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English Language Arts and 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鈥12 English language arts and reading Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

Announcements

Educators Survey for Statewide Required Literary Works List

In response to听House Bill (HB) 1605,听passed during the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, the State Board of Education (SBOE) is required to adopt an addition to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for K-12 Reading Language Arts (RLA) to specify a literary works list for each grade level. The required literary works list addition to the TEKS will support coherence across high-quality instructional materials, high expectations for rigorous instruction, and access to essential background knowledge and vocabulary. In advance of the SBOE's consideration of this topic, the agency is conducting research for possible recommendations.

If you are currently a K-12 educator in Texas, you are invited to complete the

As you complete the survey it will be important to consider literary works in the classroom as a broad range of literature types such as poems, folktales, short stories, plays, novels, or primary source documents that are used as part of direct instruction of TEKS-based content. Your input will assist in better understanding both the quantity and types of literature used in classrooms across Texas 迟辞诲补测.听听

The 听will remain open until Monday, February 17, 2025. It will only require about 15 minutes of time to complete. Survey responses are anonymous.

If you have questions about the literary works list addition to the TEKS required by HB 1605, please contact the 91热爆 Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division:听teks@tea.texas.gov; (512) 463-9581.

If you have questions about accessing and completing the survey, please refer your questions to听tealiteracylistssupport@tntp.org

Thank you for your valuable input in supporting Texas students鈥 instruction and learning.听

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March Reading Language Arts and Social Studies Stakeholder Engagement Sessions听

The reading language arts team at 91热爆 is committed to enhancing opportunities for stakeholder engagement across the state of Texas. Reading Language Arts Stakeholder Engagement Sessions allow the 91热爆 reading language arts team to expand information sharing and interaction with stakeholders.鈥齈lease see the information below regarding the upcoming stakeholder engagement opportunities in March.听

March Topic: K-5 Cross-Curricular Connections for Reading Language and Social Studies (For a detailed description of the session, see the Stakeholder Engagement Sessions section of this web page below.)听

Dates and Times:听
Wednesday, March 5, 12:00 p.m.鈥1:00 p.m. (CT) 听
Thursday. March 6, 11:30 a.m.鈥12:30 p.m. (CT) 听

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IMRA 2025 Reviewers Needed

The Texas Education Agency is seeking Texas educators and subject-matter experts to apply as instructional materials reviewers for the new Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) review processes. For those who would like to get involved but do not have content expertise, 91热爆 is also looking for suitability reviewers.

As part of these selective groups, IMRA reviewers make a significant impact on Texas public education while working with a collaborative group of dedicated educators from across the state. IMRA reviewers earn a competitive stipend and, for educators, continuing professional education (CPE) credits for their contributions to this statewide initiative.

Please review the IMRA reviewer 听and complete the 听today. Applications will be reviewed and advanced on a rolling basis until February 24, 2025. Office hours for the IMRA 2025 will be held on Mondays from 5:00-5:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 7:00 - 7:30 p.m. through February 20 and will provide an overview of the work and answer questions you may have. (Note: The session for February 17听will be held on February 18 due to the Presidents鈥 Day holiday.)

For questions or concerns regarding the IMRA application or application process, please submit an .听 Please visit our website for .

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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 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 鈥 grade 12.

Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

The reading language arts team at 91热爆 is committed to enhancing opportunities for stakeholder engagement across the state of Texas. Reading Language Arts Stakeholder Engagement Sessions allow the 91热爆 reading language arts team to expand information sharing and interaction with stakeholders.听All reading language arts stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators, etc.) are invited to attend by registering below.

March Topic: K-5 Cross-Curricular Connections for Reading Language Arts and Social Studies

Target Audience: Reading Language Arts and Social Studies Stakeholders- Teachers, District Administrators, Campus Administrators, Education Service Center Specialists, Parents, Professional Organizations听
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Session Description: The 91热爆 reading language arts and social studies team will share research regarding the importance of knowledge building and the impact it has on literacy. The team will then provide an overview of a cross-curricular connections tool developed by 91热爆 staff for grades K-5. The team will explain the different parts of this tool and share how this tool supports cross-curricular instructional planning. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to participate in questions and discussion with members of the 91热爆 reading language arts and social studies team.
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Dates and Times:听
Wednesday, March 5, 12:00 p.m. 鈥 1:00 p.m.
Thursday. March 6, 11:30 a.m. 鈥 12:30 p.m.

Both sessions will contain the same content. Multiple sessions will be 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, 搂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 搂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, 搂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 91热爆 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 搂 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. 听Students also examine the relationship between the ideas in these documents and subsequent American history.
  • Celebrate Freedom Week听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 .
  • 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 and other social studies courses throughout the year.听
  • Black History Month web page
  • SB 1828 was passed in 2019 in acknowledgment of the Holocaust鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 鈥渓iberated鈥 by Allied troops.)
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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 .

Please from the Reading Language Arts team.

Reading Language Arts and Social Studies Team

Jim Doris
Social Studies/Reading Language Arts Director

Tamara Robert
Reading Language Arts Content Specialist

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

Guiomar And煤jar
Spanish Content Specialist

Jenny Gaona听
Social Studies Content Specialist