Strong Start Resources
Learning Acceleration Framework
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Strategies for Learning Acceleration: Planning for Just-in-Time Interventions in Math |
Webinar to support LEAs in developing a just-in-time Tier One instructional strategy for learning acceleration for all learners, leveraging high quality instructional material examples from THL products. |
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March 25 |
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THL Adoption Conference |
Through a series of recorded webinars and live, virtual events, districts will receive support for local-decision making related to adopting THL products. Events will include live district panels, in-depth looks at Research Based Instructional Strategies, sessions on setting your vision, opportunities to learn about the budgeting and procurement process, and many more. |
District and School Leaders overseeing materials selection |
Conference launches on 3/22, registration will open by 3/11 |
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| Adapting or Adopting Curriculum for Remote Instruction |
Webinar series to support school districts as they consider how to adapt their current curriculum or adopt new curriculum for remote learning environments for SY20-21. |
Chief Academic Officers or senior staff charged with leading or supporting curriculum or instructional materials adaptations or adoptions |
Completed - click row title for links to webinars |
Click link in row title |
| Excellence in Remote & Concurrent Instructional Delivery: Best Practices |
Webinar series in a “See It, Name It, Do It” format with relevant, actionable best practices that can be implemented in any grade and content area. These are turnkey trainings designed for LEAs to turn around and deliver at the district or campus level. |
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January 22 – |
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Staffing Approaches for Delivering a Mix of Remote and On-Campus Instruction (PDF) |
Webinar series to support LEAs in decision-making and teeing up implementation of alternative staffing and scheduling approaches to deliver remote and on-campus instruction, to better meet family and student needs If you have questions or would like to learn more, please reach out to Megha Kansra at Megha.Kansra@tea.texas.gov |
LEA Leadership Team (Superintendents, Chief Academic Officers, and Talent/HR Leads recommended) |
November 10 - December 10 |
Session 1 (Nov 10): Introduction to Staffing Approaches (Slides | Recording) Session 2: Virtual Academy Implementation Guidance (Slides | Recording) Session 3: Split Staffing Implementation Guidance (Slides | Recording) |
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The COVID Recovery Instructional Materials Support Initiative is for districts, individual schools, or open-enrollment charter schools interested in piloting Texas Home Learning (THL) Instructional Materials with a subset of schools, grades, or teachers in the spring of 2021. This pilot provides remote learning training and support for teachers, extra materials like text sets for RLA materials, and stipends for participating educators. |
District and School Leaders | Applications requested by 1/29/2021 |
Learn more in the application (Word) or initiative overview (PowerPoint) |
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Excellence in Remote & Concurrent Instructional Delivery: Overview |
Free training to prepare principals to lead remote instruction in their schools TAA: Free “Excellence in Remote Instructional Delivery” for Principals |
Principals |
July 20 - August 7 |
Module A: Introduction to Remote Learning Module B: Driving Remote Instruction Quality and Improvement Module C: Building Staff Capacity to Deliver Remote Instruction To be posted by 12/18: Session 4: Differentiation |
| OnRamps Distance Learning Catalog |
Free, self-paced professional development modules for educators teaching in distance or hybrid learning environments. TAA: OnRamps Distance Learning Catalog for middle and high school teachers |
Middle and High School Teachers | Available beginning August 13, 2020 | Link |
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Project Restore Website |
Trauma-informed training video series for teachers designed to address these extraordinary and unprecedented needs and connect teachers to relevant science and strategies that can help address their own emotional needs as well the needs of students and colleagues. |
Teachers | N/A | N/A |
| Planning Tools |
Sample School Models |
Planning Tools
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2020-2021 Planning Support
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Tool |
Description | Intended Use | Release | |
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Preliminary planning checklist and reflection tool that districts can use to consider how lessons from spring 2020 may translate to fall planning; Includes topics such as leadership, student performance, family engagement, technology, operations, academics, staffing, etc. |
Serve as inputs into the guidebook to help LEAs develop their re-opening strategy (e.g., school models, curriculum, schedule, teacher deployment, use of space, etc.) |
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Survey question bank and guidance for LEAs to ask families and staff about their spring experience and fall desires |
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Set of considerations and resources for districts to use as they determine their school models and district design (curriculum, schedules, staffing, professional development, etc.) and plan for in-year contingencies |
Guides LEAs through the process of designing their district and school re-opening strategy |
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| Phased Reopening Guide |
Set of considerations and guidance for districts to use as they consider how to phase-in reopening over the first 4-8 weeks of school |
Guides LEAs through the process of designing a phased re-opening process | Posted | |
Other useful planning tools & guides
- San Antonio ISD Academic Recovery and Instructional Continuity Plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ytUzde8mjrllE5YKKf05i6ORgAohUpsQIgu9pk_iGSA/edit#bookmark=id.7742dqnu8s16
- Education Resource Strategies Guiding Principles for district design: https://www.erstrategies.org/cms/files/4518-idmpguidingprinciples.pdf
- Education Resources Strategies COVID Decision Points: https://www.erstrategies.org/cms/files/4532-covid-decision-points.pdf
- Transcend Education Planning Tools: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RP4ucmd8fLbh01jeDCFzdcJ2aEhL65fjbFKCRT8vcZk/edit
- Transcend/AASA: 5 District Plans for Launching Your Schools: https://www.transcendeducation.org/aasa-1?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=TranscendBuilds
- Bellwether Education Reopening Workbook: https://bellwethereducation.org/publication/essential-questions-2020-2021-reopening-planning-workbook-education-leaders
Other useful survey tools
Sample School Models
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Model Name |
Students are |
Considerations |
Release |
| Fully on-campus school models | |||
| Grades K-5, blended learning |
On-campus 100% of the time |
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| Grades 6-8, blended learning |
On-campus 100% of the time |
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| Grades 9-12, blended learning |
On-campus 100% of the time |
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| Fully remote school models | |||
| Grade Pre-Kindergarten |
Remote 100% of the time |
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| Grades K-2, mix of synchronous and asynchronous |
Remote 100% of the time |
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| Grades 3-5, mostly synchronous |
Remote 100% of the time |
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| Grades 6-8 | Remote 100% of the time | Posted | |
| Grades 9-12, mostly synchronous |
Remote 100% of the time |
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| Grades 9-12, mostly asynchronous | Remote 100% of the time | Posted | |
| Hybrid school models | |||
| Grade Pre-Kindergarten | In an intentionally planned mix of on-campus and remote settings |
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Coming Soon |
| Grades K-5, A/B schedule |
In an intentionally planned mix of on-campus and remote settings |
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| Grades K-5, Dual Track w/ one group of students attending daily |
In an intentionally planned mix of on-campus and remote settings |
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| Grades 6-8, A/B schedule |
In an intentionally planned mix of on-campus and remote settings |
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| Grades 6-8, Dual Track w/ one group of students attending daily |
In an intentionally planned mix of on-campus and remote settings |
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| Grades 9-12, A/B schedule |
In an intentionally planned mix of on-campus and remote settings |
Other Sample School Models information:
- Education Resource Strategies Key Decision on Remote School Models: https://www.future-ed.org/keys-decisions-for-more-effective-distance-learning-in-the-fall/
- Education Resource Strategies Fully Remote School Scheduling Companion Guide: https://www.erstrategies.org/cms/files/4552-remote-scheduling-companion.pdf
- Education Resource Strategies Six COVID Comeback School Models: https://www.erstrategies.org/tap/covid_comeback_models
- Transcend Education Student Grouping and Scheduling for Hybrid Learning: Student Grouping and Scheduling for Hybrid Learning
- Third Future Schools SY20-21 School Model: Third Future Schools
- Copenhagen International School Return to School Design: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KkHk_gOmB1aQovdxrYSOZJwIIfdmUFKgSi3xTy8riUg/edit
- Transcend Education Library of School Designs: https://www.transcendeducation.org/examples-resource-library
- Lubbock ISD: What will a COVID day in Pre-K look like
- Pre-K 4 SA: Remote Early Learning