In response to calls from TCTA and others to reduce the burden on teachers imposed by the state-required Reading Academies, Commissioner of Education Mike Morath recently summarized changes to the program for the 2022-23 school year. 

Although these changes are just at the announcement stage and have not yet begun to be implemented, they give an important preview of how teachers in the 2022-23 school year might see some relief:

As part of the announced summary of changes, the commissioner continued to reiterate to school districts the importance of supporting teachers in district implementation of the Reading Academies by structuring their master professional development calendars so that the Reading Academies are embedded within it (rather than teachers having to complete them on their own time); planning for substitute teachers to cover classrooms so that teachers can complete Reading Academies during class time; and providing teachers with stipends to compensate for their time. Click here to read more.

The spring administration window for STAAR Alternate 2 began Monday, March 28, and the STAAR End-of-Course administration window opens Tuesday, April 5. Click here to see the STAAR 2021-22 Student Assessment Testing Calendar.

As TEA prepares for the shift to online test administration beginning in December, the agency announced that it completed field testing of new question types in February. Scoring and reporting guides for the new question types are available on TEA’s STAAR redesign webpage.

TEA also is seeking districts to participate in a pilot program for a through-year assessment model as a possible replacement of the STAAR summative tests. The multi-year pilot program begins with the 2022-23 school year and will include Grade 5 science, Grade 6 math, Grade 7 math and Grade 8 social studies. Click here to read more.

TRS Chief Benefit Officer Barbie Pearson will join us at 6 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, April 5, to discuss what educators need to know to get ready for retirement, including time frames and what the process looks like. We’ll include time for general questions from TCTA members during this 30-minute webinar, so be sure to submit yours when you sign up using this link.

What do you want to ask TCTA? Email questions or topic suggestions for the May 3 webinar to communications@tcta.org. Watch replays from previous Tuesdays with TCTA sessions on demand at tcta.org/twt.

An employee sued his former employer, alleging that the employer discriminated against him on the basis of race and religion and subjected him to a hostile work environment. He made a number of other allegations, including violations of civil rights statutes, his First Amendment right to free speech, and his 14th Amendment right to due process; and conspiracy to violate his civil rights.

The district court dismissed the lawsuit prior to trial, finding that he had not stated any facts that, if true, would be a violation of the law. The employee appealed. The Court of Appeals agreed that the dismissal of most of the lawsuit was appropriate. However, it found that the employee's claim that his supervisor used a racial epithet, if proven to be true at trial, could allege the creation of a hostile work environment. Click here to read more.

Nominations are being accepted through Sunday, May 1, for TCTA's 2021-22 statewide awards. Help us honor those who have made outstanding contributions to public education, the teaching profession or TCTA during the past year.

Nominate TCTA members for:

Nominate other public education supporters for:

Participation in the awards program is an opportunity for TCTA's local affiliates and members-at-large to publicly recognize members and others who impact their schools and profession. It's also a great way for CTAs to attract positive attention from the media, peers and administrators.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted rates of attendance for students across Texas during the 2021-22 school year. To mitigate the potential loss of funding for schools, Education Commissioner Mike Morath announced on Tuesday that he will exercise his authority to approve a reduction in operational minutes for school districts for the first four six-week attendance reporting periods.

Teachers are still needed when attendance drops and the adjustment will help alleviate some of the funding losses due to COVID-19.

"Providing this adjustment to the 2021-22 school year will ensure school systems have the funding they need to retain the best and brightest teachers and provide quality education to all public school students across Texas," Gov. Greg Abbott said. "We have made tremendous strides to return more of our students back to the classroom, and will continue in our efforts to do so."

This is the third time the state has given districts some flexibility when it comes to funding and attendance during the pandemic. Click here to read more.

TCTA members may buy discounted tickets for admission at the Fort Worth Zoo. Our corporate partnership with the zoo restarted recently after a pause due to pandemic restrictions. Tickets cost $16 for adults and $12 for children/seniors and are valid any day through Dec. 31, 2022.