Educator Resources
The ɬ Education Agency actively supports early childhood educators via professional development, resource provision, and on-demand support. To access a comprehensive list of available resources, visit the ECE Resources pageand use the links on the right to access support regarding Assessment/Data Driven Instruction resources, Prekindergarten Tuition, and published webinars from the Early Childhood team.
Featured Resource:The ɬ Prekindergarten Guidelines were revised to align with Kindergarten ɬ Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), condense content, include inclusive language of multi-lingual learners and special populations, eliminate errors and ambiguity, and to meet section 508 accessibility compliance. Implementation of the 2022 ɬ Prekindergarten Guidelines will begin in the 2023-2024 school year.
*NEW* 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 Commissioner’s List of Approved Prekindergarten Progress Monitoring Instruments
ɬhas released a new Commissioner's List of Approved Prekindergarten Progress Monitoring Instruments for use during the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 school years in accordance with ɬ Education Code (TEC), §29.169. This list replaces the 2017-2022 version posted on the ɬwebsite and will go into effect the 2024-2025 school year. School districts and charter schools should select instruments from the updated 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 list when planning for school year 2024-2025 and beyond.
Please note: The 2017-2022 Commissioner's List of Approved Prekindergarten Progress Monitoring Instruments will remain in effect through the 2023-2024 school year.
The approved instruments:
- are based on valid, reliable research;
- thoroughly measure key domains; and
- are user-friendly for assessing pre-K students.
The following five primary domains of development must be assessed using the instruments on the list:
- Emergent Literacy: Reading
- Emergent Literacy: Writing
- Emergent Literacy: Language and Communication
- Health and Wellness
- Mathematics
View the full appendix of supporting documents on the PK Progress Monitoring page.
Approved Prekindergarten Curriculum
Please see the for PreK Learning Systems adopted by the State Board of Education (SBOE). The SBOE sets policies and standards for ɬ public schools. The primary responsibilities of the SBOE include:
- Setting curriculum standards
- Reviewing and adopting instructional materials
- Establishing graduation requirements
- Overseeing the
- Appointing board members to military reservation and special school districts
- Providing final review of rules proposed by the State Board for Educator Certification
- Reviewing the commissioner's proposed award of new charter schools, with authority to veto a recommended applicant
Updated Prekindergarten Guidelines
ճɬ Prekindergarten Guidelinesare aligned with the Kindergarten ɬ Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), sequenced to follow child development and give teaching strategies for each of the guidelines. ճguidelines offer educators the information and support to prepare all children for success in school.
Professional Development
ɬ Education Agency
The Early Childhood Education regularly provides webinars to support professionals in the field. For upcoming webinars and recordings of previous webinars, please visit the ECE Resources Page.
The ɬ Education Agency is committed to supporting sustainable district and school improvement efforts. As part of that mission, it is TEA’s intent to maintain a directory of training programs that have been vetted and approved as Vetted Improvement Programs (VIP). The Vetted Improvement Programs (VIP) List will be available to LEAs to support their selection of high-quality contracted services aligned with critical actions within the . These vetted programs included resources to support both coaching and professional development.
The includes self-directed professional development training courses that you can take to earn CPE credit hours.
is the new professional development hub for ɬ educators. Explore the TEALearn course catalog to discover new learning opportunities. In accordance with statutory requirements established by TEC §38.351, The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) coordinates with the ɬ Education Agency (TEA) and Education Service Centers (ESCs) to annually review a list of recommended best-practice based programs, and research-based practices, for public schools. In collaboration, these entities have compiled a list of practices and programs to create the Mental and Behavioral Health Recommended Best Practices and Programs Repository. The repository includes important practices and programs for school leader’s consideration. These resources are intended to support mental and behavioral health along with academic achievement.
Restorative Discipline Practices (RDP) Stand-Alone Training of Trainers. The training is offered to employees of public schools and charter schools and Communities in Schools (CIS). RDP Training Information | ɬ Education Agency
The website provides access to professional development to support Emergent Bilingual Students in ɬ.
The contains unique opportunities for educators to participate in online courses, workshops, events, and conferences. Explore the learning library for professional development designed to support new and experienced educators of all types.
ɬhas launched which includes a trauma-informed training video series designed to address the emotional needs of students and colleagues. This series will help educators create an environment that jump starts teaching and learning and drives student achievement.
Children’s Learning Institute Engage
is a comprehensive e-learning platform housing TSR Online professional development, child progress monitoring tools, and classroom observation tools - available for free to ɬ public schools, Head Start programs, and ɬ Rising Star Certified Providers
ɬ School Ready
(TSR) is a comprehensive preschool teacher training program that combines a research-based, state-adopted curriculum with ongoing professional development and progress monitoring tools to help children be more prepared for kindergarten and beyond. TSR will be implemented across the state through three delivery models that vary by support level of intensity: TSR Online, TSR Online+, and TSR Comprehensive. Our foundational model,TSR Online, is available toall public school districts, public charter schools, ɬ Rising Star certified providers, former ɬ School Ready participants, and Head Start grantees in ɬ atno cost.
eCIRCLE online Professional Development
provides online courses featuring extensive video-based demonstrations of effective instructional practices, application-based assignments, and activities.
CIRCLE Child Development Associates (CDA)
(CDA) CredentialTMis based on a core set of competency standards, which guide early education and care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. To qualify, early childhood teachers must have a strong knowledge base (education and professional development) and demonstrated practice (experience in the classroom).
Note: CDAs are also offered through many ESCs and community colleges throughout the state
TEXAS A&M Agrilife Extension
The offers educational materials and courses, including topics within Early Childhood Education. Use the “Educational Materials” tab to search topics such as “professional development” or “Early Childhood Education” to find relevant courses.
Assessment and Evaluation Tools
The Early Learning Assessmentspage provides educators with the guidance needed to understand requirements, identify tools, and implement best practices in both data collection and data usage.
CIRCLE Prekindergarten Student Progress Monitoring Tool
The is a user-friendly, technology-driven tool that enables teachers to assess a child’s progress in a particular skill area almost instantly. This simplistic yet reliable data collection prompts teachers to focus on lessons that target their students’ least developed skill areas.
CIRCLE – Classroom Observation Tool
The captures snapshots of a teacher’s behavior and instruction during classroom observation visits that can be used to develop improvement plans and track a teacher’s progress over time. The system is well aligned with the ɬ Prekindergarten Guidelines and can be used by teachers, school leaders, and intervention specialists to promote effective teaching.
The ɬ Kindergarten Entry Assessment (TX-KEA)
The is a comprehensive assessment that can be reliably administered by kindergarten teachers and is a valid predictor of academic success.
Free Developmental Screening Tool
provides parents and early childhood professionals with information designed to determine if a child is developing similarly to other children his or her age. The tool is designed to answer the question, "Is this child's development like other children of the same age?“
Other resources
Developing Talkers/Hablemos Juntos
and its Spanish counterpart,Hablemos Juntos, are curriculum supplements that were created by researchers at the Children’s Learning Institute to support young children’s language and literacy skills, focusing on three domains of early language: vocabulary, comprehension, and speaking skills.
The ɬ Early Childhood Professional Development System
is a statewide program designed to meet the professional development needs of those working in the early childhood field.
ɬ Gateway
Engaging TEKS aligned online for your classroom.
Developmental Guidelines - 0-5 years old
Published in 2013, the ɬ Infant, Toddler, and Three-Year-Old Early describe expectations about what children should know and be able to do across developmental domains of learning during specific age ranges, as well as what steps caregivers should take to support healthy development.
ɬ Education Agency
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, ɬ 78701-1401