HB 3 revised the statute to encompass various reading initiatives, requiring LEAs to adopt a K-3 phonics curriculum with systematic direct instruction, use integrated reading tools, and prioritize placing highly effective teachers in K-2. For further details, the TEA website offer additional information about the Reading Academies.

In addition to the Reading Academies hosted by TEA, consider the CLI Engage professional development resources to supplement teacher training:

Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines Online Training: The Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines Online Training on CLI Engage is a comprehensive resource designed to support early childhood educators. Key aspects include:

• Content Coverage: The training covers all ten learning domains of the revised 2015 Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, including Social and Emotional Development, Language and Communication, Emergent Literacy (Reading and Writing), Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Physical Development, and Technology.
• Video-Based Learning: The courses feature extensive documentary-style videos filmed in real Texas Pre-K classrooms. These videos explore child outcomes and specific instructional strategies, with commentary guiding viewers on what to look for. Each subdomain links to video lessons in the Circle Activity Collection that support the discussed child skills.
• Professional Development: Educators can earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits or childcare licensing clock hours upon completing each training module.
• Accessibility: The training is available for free to all users. Educators just need to create a free account on CLI Engage to access the courses.

eCircle Professional Development: The eCircle Professional Development courses on CLI Engage offer a comprehensive suite of 16 courses, totaling 73.5 hours, designed for teachers and administrators working with children aged three to six. Here are some key aspects:

• Extensive Video-Based Demonstrations: The courses feature detailed video demonstrations of effective instructional practices, providing real-world examples and practical insights.
• Application-Based Assignments: Each course includes assignments and activities that help educators apply what they have learned in their own classrooms.
• Alignment with Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines: The program covers a broad range of topics, including language and literacy, social and emotional development, science, and mathematics, all aligned with the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines.
• Self-Paced and Group Learning Options: The courses can be completed at your own pace or facilitated in a group setting, offering flexibility to fit different learning styles and schedules.
• Free Access: The eCircle courses are available for free to all users. Educators just need to create a free account on CLI Engage to access the training.
• Continuing Education Credits: Upon completion, educators can earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits or childcare licensing clock hours.

HB 3 mandates that school boards adopt detailed plans developed by their management teams to achieve goals in two key areas:

• Early Childhood Literacy and Mathematics (EC-LM) Proficiency
• College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR)

While 3rd grade is the only grade required for HB 3 goal setting, it is best practice to include progress measures for PreK-2nd grade to track growth toward 3rd grade reading proficiency. This aligns with the HB 3 mandate for districts to use integrated assessments for PreK-3rd grade to diagnose reading development and comprehension.

CLI Engage Updates

CLI Engage has data uploading and exporting tools to include additional student demographics to align with HB 3 requirements. These include:

• Amending the Universal Roster Upload template and Student Bulk Upload template to include fields for Special Education, English Learner, Economic Disadvantaged, Dyslexia, and Enrollment Status (date enrolled and date withdrawn).
• Ethnicity designations

Data Export and Reporting

Upon uploading student data to CLI Engage, district administrators can export and review these demographics using the Circle Progress Monitoring for PreK and/or Circle Kindergarten Progress Monitoring (KPM) assessment data reports. The Student Results Export Report provides raw data, including subpopulation demographics, which can be filtered or sorted as required. These additional demographic fields facilitate the generation of reports directly from CLI Engage, assisting districts in strategizing goals and monitoring student proficiency in early childhood literacy and mathematics.

Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of additional updates on CLI Engage. For more information, visit the TEA website.

Kindergarten

The Circle Kindergarten Progress Monitoring (KPM) assessment on CLI Engage includes a literacy screener conducted at the beginning of the year (BOY). This screener, available at no cost to Texas school districts and charter schools, fulfills the requirements of HB 3. For more information, refer to TEA’s guidance on K-2 diagnostic screeners.

Grades 1 & 2

TPRI and Tejas LEE are available on CLI Engage at no cost to Texas school districts and charter schools.

Dyslexia Referral Checklist on CLI Engage

The Dyslexia Referral Checklist (DRC) is intended to support teachers and has versions designed for use in Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade. Find more information on the Dyslexia Referral Checklist webpage.

Under HB 3, all prekindergarten services for eligible 4-year-old students must be full-day and adhere to the high-quality standards established by the Texas Legislature. These standards encompass:

• Curriculum
• Student Progress Monitoring
• Teacher Qualifications
• Family Engagement Plan
• Data Reporting

For a detailed overview, please review the CLI Engage alignment with the high-quality prekindergarten program components: High Quality Prekindergarten (Rider 78 and HB4).

For more information, visit the TEA website.

New Teacher Mentoring Grant Opportunity

As part of HB 3 implementation, TEA has announced an optional grant opportunity to support new teacher mentoring. For more details, visit the TEA website.

CLI Engage Mentoring and Coaching Resources

CLI Engage offers free access to a variety of tools and resources to support mentoring and coaching in your school district or charter school. These resources include:

• Competencies for effective coaching
• Classroom Observation and Goal-Setting Tools
• Circle Classroom Environment Checklist (CEC)

Additionally, CLI Engage provides several professional development resources to enhance coaching quality, such as the Effective Mentoring eCircle online course and the new Coaching Micro-Credential.

For more information, explore the Teacher Coaching section on CLI Engage.