Mathematics and Reading Academies

In 2015 the 84th Texas Legislature (Regular Session) passed legislation directing the commissioner of education to develop and make available the following professional development opportunities to Texas public school teachers:

  • Mathematics achievement academies for teachers who provide math instruction to students at the kindergarten, first, second, or third grade level (Senate Bill 934, 84th Texas Legislature, 2015)
  • Literacy achievement academies for teachers who provide reading instruction to students at the kindergarten or first, second, or third grade level (SB 925, 84th Texas Legislature, 2015)
  • Reading-to-learn academies for teachers who provide reading comprehension instruction to students at the fourth or fifth grade level (SB 972 84th Texas Legislature, 2015)

The mathematics and reading academies will be available during summer 2019. To view the list of eligible campuses, visit: ESC Mathematics and Reading Academies Priority List for 2016, 2017, and 2018

Reading Academies

NEW

Reading Academies have been redesigned to better meet the needs of Texas teachers. 2019 Reading Academies will include:

K-5 Teacher Experience

  • 15-month professional development series including 5-days of professional development in the summer and additional training throughout the academic year
  • Instructional coaching
  • Differentiated learning pathways
  • A stipend of $1,500 for completing the program and travel reimbursement

If you are a teacher and are interested in this opportunity, talk with your school, district and regional leadership.

Regional, District and School Leader Experience

  • Access to 15-month professional development series including 5-days of professional development in the summer and additional training throughout the academic year with reduced expectation for attendance
  • Differentiated pathways

If you are a regional, district or school leader and are interested in you and your teachers participating, please review the grant opportunity below:

Reading Excellence and Academies Development (READ) Grant Opportunity

READ LOI

LINK TO WEBINAR

LINK TO WEBINAR SLIDES

READ Grant FAQ  

READ RFA Information Webinar Video 

January 10, 2019  

READ Webinar January 10, 2019 at 2:00 pm CT.

Register here

First day to submit written questions about READ.  Send questions to readinginitiative@tea.texas.gov

January 18, 2019

Last day to submit written questions about READ to readinginitiative@tea.texas.gov

January 25, 2019

Responses to written questions will be posted on this webpage

February 1, 2019

Optional Notice of Intent: submit this form

March 1, 2019

Please submit your completed Letter of Interest (LOI) Application and Letters of Commitment to readinginitiative@tea.texas.gov with the subject line: READ LoI _; (example: READ LoI_ESC21). Applications are due by 5:00pm CT on Friday, March 1, 2019.

March 2019

Finalists will be notified by TEA to complete a Request for Application (RFA).

March – May 2019

RFA Evaluation and Negotiation Process

May 2019

Notices of Grant Awards (NOGAs) issued. READ activities begin.

Math Academies 

Academy Stipends

The Texas Legislature has appropriated funding to pay stipends to eligible teachers who successfully complete academies. A teacher who successfully completes an academy will be eligible to receive a $350 stipend, minus applicable income taxes and payroll deductions.

TEA will process payments to school districts and charter schools for disbursement to eligible teachers who completed an academy. Teachers who completed academy training and who submitted a signed verification form accepting the stipend upon completion of the training will receive a stipend.

Once stipend information has been verified and processed, TEA will issue a payment to each school district and charter school that had an eligible teacher complete an approved training. Districts and schools are required to pay teachers the stipend in a timely manner. Districts and schools will be notified of the payment and will be provided a detailed list of the teachers who are to receive the stipend. Correspondence will be sent to the district or charter school superintendent as well as to the district business office at the email address on file in the AskTED system.

For questions related to stipend payment, teachers should first contact their district or charter school business office, followed by the ESC responsible for the academy training.

Instructions for Finding Your Unique ID (PDF, 191KB) - For timely processing of teacher stipends for academy attendance, participant’s ten-digit Unique ID number is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Achievement Academies ESC FAQs 2017 (PDF, 158KB)

Achievement Academies FAQs 2017 (PDF, 164KB)