Leaders' Lowdown

HB 8/SST Updates

TEA has released several resources on the HB 8 Website for the new Student Success Tool. Resources include:

Assessed Curriculum
Blueprints for the BOY/MOY assessments
Blueprints for EOY Summative assessments
ECR writing Rubrics
FAQ document

Several of the resources say draft; TEA will be updating the website as resources are finalized.

Guidance on Engish II

Accountability Implications for Eng 2

If students failed the Spring 2026 administration and they retested in June 2026, then they should continue to retest in December 2026 and Spring 2027 administrations.
If students failed the Spring 2026 administration, are graduating after August 2027, and they didn't retest in June 2026, they should not retest in December 2026 and Spring 2027.

Educator Nominations for SST Committees

Each year, TEA invites groups of Texas educators to provide feedback on the development of state assessments, including the Student Success Tool (SST), SST Alternate, and TELPAS. Developing high-quality, aligned questions relies on the expertise of our Texas educators from across the state. Participants collaborate with other Texas educators from across the state to review and approve each potential question for state assessments.

In accordance with House Bill 8, TEA is seeking educator nominations through ESCs to further ensure that each region is represented in the assessment development process.

Please assist us in identifying outstanding classroom teachers from Region 14 who may be interested in serving on an educator assessment committee for upcoming summer item review meetings.

Please keep in mind the requirements for your nominations:

All recommended educators must be actively employed by a Texas school district with an active Texas teaching certificate.
All recommended educators must have at least two years of teaching experience.

TEA will cover all travel, lodging, and substitute coverage. Participants will also earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit. Committee meetings will be held in Austin. Meetings typically require a commitment of two to three days.

To nominate a teacher, please email Kriste O'Dell with teacher name, email address and phone number.

October 14 Highly Effective Teams with Dr. Anita Busby-Baker

Join us on October 14 for Dr. Anita Busby-Baker—acclaimed author, Solution Tree expert, and national leader in school transformation. Click the image below to register.

For more information contact Michael Cano at mcano@esc14.net

LASO 5 Application Opens September 23

The LASO 5 Grant application will open September 23 and close on December 1. Two LASO General webinars will be held on September 14 at 10:00 am and on September 18 at 2:00.

Resources for each grant along with program specific webinars can be found on the TEA LASO Website.

TIA

Please find our upcoming fall Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) training and workday dates below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Stephanie Hammer at shammer@esc14.net.

Important Dates Relating to K-3 Assessments

PK Family Engagement Plan: Develop and implement a written family engagement plan that supports partnerships between families and schools and fosters student success. The family engagement plan must be posted on the district, charter, or campus website by November 1 of each school year. The family engagement plan should include a primary point of contact and contact information. The following resources are available to ensure your plan includes all the required components: Family Engagement Plan Rubric and Family Engagement Plan Checklist.

4 Year Old- Progress Monitoring: Assess and monitor student progress using a tool on the Commissioner’s List of Approved Instruments. Progress monitoring is required at the beginning, middle, and end of the year in five domains: emergent literacy language and communication, emergent literacy reading, emergent literacy writing, mathematics, and health and wellness. Refer to the Domains for Prekindergarten Early Childhood Data System (ECDS) Submission document to ensure that the required measures for a specific tool are administered.

3 Year Old- Progress Monitoring: TEA has updated guidance related to student progress monitoring data submission for three-year-old prekindergarten students. Districts that administer a tool from the Commissioner's List may continue to submit data for three-year-old students through the Early Childhood Data System (ECDS); however, submission is optional and no longer required.

K-3 Assessments Important Dates (attached below)

For questions, contact Courtney Beltran at cbeltran@esc14.net.

STEAM Adventure - November 10 - 12

Our STEAM Adventure has moved to the fall. Registration opens for our Title IV SSA schools on September 9 and for our non-Title IV SSA members on September 14. For registration information, reach out to Amanda Carpenter at acarpenter@esc14.net.

3rd Grade RLA Research Opportunity

Hank the Cowdog Student-Directed Research Project

Collegiate Edu-Nation, Texas Tech University, and the National Ranching Heritage Center are seeking 3rd grade teachers to participate in the Hank the Cowdog Student-Directed Research Project during the Fall 2026 semester. This research study provides teachers with classroom resources, including a class set of Hank the Cowdog Ranch Life Learning books, while engaging students in a unique literacy and science investigation centered on ranching life, agricultural literacy, and the scientific method.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact:

Andy Wilson (Collegiate Edu-Nation) – awilson@edu-nation.org
Amy Boren-Alpizar (Texas Tech University) – amy.boren-alpizar@ttu.edu

The Grace Spark Science Center Offering Free Educational Field Trips

The Grace Museum's Spark Science Center is offering free educational field trip admission for all 5th-grade students enrolled in Region 14 public school districts during the 2026-2027 school year, saving participating districts the cost of admission and classes. Find more information in the attached announcement below. For questions, contact Shana Hrbacek at shrbacek@esc14.net.

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Spark Science Center Field Trip Press Release 09 04 26.pdf

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IMCAT Annual Conference

Paraprofessional Academy

PASS Accounts for Tutoring

TEA has started a new program to provide $400 to parents of students who scored Did Not Meet Grade Level on the 3rd grade ELAR STAAR assessment. Parents must create an account on the PASS website.

Eligible tutors include TIA designated teachers, Texas Certified Reading Specialist (EC-12), Licensed Dyslexia Therapists, CALT, and CALPs. These staff members must complete the PASS application process.