Reading Academies - Cohort Leader Screener Registration

1. What does the screener consist of? What is the general structure of the assessment?
The Screener includes an initial assessment with multiple choice and short answers, followed by a set of Canvas-graded artifacts consisting of short quizzes, and a final set of panel-graded artifact assignments which contain a variety of higher-level tasks to demonstrate competency in the science of teaching reading, both in ELA and SLAR (Biliteracy) that you will submit for evaluation. A minimum score of 80% is required on each section in order to advance to the next.

2. How does the Biliteracy screener differ from the General Ed. screener?
The Biliteracy Screener prepares a cohort leader to facilitate either/both General Ed. (ELA) and Biliteracy (SLAR) cohorts.  The initial assessment (multiple choice and short answer) consists of 69 total questions for the Biliteracy Screener, as compared to 34 questions for the General. Ed. Screener.  The artifacts section for each Screener contains the same general types of artifacts, but the Biliteracy Screener contains additional tasks.

3. How long will the screener take?
Overall, the Screener should take between 3 to 5 hours to complete. The Screener consists of three parts, none of which is officially timed. However, we estimate that the initial assessment (multiple choice and short answer) should take between 30 - 60 min. (General Ed.) and 45 - 90 min. (Biliteracy). We estimate that the artifact sections should take between 2.5 - 3 hours (General Ed.) and 3 - 3.5 hours (Biliteracy).

4. Do I have to complete the screener all at once?
No. You do not need to complete the Screener in one sitting. You have a 7-day window to complete it, starting from the time you register. Once you log into the system and begin the Screener, you can log out and return at any time during that 7-day period. Your progress will be saved. 

5. What happens if I do not complete the Screener by the end of the current window?
You will need to register for a future window to continue the process. Any sections you have completed and passed will be retained. For example, if you pass the Pre-screener (initial assessment) but do not pass the Canvas-graded Artifacts, you will be enrolled in a course that includes only the Canvas-graded Artifacts and Panel-graded Artifacts during your next enrollment window.

6. When will I find out if I have passed the Screener?
You will know right away if you passed the initial assessment and the Canvas-graded Artifacts. These two parts are Canvas-graded, and you will only be able to proceed if you have scored an 80% or higher. The third part, the Panel-graded artifacts, will be reviewed by a Cohort Leader Review Panel, which is set to convene after the end of the Screener window. 

To see the final screener results, please sign in to https://tra.esc11.net.

7. What happens if I do not pass the screener?
You will have to sign up to retake the Screener in a later window. You can only apply three times in a year from when you first enrolled.  

8. What are the next steps if I pass the screener?
Once you have passed the Cohort Leader Screener, you need to reach out to an Authorized Provider for employment. Once you are working with an Authorized Provider they will sign you up for Cohort Leader Training.

9. Can the Review Panel Artifacts be contested?
No. The Review Panel Artifacts are graded by our Education Elements panel of national experts in the Science of Teaching Reading. All panelists have received calibration sessions with our TEA Content team to ensure that grading is accurate with our standards. Each artifact is graded by 3 different panelists to ensure that the grade aligns with the rubric.

10. Does passing the Cohort Leader Screener award me HB3 credit?
No. In order to receive HB3 credit you must have met the following criteria:

• Passed the Cohort Leader Screener
• Hired by an Authorized Provider
• Attended Cohort Leader Training
• Led a minimum of one cohort for the 12-month term