HB 3 Reading Academies
Per House Bill 3 (HB 3), passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in June of 2019, all kindergarten through third grade teachers and principals must attend a teacher literacy achievement academy by the 2021-2022 school year. For simplification and to avoid confusion with other grant programs and past literacy achievement academies, the Texas Education Agency is referring to this latest requirement as the HB 3 Reading Academies.
Authorized Providers grant districts and educators access to the Reading Academies. They include Education Service Centers (ESCs), School Districts, Higher Ed. partners, and Non-Profits.
Each School District decides how to comply with HB3, incl. which Authorized Provider to contract with, and whether to adopt a Comprehensive, Blended, or Local Implementation model.
All Texas K-3 Educators (and Principals) except special area teachers (Art, Music, PE) must complete Reading Academies by 2022-2023. Consult your campus Principal for more guidance.
Cohort Leaders are hired by an Authorized Provider, and administer the Reading Academies Blended (online) course. "Facilitators" similarly administer the Comprehensive (on-site, live) course.
Each week we compile 50+ questions from our stakeholders, and review and share back the most frequently asked!
Overview of Reading Academies:
For Authorized Providers:
- Cohort Leader Screener - Registration Page
- Reading Academy Implementation Information (PDF)
- Reading Academy Blended Model vs. Comprehensive Model (PDF)
- Reading Academy Authorized Provider FAQ Page
For School Districts:
- Reading Academy Content Overview (PDF)
- Reading Academy Blended Model vs. Comprehensive Model (PDF)
- Reading Academy Implementation Information (PDF)
For Educators:
For Cohort Leaders:
How to Become a Cohort Leader:
Cohort Leader Screener - Registration Page
Research for Prospective Cohort Leaders to Review:
- National Reading Panel (2000)
- National Literacy Panel on Language Minority Children and Youth (2006 & 2008)
- IES Practice Guides (Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade)
- Birsh, J. R. (2018). Multisensory teaching of basic language skills (4th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.
- Revised English and Spanish Language Arts and Reading TEKS
- Previous TEA Reading Academies and Literacy Academies Content, including
- Red Book Series, Book 1: Beginning Reading Instruction
- Red Book Series, Book 2: Comprehension Instruction
- Red Book Series, Book 3: Guidelines for Examining Phonics and Word Recognition
- Red Book Series, Book 4: Research-Based Content Area Reading Instruction
- Red Book Series, Book 5: Promoting Vocabulary Development
- The Dyslexia Handbook—2018 Update: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders (PDF)
- Texas Master Reading Teacher Standards and Preparation Manual