modeling Resources for Prekindergarten Partnerships | Resources for Prekindergarten Partnerships Financial Modeling | |
| Prekindergarten Partnership Webinar | This webinar will cover general prekindergarten partnership information for local education agencies (districts and charter schools), who are partnering or would like to implement partnerships. | |
| Best Practices in ECE: Kindergarten Guide — Learning Environments (Webinar 2 of 2) | Kindergarten Guide: Learning Environments | |
| Best Practices in ECE: Administrator Guide (Webinar 1 of 1) | ECE Administrator Guide | |
| Best Practices in ECE: Prekindergarten Guide — Learning Environments (Webinar 2 of 2) | Prekindergarten Guide: Learning Environments | |
| High-Quality Prekindergarten Teacher Qualifications Webinar | High-Quality Prekindergarten Teacher Qualifications Webinar | |
| Best Practices in ECE: Kindergarten Guide (Webinar 1 of 2) | Kindergarten Guide | |
| Best Practices in ECE: Prekindergarten Guide Webinar 1 of 2 | Best Practices in ECE: Prekindergarten Guide Webinar 1 of 2 | |
| TECPDS for Administrators | This webinar will discuss the benefits and how-tos of using TECPDS as an Administrator who supports early childhood educators. | |
| Early Childhood Data System (ECDS) Assessment Submission Guidance | This session provides information regarding the data submission to ECDS for PK and K. | |
| High-Quality Prekindergarten Components: Student Progress Monitoring | This session provides information about the HQPK Student Progress Monitoring requirement and how to meet it. | |
| High-Quality Prekindergarten Components: Curriculum | This session provides information regarding the HQPK Curriculum requirement and how to meet it. | |
| ECE Office Hours: Prekindergarten Partnerships | This session includes discussion of components of prekindergarten partnerships. | |
| High-Quality Prekindergarten Component: Teacher:Student Ratio | This session provides information regarding the HQPK Teacher:Student ratio and how to meet it. | |
| Prekindergarten 101 | This session provides an overview of Prekindergarten topics, including student eligibility, HQPK, partnerships, etc. | |
| Prekindergarten Registration and Enrollment | This session covers prekindergarten registration and enrollment including eligibility information and prekindergarten tuition. | |
| Prekindergarten 3 Webinar and Comparison Resources | ||
| Prekindergarten Partnerships Informational Video | ||
| High-Quality Prekindergarten Component: Family Engagement | ||
| High-Quality Prekindergarten Component: Program Evaluation | ||
| Meet and Greet Children's Learning Institute (TXKEA) |
Other Resources
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Commissioner's Report on the High-Quality Prekindergarten Grant | |
| Act Early Texas Developmental Screener | |
| Children's Learning Institute (CLI) Engage Platform | |
| Family Guide: 2nd Grade | |
| Family Guide: Kindergarten | |
| Family Guide: 1st Grade | |
| Family Guide: Prekindergarten 4-Year-Old | |
| Family Guide: Prekindergarten 3-Year-Old | |
| CLI Engage BOY Assessment Resources PK-2nd Grade | |
| Vertical Alignment Documents | |
| Early Childhood Program Self-Assessments | program self-assessments prekindergarten through second grade |
| Earning a Child Development Associate (CDA) Through Career and Technical Education (CTE) | Offers advice for Local Education Agencies that want to prepare high school students for a career in early childhood education by using existing CTE Programs of Study to help students obtain a nationally recognized CDA credential. |
| Commissioner's List of Approved Prekindergarten Assessment Instruments (2017-2023) | PK Commissioner's List 2017-2023 |
Early Childhood Education Support Portal
Texas Education Agency
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701-1401