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Texas Reading Academies and Educator Preparation Programs

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will provide Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) in Texas the opportunity to opt-in to provide the Texas Reading Academies for elementary teacher candidates beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.

This video will provide information about the Texas Reading Academies to help Educator Preparation Programs make decisions about offering the Reading Academies to teacher candidates beginning in September 2024. This presentation will assist EPPs with

  • Determining whether to provide the Reading Academies during the upcoming academic year;
  • Planning for the best method to facilitate the Reading Academies within your program.

In addition, this video will support decision-making for the EPP Authorized Provider application process.

There are currently ten EPP Reading Academies Working Groups that are helping to develop the Texas Reading Academies (TRAs) for a variety of EPPs. TEA will use the data and feedback from these Working Groups to support the scale of the Reading Academies across the state. TEA will continue to provide information to all EPPs to help make decisions and plan for the Texas Reading Academies.

 

Year 5 EPP Authorized Provider Application

The Texas Reading Academies Year 5 EPP Authorized Provider application is now available. Over the past four years, The Texas Reading Academies have impacted educators and students across the state with best-teaching practices and research-based instruction and it will continue to move forward and positively impact student outcomes in Year 5. This opportunity is open to Educator Preparation Programs wishing to provide the Texas Reading Academies course-work rooted in the Science of Teaching Reading to teacher candidates in their area. This application is open to Educator Preparation Programs.

Please complete this application if you would like to become a EPP Reading Academies Authorized Provider. An Authorized Provider acts as the managing entity for cohort implementation, including all hiring and management of Cohort leaders, cohort oversight, and financial management. Please use the links below to access the application.

Competitive EPP Authorization Application and Review Windows

The EPP Application window is January 10th – February 23rd, 2024. This application must be submitted through Qualtrics by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on February 23rd, 2024.

The EPP Application Evaluation Window February 26th- March 11th, 2024. All applications will be reviewed. Once qualified candidates have been identified, the TEA will be in communication with all applicants. Additional steps for qualified applicants may include a follow-up meeting and negotiations, as needed, followed by execution of agreement(s) for selected providers. Selected applicants will be notified beginning April 5th, 2024.

EPP Reading Academies Working Groups

All Educator Preparation Programs were invited to apply to be a part of the July 2023-2024 EPP Reading Academies working groups. The objectives of the working groups are to:

  • Co-participate with teacher candidates in the Texas Reading Academies course to understand the content and structure to consider implications for an EPP’s implementation
  • Partner with TEA to design potential parameters for EPPs to opt-in to implementation of Texas Reading Academies beginning in Fall 2024

The following EPPs are part of the 2023-2024 EPP Reading Academies working groups:

  • Texas A&M University – Commerce
  • University of Texas at Tyler
  • Lamar University College of Education & Human Development
  • ESC 19 Alternative Certification Department
  • West Texas A&M University
  • Stephen F. Austin State University
  • East Texas Baptist University
  • Dallas College
  • Teacher Prep & Certification Program at ESC 7
  • Texas Tech University
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