Data-Driven Instruction Best Practices
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) developed this collection of resources with the goal of empowering educators to use data to drive instruction and support early learners. The online modules, training sessions, and materials provide best practices for working with state-approved reading instrument data.
By making these targeted resources available, TEA aims to increase assessment literacy and data utilization among prekindergarten and kindergarten teachers across Texas. The resources assist educators in understanding assessment requirements, implementing reading instruments properly, analyzing results, and using data to inform teaching.
Data-Driven Instructional Best Practices (DDBIP) Modules
The following asynchronous modules developed by the Early Childhood Assessment Support (ECAS) Initiative are based on the Commissioner-approved kindergarten reading instruments.
Purpose
This library of free resources helps local education agencies and Texas stakeholders understand the purpose and usefulness of the approved reading instruments. The modules provide best practices for using the tools and data obtained from them.
Key Features
The DDIBP modules are on-demand, easily accessible, research-based, and available free of charge. The video-based modules are organized by topic to support the ongoing implementation of the Commissioner-approved kindergarten reading instruments.
- Purpose of Reading Instruments - The goals for this module are to understand the purpose of reading instruments, look at the characteristics of reading instruments, and understand the collection of data with the reading instruments.
- Administering Kindergarten Reading Instruments with Fidelity - The goals for this module are to review reading instrument norms, recommend training for the reading instruments, and share how to complete fidelity checks at the district and/or campus levels. The following resources can be found within the module:
- Fidelity Checklist for Campus Test Administrators
- Sample Fidelity Checklist QuickSheet (Campus Assessment Observation)
- Fidelity Checklist for Campus Leaders
- Using Kindergarten Reading Instruments to Progress Monitor - The goals for this module are to understand progress monitoring and to determine how to progress monitor using reading instruments in kindergarten.
- Using Reading Instruments as Dyslexia Screeners- The goals for this module are to understand how reading instruments can be used as dyslexia screeners and next steps on determining a systems-level process for dyslexia screening using the Commissioner-approved Reading Instruments.
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Using the Assessment-Instructional Cycle with Kindergarten Reading Instruments - The goal for this topic is to understand how to use data from the Kindergarten Reading Instruments with the Assessment-Instructional Cycle.
Upcoming Webinars and Office Hours
Title | Session Date and Time | Registration or Session Link |
---|---|---|
Family Engagement Open Office Hours | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvfuCprDgiGNQgr3cu-Vd24WAYsP4CG5NK | |
ECE Assessments: Office Hour and Q&A: October | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vceGorj4qE9FBO69SA05-SLnyoOQeIJeT | |
ECE Assessments: Office Hour and Q&A: November | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwlcOyrrTIsEt3a-4--9DEsONWX0boQwMpQ | |
ECDS General Submission Guidance Webinar | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsc-ioqDwsHdb3xqEYgmtrdd-O-CdMpLPe | |
ECDS General Submission Guidance Support | https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIpf-CpqDIvG9NBPWLB1BpfWWUOXBd28UZY |
Recorded Webinars and Office Hours
Title | Description | Session Date and Time |
---|---|---|
Prekindergarten Registration and Enrollment Webinar | Prekindergarten Registration and Enrollment Webinar | |
Early Childhood Data Submission Webinar | District EC Program Staff and other staff who supports submission of data into ECDS | |
Prekindergarten Enrollment Toolkit Webinar | District EC Program Staff and other staff who supports prekindergarten registration and enrollment | |
Best Practices in ECE: Administrator Guide (Webinar 1 of 1) | ECE Administrator Guide | |
Prekindergarten Registration and Enrollment | This session covers prekindergarten registration and enrollment including eligibility information and prekindergarten tuition. | |
Prekindergarten 3 Webinar and Comparison Resources | Prekindergarten 3 Webinar and Comparison Resources | |
Prekindergarten 101 | This session provides an overview of Prekindergarten topics, including student eligibility, HQPK, partnerships, etc. | |
High-Quality Prekindergarten- Teacher Qualifications Webinar | High-Quality Prekindergarten- Teacher Qualifications Webinar | |
High-Quality Prekindergarten Teacher Qualifications Webinar | High-Quality Prekindergarten Teacher Qualifications Webinar | |
TECPDS for Administrators | This webinar will discuss the benefits and how-tos of using TECPDS as an Administrator who supports early childhood educators. | |
Best Practices in ECE: Prekindergarten Guide (Webinar 1 of 2) | Best Practices in ECE: Prekindergarten Guide Webinar 1 of 2 | |
Best Practices in ECE: Kindergarten Guide — Learning Environments (Webinar 2 of 2) | Kindergarten Guide: Learning Environments | |
Best Practices in ECE: Kindergarten Guide (Webinar 1 of 2) | Kindergarten Guide | |
Best Practices in ECE: Prekindergarten Guide — Learning Environments (Webinar 2 of 2) | Prekindergarten Guide: Learning Environments | |
High-Quality Prekindergarten Component: Family Engagement | High-Quality Prekindergarten Component: Family Engagement Webinars | |
High-Quality Prekindergarten Component: Teacher:Student Ratio | This session provides information regarding the HQPK Teacher:Student ratio and how to meet it. | |
High-Quality Prekindergarten Components: Student Progress Monitoring | This session provides information about the HQPK Student Progress Monitoring requirement and how to meet it. | |
High-Quality Prekindergarten Components: Curriculum | This session provides information regarding the HQPK Curriculum requirement and how to meet it. | |
ECE Office Hours: Prekindergarten Partnerships | This session includes discussion of components of prekindergarten partnerships. | |
Financial Modeling Resources for Prekindergarten Partnerships | Resources for Prekindergarten Partnerships Financial Modeling | |
Prekindergarten Partnership Webinar | This webinar will cover general prekindergarten partnership information for local education agencies (districts and charter schools), who are partnering or would like to implement partnerships. | |
Prekindergarten Partnerships Informational Video | Professional Learning Webinar/Video | |
Aligning Technology to Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Settings | Aligning Technology to Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Settings | |
Early Childhood Data System (ECDS) Assessment Submission Guidance | This session provides information regarding the data submission to ECDS for PK and K. |
Other Resources
Title | Description |
---|---|
Family Guide: 2nd Grade | |
Family Guide: Kindergarten | |
Family Guide: Prekindergarten 4-Year-Old | |
Commissioner's List of Approved Prekindergarten Progress Monitoring Instruments (2024-25 through 2026-27) | Pre-k Commissioner's List 2024-25 through 2026-27 |
Prekindergarten Enrollment Social Media Resources | resources to support social media campaigns focused on PK registration |
Commissioner's Report on the High-Quality Prekindergarten Grant | Commissioner's Report on the High-Quality Prekindergarten Grant |
Family Guide: Prekindergarten 3-Year-Old | Family Guide: Prekindergarten 3-Year-Old |
Family Guide: 1st Grade | Family Guide: 1st Grade |
Earning a Child Development Associate (CDA) Through Career and Technical Education (CTE) | Offers advice for Local Education Agencies that want to prepare high school students for a career in early childhood education by using existing CTE Programs of Study to help students obtain a nationally recognized CDA credential. |
Vertical Alignment Documents | Vertical Alignment Documents |
Early Childhood Education Support Portal
Texas Education Agency
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701-1401