Accelerated Instruction: HB 1416 Ratio Waiver List for the 2024-2025 School Year

Date:  June 6, 2024
Subject: Accelerated Instruction: HB 1416 Ratio Waiver List for the 2024-2025 School Year
Category: Accelerated Instruction
Next Steps:  Share with district and campus administrators and engage with optional supports

 

Overview 

Texas students have experienced academic growth post-pandemic, but learning acceleration is still critically needed. Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0211 requires that students not receiving approaches or higher on STAAR grades 3 through 8 or End of Course (EOC) assessments receive accelerated instruction. House Bill (HB) 1416, 88(R), provides that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) shall approve automated, computerized, or other augmented method products for providing accelerated instruction that may waive the statutorily required 4 to 1 student-to-tutor ratio.

The HB 1416 Ratio Waiver List consists of approved products that may be used to waive this ratio requirement. School systems may use any curricular tool they choose to support accelerated instruction, but only products approved through this list qualify for the waiver of the 4 to 1 student-to-tutor ratio.

HB 1416 Ratio Waiver List Overview: 

  • Products were evaluated based on product efficacy, rigor of research supporting product efficacy, opportunity for student independence, alignment with accelerated instruction requirements and alignment with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).  
  • School systems are responsible for contracting and funding the product of their choice.  
  • TEA did not conduct a suitability review of the products, and vendors are required to meet SBOE suitability requirements to remain on the list.  
  • School systems are responsible for ensuring instructional materials meet local suitability standards and state requirements such as: 
  • Compliance with Texas Education Code §31.1011. (a)(1)(B) where "in the provision of instructional materials, protects students from obscene or harmful content as necessary for compliance with: 
  • (i) the Children's Internet Protection Act (Pub. L. No. 106-554); 
  • (ii) Section 28.0022
  • (iii) Section 43.22, Penal Code; and 
  • (iv) any other law or regulation that protects students from obscene or harmful content” 
  • Additional details about the 1416 Ratio Waiver list process are available on the Accelerated Instruction webpage.

The following products have been approved for inclusion on the HB 1416 Ratio Waiver List for the 2024-2025 school year: 

Subject Product Name Grade Level Coverage
(Applicable Grades w/ HB 1416)
Math IXL Math PK-12 (4-11)
Math ST Math PK-8 (4-8)
RLA

Amira Learning
Distributed by Amira or HMH

K-6 (4-6)
RLA HMH Read 180 Flex 3-12 (4-11)
RLA IXL Language Arts PK-12 (4-11)


To benefit from the waived ratio requirement, applicable students must meet minimum product usage requirements for the approved product. A school district not meeting usage requirements with a product will be required to revert to the 4:1 ratio for supplemental instruction (19 TAC §104.1001).

Note: Teachers are the single most important in-school factor impacting student outcomes​ (Hattie, 2011). The tools approved on this list – when implemented effectively with quality educator training and sufficient time in a master schedule – can reduce educator workload while addressing individual learning gaps in full group or high impact tutoring settings. These tools are not a substitute for excellent teaching.

Support Resources

The following supports are available for LEA personnel supporting HB 1416 implementation: