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English Language Arts and Reading

Elementary kids reading

This English language arts and reading web page provides clarification, guidance, and support to English language arts and reading stakeholders, including districts, schools, parents, educators, and students, for the development and implementation of the K–12 English language arts and reading Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

Announcements

May English as a Second Language Stakeholder Engagement Sessions: New ELPS Overview   

The Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division is committed to enhancing opportunities for stakeholder engagement across the state of Texas. The English as a second language stakeholder engagement sessions allow the TEA staff to expand information sharing and interaction with stakeholders.  All English as a second language stakeholders (parents, teachers in all content areas, administrators, etc.) are invited to attend the May stakeholder engagement sessions by registering below. 

May Topic: New English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) Overview (For a detailed description of the session, see the Stakeholder Engagement Sessions section of this web page below.) 

Dates, Times, and Registration Links:    

Wednesday, May 14, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (CT):  May 14 Registration Link    

Tuesday, May 20, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (CT):  May 20 Registration Link    

Both sessions will contain the same content. Two sessions are provided to allow stakeholders multiple opportunities to attend.  

English Language Arts & Reading TEKS

The links below provide access to the web-based version of the current English language arts Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), which are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do. You can also access a PDF version of the TEKS.

TEKS Guide

The purpose of the TEKS Guide is to help teachers understand each student expectation in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and to provide valuable resources to support instruction. Currently, the TEKS Guide includes resources for K-8 English Language Arts and K-6 Spanish Language Arts.

Vertical Alignment

The following vertical alignment documents were created to reflect the alignment of the new English and Spanish language arts and reading TEKS across grade levels, kindergarten – grade 12.

English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) 

The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted new English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) at the September 2024 SBOE meeting. The new ELPS became effective in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 120, on February 2, 2025.  

The new ELPS are scheduled to be implemented in classrooms beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. Local education agencies (LEAs) must continue providing instruction in the current ELPS in 19 TAC, Chapter 74, §74.4, until they are replaced with the new ELPS in 2026–2027.   

The links below provide access to the new ELPS posted on the TEA Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills web page.  

Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

The reading language arts team at TEA is committed to enhancing opportunities for stakeholder engagement across the state of Texas. Reading Language Arts Stakeholder Engagement Sessions allow the TEA reading language arts team to expand information sharing and interaction with stakeholders. All reading language arts stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators, etc.) are invited to attend by registering below.

May English as a Second Language Stakeholder Engagement Sessions  

The English as a second language stakeholder engagement sessions allow the TEA staff to expand information sharing and interaction with stakeholders.  All English as a second language stakeholders (parents, teachers in all content areas, administrators, etc.) are invited to attend the May stakeholder engagement sessions by registering below. 

Topic: New English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) Overview  

Target Audience: English as a second language, bilingual or dual language instruction stakeholders, including teachers in all content areas, district administrators, campus administrators, curriculum writers, parents, and professional organizations.  

Session Description: TEA staff will share information regarding the newly adopted ELPS. The team will explain in greater detail the changes to the structure of the ELPS and the inclusion of content-area proficiency level descriptors.   

Dates, Times, and Registration Links:    

Wednesday, May 14, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. (CT):  May 14 Registration Link    

Tuesday, May 20, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (CT):  May 20 Registration Link    

Both sessions will contain the same content. Two sessions are provided to allow stakeholders multiple opportunities to attend.  

Recent English Language Arts Communications

The recent newsletters and engagement session presentations updates below have been shared by the reading language arts team with stakeholders.

Grade 7 Reading Instruments

In accordance with the TEC, §28.006(c-1), each school district and open-enrollment charter school is required to administer at the beginning of Grade 7 a reading instrument adopted by the commissioner to each student whose performance on the assessment instrument in reading administered under TEC, Section §39.023(a), to the student in Grade 6 who did not demonstrate reading proficiency, as determined by the commissioner. The district shall administer the reading instrument in accordance with the commissioner's recommendations under the TEC, §28.006(a)(1).

For more information and to view the 2023-2027 Commissioner's List of Approved Grade 7 Reading Instruments, visit the Grade 7 Reading Instruments web page.

Additional TEA Web Pages Related to English Language Arts and Reading

Commemorative Weeks and Months

  • Each year, during the week that includes September 17, Texas schools honor Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC § 29.907) to highlight the values and ideals on which the United States was founded as well as the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the founding of the country. Students learn about the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.  Students also examine the relationship between the ideas in these documents and subsequent American history.
  • Celebrate Freedom Week web page
  • Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans who trace their heritage to Latin America or Spain. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. The following websites provide instructional materials, activities, and lessons that can be used to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies.
  • Hispanic Heritage Month web page
  • Each year, during February, we celebrate the history and cultural contributions of African Americans in the United States. Students learn about the achievements, perspectives, struggles, and experiences of African Americans throughout more than 400 years of American history. The following websites provide a variety of lessons, activities, and instructional materials that can be used to honor African American History Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: African American Studies and other social studies courses throughout the year. 
  • Black History Month web page
  • SB 1828 was passed in 2019 in acknowledgment of the Holocaust’s ongoing significance. SB 1828 instructs the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) to develop or approve materials for public schools for a statewide Holocaust Remembrance Week. Counseled by the Commission, the Governor’s Office selected the week of January 27th as the date for Remembrance Week. (International Holocaust Remembrance Day is January 27, which is the date that Auschwitz was “liberated” by Allied troops.)
  • Holocaust Remembrance Week web page
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Contact Information

Curriculum Standards and Student Support

(512) 463-9581

For questions or additional information, please submit a Curriculum Request Form through the TEA Help Desk.

TEA Help Desk

 

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Reading Language Arts and Social Studies Team

Jim Doris
Social Studies/Reading Language Arts Director

Tamara Robert
Reading Language Arts Content Specialist

Tim Bryant 
K-8 Reading Language Arts & Social Studies Content Specialist

Guiomar Andújar
Spanish and English as a Second Language Content Specialist

Jenny Gaona 
Social Studies Content Specialist