Early Childhood Data Collection Requirements

Early Childhood Data System (ECDS) Submission Guidance Presentation Slides

Prekindergarten Requirements

Districts and open-enrollment charter schools providing full-day prekindergarten for 4-year-olds must collect data on student progress in health and wellness, language and communication, emergent literacy reading, emergent literacy writing, and mathematics. Data is collected at the beginning and end of the year using approved tools from the Commissioner’s List. Districts and open-enrollment charters submit this data annually to TEA's Early Childhood Data System (ECDS).

Student progress monitoring is a very important part of the teaching cycle and is considered a best practice with all age groups. Progress monitoring enables a teacher to effectively adapt the daily classroom instruction to meet the needs of their students.

• Mixed Classrooms with 3- and 4-year-olds: In mixed classrooms with both 3- and 4-year-olds, teachers should use developmentally appropriate progress monitoring. Monitoring can be adjusted for 3-year-old students or they can be excluded if inappropriate.
• Stand-Alone Pre-K 3 Classrooms: Specific progress monitoring is not required for students served in a stand-alone Pre-K3 classroom. However, if a district conducts student progress monitoring with its eligible three-year-old students using an appropriate tool from the Commissioner’s List, the BOY and EOY data must be submitted into the ECDS annually.

The Commissioner's List provides extensive details for each approved data collection tool. This list can be accessed through the Educator Resources page on the TEA website, as well as the Data Tool Selection Guide page.

Jump to Statutory References

• Tool Selection Guide
• PreK4 Assessment Requirements and Calendar (7/12/23)
• PreK-2nd Grade Assessment Calendar Key Dates and Requirements (7/12/23)

Kindergarten Requirements

As defined in House Bill 3, districts and open-enrollment charter schools must conduct a beginning of year (BOY) reading screener using either TX-KEA or mCLASS Texas (both free of charge). This raw data is submitted to the Early Childhood Data System (ECDS) yearly. Diagnosing reading development and comprehension of kindergarten students is vital, in whatever form it may take. Support for remote screening options is available by both selected vendors. See information on our Data Tool Selection Guide webpage for more information.

Early Reading Indicator Code Guidance

The Early Reading Indicator (ERI) code helps districts determine reading instruction needs for students. ERI codes are reported to the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) twice per year. For more information, visit the TSDS Web-Enabled Data Standards webpage.

• For Submission 1, report the ERI code based on the Beginning of Year reading instrument assessment results.
• For Submission 3, report the ERI status based on the latest assessment results available for the student.

While ERI codes should reflect data from the administered reading instrument, districts have flexibility to also consider formative assessment data collected by teachers. This allows districts to analyze multiple data points to inform instructional actions.

Dyslexia Screening

The Texas Education Code (TEC) §38.003 mandates that districts administer universal dyslexia screening for kindergarten students by the end of the year. The updated Dyslexia Handbook provides current screening criteria. The criteria for English and Spanish screening instruments are as follows:

Kindergarten - Screened by End of Year

• Letter Sound Knowledge or Letter Naming Fluency
• Phonological Awareness

The Commissioner's approved reading instruments that meet the requirement of TEC §28.006 (Early Reading Diagnosis) already include aligned dyslexia screening elements. These free tools meet TEC §38.003 requirements. Districts should ensure planned dyslexia screening instruments meet the revised criteria. 

Please Note: Choosing one of the free tools available to all districts will meet the dyslexia screening requirements.

Jump to Statutory References

• Tool Selection Guide
• Kindergarten Assessment Requirements and Calendar (7/12/23)
• PreK-2nd Grade Assessment Calendar Key Dates and Requirements (7/12/23)

Grade 1 Requirements

To meet state requirements for reading proficiency assessments in grade 1, districts and open-enrollment charter schools must use an approved reading instrument. TEA provides the following free assessment tools that meet state requirements:

• mCLASS Texas (includes remote administration option) - Aligns with dyslexia screening requirements
• TPRI/Tejas LEE (includes remote administration option) - All vendor versions meet requirements

Districts may also use a reading instrument selected by a district-level committee, as outlined in TEC §28.006.

Early Reading Indicator Code Guidance

The Early Reading Indicator (ERI) code helps districts determine reading instruction needs for students. ERI codes are reported to the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) twice per year. For more information, visit the TSDS Web-Enabled Data Standards webpage.

• For Submission 1, report the ERI code based on the Beginning of Year reading instrument assessment results.
• For Submission 3, report the ERI status based on the latest assessment results available for the student.

While ERI codes should reflect data from the administered reading instrument, districts and open-enrollment charter schools have flexibility to also consider formative assessment data collected by teachers. This allows districts to analyze multiple data points to inform instructional actions.

Dyslexia Screening

The Texas Education Code (TEC) §38.003 and State Board of Education require that districts administer universal dyslexia screening for grade 1 students by January 31. The updated Dyslexia Handbook provides current screening criteria. The criteria for English and Spanish screening instruments are as follows:

Grade 1 - Screened by January 31st

• Word Reading Accuracy or Fluency
• Phonological Awareness

The Commissioner's approved reading instruments that meet the requirement of TEC §28.006 (Early Reading Diagnosis) available to all districts meet the updated dyslexia screening requirements. These tools are available at no cost to districts. Districts and open-enrollment charter schools should ensure planned dyslexia screening instruments meet the revised criteria. 

Please Note: Choosing one of the free tools available to all districts will meet the dyslexia screening requirements.

Jump to Statutory References

• Tool Selection Guide
• First Grade Assessment Requirements and Calendar (7/12/23)
• PreK-2nd Grade Assessment Calendar Key Dates and Requirements (7/12/23)

Grade 2 Requirements

To meet state requirements for reading proficiency assessments in grade 2, districts and open-enrollment charter schools must use an approved reading instrument. TEA provides the following free assessment tools that meet state requirements:

• mCLASS Texas (includes remote administration option) - Aligns with dyslexia screening requirements
• TPRI/Tejas LEE (includes remote administration option) - All versions meet requirements

Districts open-enrollment charter schools may also use a reading instrument selected by a district-level committee, as long as it meets the requirements in Texas Education Code §28.006.

Early Reading Indicator Code Guidance

The Early Reading Indicator (ERI) code helps districts determine reading instruction needs for students. ERI codes are reported to the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) twice per year. For more information, visit the TSDS Web-Enabled Data Standards webpage.

• For Submission 1, report the ERI code based on the Beginning of Year reading instrument assessment results.
• For Submission 3, report the ERI status based on the latest assessment results available for the student.

While ERI codes should reflect data from the administered reading instrument, districts and open-enrollment charter schools have flexibility to also consider formative assessment data collected by teachers. This allows districts to analyze multiple data points to inform instructional actions.

Dyslexia Screening

While not required in grade 2, districts may administer dyslexia screening assessments when deemed necessary to support diagnosis of reading difficulties. If a dyslexia screening is administered, districts must follow guidance in the Dyslexia Handbook. Districts and open-enrollment charter schools should ensure planned dyslexia screening instruments meet the criteria. 

Jump to Statutory References

• Tool Selection Guide
• Second Grade Assessment Requirements and Calendar (7/12/23)
• PreK-2nd Grade Assessment Calendar Key Dates and Requirements (7/12/23)

Statutory References and Dyslexia Handbook Information