TCLAS Decision 2 Frequently Asked Questions
Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports (TCLAS) Decision 2 includes three components:
- LEA implementation support and high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) professional learning.
- Access to print and physical materials.
- Funding for literacy and math K–5 coaches.
Decision 2A
LEA Implementation Support and High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Professional Learning
Option 1: LEA was awarded in-kind supports, so they will receive design and implementation (D&I) support and Professional Learning (PL) from COVID Recovery Instructional Materials Support Initiative (CRIMSI) in a cohort with similar districts/teachers piloting the same product.
Option 2: LEA was awarded direct grant funds and will contract with a vendor on the State-Approved Vendor List (SAVL) to receive D&I support and PL in using the TEA available materials.
Q. When will we receive our print materials?
A. LEAs can support accelerated learning (which is broader than meeting the minimum requirements in HB 4545) both through Tier 1 instruction by helping all students access grade-level content and Tier 2 instruction by providing targeted support to the students struggling most.
Decision 2 provides access to HQIM to help LEAs accelerate instruction during Tier 1 instructional time. These resources provide teachers with just-in-time supports to address missing content or skills students need to access the grade level standards in Tier 1 instruction.
Q. Are these products also approved for the Resilient Schools Support Program (RSSP)?
A. RSSP does not have an approved-products list. However, the RSSP supports LEAs in reflecting on the quality of their instructional materials and developing their strategy for implementing HQIM. The products available within Decision Point 2 align well with the RSSP and TEA’s definition of HQIM. RSSP vendors are familiar with the instructional material available in Decision Point 2 and can help provide or connect LEAs with aligned support.
Q. Do we need to have two different vendors for Design and Implementation (D&I) or Professional Learning (PL)?
A. Districts should have a vendor for D&I and PL services. If a vendor is approved to provide both services, a district may elect to work with a sole vendor. For a list of approved vendors please refer to the TCLAS vendor guidelines.
Q. Can we partner with our Education Service Center (ESC) for D&I and/or PL?
A. Yes, you can choose to work with your ESC for both D&I and PL, if you prefer. Explore which ESCs are approved for which high-quality instructional materials:
Q. I am currently working with two vendors for the 2022-2023 full-year implementation. Do I need to sign another contract for summer 2022?
A. There should be a contract in place if funds were awarded for a summer pilot of the TEA Available Materials. However, if you choose to continue working with the same vendor, you may not need a separate contract.
Q. Is there a specific template we should use for developing D&I and PL deliverables?
A. You can use your own template if that is what works for your local context. Please see templates that you can use for implementation planning deliverable support.
Q. Where are we submitting the deliverables listed and who is responsible for submitting this data?
A. Please submit deliverables to the vendor and/or ESC that you are partnered with for D&I and/or PL. Districts are responsible for ensuring that vendors have access to deliverables and data. The goal is to use data to inform your implementation and strategic plan. Please meet with your vendor to determine how you will keep record and share data with them. Vendors will be responsible for sharing deliverables and data trends with TEA.
Q. Is there a difference between summer and full-year deliverables? Are we required to submit the same deliverables?
A. Districts do not need a full implementation plan for a summer pilot, but they do need to have a brief outline addressing the following:
- Dates for the pilot
- Scope of the pilot (which materials and grade levels)
- Goal(s)
- Materials access plan
- Teacher professional learning/support
- Data Collection procedures
Q. Several of these Summer 2022 milestones have been addressed during our Decision 8 ADSY planning. Can we utilize the information we submitted for that where it crosses over into Decision 2 (SAVL and/or CRIMSI)?
A. If planning deliverables overlap with other TCLAS decisions, you may use them for SAVL deliverables. For example, CRIMSI districts will be building out a vision-and-stakeholder engagement plan. Those deliverables can be resubmitted if they include components that are applicable to implementing the specific products your LEA chose for SAVL.
Q. What summer training is available for districts participating in CRIMSI for school year 2022-23 implementation?
A. TNTP will provide support for CRIMSI. For more information about the support provided or for other CRIMSI questions, please refer to the CRIMSI FAQs:
Q. What are allowable and unallowable expenses that I can make for Decision 2A funds? What if I have 2A grant funds leftover?
A. Allowable Expenses are those that support the use of approved Tier 1 HQIM through an approved vendor or ESC (see above chart) for implementation and/or professional learning for the term LEAs were awarded.
Unallowable Expenses are those that support use of Tier 1 products not listed under Decision 2 in the TCLAS Guidance Document, are used for supplies not related to implementation or professional learning of the approved resources (e.g., paper, trade books, pencils, etc.), are used to contract with a vendor that is not listed on the Decision 2 State Approved Vendor List, or if an LEA uses leftover funds for items listed as allowable without contracting with an implementation and professional-learning vendor.
If your LEA has 2A grant funds leftover after securing contracts for implementation support and professional learning, those funds may be used for:
- Stipends* for teachers and coaches implementing the materials
- Additional Tier 1 materials if initial print order did not cover all teachers implementing or replacing consumables for the 2023-2024 School Year.
- Aligned Tier 2 and 3 supplemental products such as Amplify Reading, mClass, or MATHia beyond the state license term
- Aligned trade books such Amplify Trade Book Guide for Grades K-2
Decision 2B
Access to Print and Physical Materials
Option 1: LEA was awarded direct-grant funds for print materials they indicated on their TCLAS application as having previously purchased (or purchased by December 2021) directly from publishers.
Option 2: LEA was awarded in-kind support and ordering will be done through TEA; LEA completes print survey order forms and TEA will purchase materials on their behalf for future implementation cycles.
For Decision 2B, direct-grant funds were awarded to LEAs that indicated they ordered aligned print materials prior to December 2021 in their TCLAS application. LEAs received these grant funds as a reimbursement for those purchases. If your LEA has funds remaining in this grant, they can be used to purchase additional HQIM print materials and supplies needed for implementation of that curriculum directly from the vendors.
LEAs that indicated they needed print materials support for implementations after December 2021 were awarded TCLAS in-kind awards. In-kind funds are those that LEAs will use to order materials via TEA. TEA will purchase materials on the LEA’s behalf. These orders will include any manipulatives, student workbooks, teacher editions, etc. that come with the curriculum, and items that are required for fidelity of implementation in the classroom.
Some LEAs may have been awarded both direct-grant and in-kind funding for the term of the grant award.
Q. When will we receive our print materials?
A. Districts participating in CRIMSI or the State-Approved Vendor list for the spring pilot unit should have already received the print materials. If you have not received your spring pilot materials, please reach out to the TEA Instructional Materials and Implementation Help Desk.
Districts participating in CRIMSI for the summer pilot unit should expect materials to arrive late May; however, Teaching Strategies has already begun shipments for most of the school districts. If you are missing materials, please reach out to the TCLAS D2B Print Materials Order Update Request.
Districts participating in CRIMSI for the school year 2022-2023 pilot unit should expect materials to arrive mid-late July; however, Teaching Strategies has begun shipments for most of the school districts. If you are missing materials, please reach out to the TCLAS D2B Print Materials Order Update Request.
Q. How do I make updates to the number of materials our LEA has ordered?
A. If you need to make updates to your school year 2022-2023 or summer 2022 TCLAS print order, please submit a form to the TLCAS D2B Order Update Request. If you are increasing your order, you will need to attach the summer or 2022-2023 late order form, which you can find in the TCLAS Print Materials Hub.
Requests for increased numbers of print materials support will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Print materials support will be based on the original TCLAS application submission for TCLAS Decision 2B and subsequent award for your LEA. If your increase request is approved, it is likely that any additional orders will arrive after the start of the 2022-2023 school year. We can work with you to discuss self-print options as a stopgap until materials arrive.
Q. Will print materials be available in accessible formats?
A. TEA is working to accommodate requests for open educational resources in accessible formats. If braille or large-print formats of TEA available materials are needed for school year 2022–2023, please reach out to the TEA Instructional Materials and Implementation Help Desk.
Q. How long will we be able to access online TEA available materials?
A. The type of materials license impacts the length of time educators and districts can access a digital product. There are two types of licenses:
- Open education resources (OER): state-developed digital materials that are freely available forever to Texas school districts and educators
- State licensed: digital materials that are freely available to Texas school districts and educators for a specified time period
Visit TEA Available Materials for more information.
Q. Can we still order print materials for the 2022-2023 school year?
A. If you need to place a late print order for school year 2022-2023 or for summer, please submit a form to the TLCAS D2B Order Update Request. Attach the school year 2022-2023 late order form, which you can find in the TCLAS Materials Hub. At this stage, it is likely that any additional orders will arrive late. We can work with you to discuss self-print options. Late orders are limited by the support requested and awarded in the original TCLAS Notice of Grant Award for Decision 2B.
Q. Will the print materials include the necessary teacher resource kits?
A. Yes, print materials include teacher guides (where available), manipulative kits and trade books.
Q. Where are the links for the summer & FY 22-23 print webinars?
A. Summer Print Webinar, School Year 2022-2023 Print Webinar
Q. Where can I access print materials and resources?
A. The TCLAS Print Materials Hub houses important information such as updated shipment windows, digital access guides, inventory lists, and FAQs.
Q. When will we know if all the print materials we requested were awarded and will arrive in the district?
A. TEA has reached out if we had follow-up questions regarding your print order. If you placed your order earlier this year and we have not followed up, then you can assume we have submitted your order as-is. If you would like clarity on what you ordered, please reach out to the Instructional Materials and Implementation Help Desk. For information about estimated print timelines visit the print hub.
Q. We already placed our order for school year 2022-2023. Are we supposed to include numbers for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024? If so, will there be another opportunity to order for 2023-2024?
A. As outlined in the TCLAS application, TCLAS Decision 2B print support is only through the 22/23 school year. Print materials support from this grant does not extend to the 23/24 school year, even though implementation support (decision 2A) does. So, moving forward, LEAs will be responsible for using their local funds to pay for consumable materials costs in 23/24.
Q. Where can we find what the summer recommended units are?
A. Visit the TCLAS Print Materials Hub: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mwYnal5t7dRy74oqPmloYdYsjYSABA8r/view?usp=sharing
Q. I am concerned with the late-May arrival since our summer program starts June 1st.
A. We placed summer orders in early January, but due to current lead times for printing and national delays, our publishers are not able to ship until mid-May for a late-May arrival. We know this will be tight, and our vendors are working around the clock to mail materials before that time. If your district has an early summer session start, please reach out via the Instructional Materials and Implementation Help Desk and we can try to prioritize your summer shipment.
Q. Will consumables be covered for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years?
A. The TCLAS application and NOGA only listed print materials support through the 2022-2023 school year. Districts hoping to continue the use of these specific materials should budget for consumable costs in the 2023-2024 school year. TEA is working to provide updated pricing for those materials so that LEAs can make a better-informed decision on materials costs moving forward.
Q. Will Texas districts have free access to Eureka Math Equip™ in the 2022-2023 school year?
A. No, complimentary access to Eureka Math Equip™ will expire in August 2022. If your LEA is interested in purchasing its own licenses, you can reach out to Great Minds directly for more information by contacting brett.silver@greatminds.org.
Eureka Math in Sync™ TEKS Edition is a digital platform that offers all the necessary components
of a high-quality curriculum with additional tools to help teachers with lesson planning and prep, plus resources to help families support learning at home. For Texas school districts and educators, access to this feature is available through 2024.
Eureka Math TEKS Edition curriculum is an open education resource (OER), or state-developed digital material that is freely-available in perpetuity to Texas school districts and educators.
Decision 2C
Funding for Literacy and Math Coaches
Q. What are the requirements for instructional coaches?
A. The requirements for instructional coaches are that they must attend training for the Core Tier 1 approved products (Amplify Texas for K-5 RLA and Eureka Math TEKS Edition for K-5 Math) and their primary responsibility should be to provide job-embedded coaching and feedback supports to teachers implementing the core, approved products at the elementary grade levels.
Q. Can 2C funds be used for interventionists?
A. The awarded funds for decision 2C are not for interventionists working with students.
Q. Do you have an example job description for the role of instructional coach?
A. Visit TEA Decision 2C support for sample job descriptions and other available resources.
Q. Our district was awarded two literacy coaches. Can we use the funds for one literacy coach and one math coach instead?
A. Coaches were awarded based on total teacher numbers participating in the K-5 RLA program. If you were awarded literacy coaches, all funding must go towards literacy coaches and cannot be split between literacy and math unless otherwise approved by TEA.
Q. We will be piloting CRIMSI next year for middle school and high school as well as elementary. Are we able to use the funds to hire additional coaches at the middle and high school levels?
A. The number of coaches awarded was specific to the number of teacher piloting in K-5 RLA or K-5 Math. The awards given to support coaches must support coaches in those two areas only.
Q. Does the title for the person we choose have to be “instructional coach”? Could the person’s title be Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, Math, for example?
A. The title for the role is a local decision, but their roles and responsibilities must stay in compliance with the 2C grant.
Q. Are the coaches only able to support TEA available materials?
A. Yes, grants for coaches are only available for LEAs supporting teachers implementing approved Amplify Texas Elementary Literacy Program and Eureka Math TEKS Edition products. Coaches are asked to complete the required trainings to support core Tier 1 products on the approved list.