Reading Academies
These academies are provided based on House Bill 3, passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in June of 2019.
In accordance with this bill, all kindergarten through third grade teachers and principals must attend the HB2 Texas Reading Academies.
HB3 Reading Academies remain a requirement for any new K–3 teachers and administrators.
ESC Region 12 is a TEA Authorized Provider of HB3 Reading Academies. We are excited to offer these mandated academies to Region 12.
For additional information and resources, please click here to visit TEA's Reading Academies website.
Have you already passed? Wondering if a new hire has HB3 Credit?
You can now check on the TEA website if you have HB3 Reading Academy Credit!
Reading Academies at Region 12
Cohort Pre-Registration
How to Pre-register - ESC Region 12
FOR ESC REGION 12 Comprehensive Cohorts, pre-register through ESC Works!
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Log in to ESC Works.
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Search for the course: HB3 Texas Reading Academies
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Select the current course offered: (ELAR or Biliteracy)
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After pre-registering, you will receive a link to the Canvas course where you will complete your official course registration.
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An invoice will be sent to your district for payment
Primary Implementation Model is Comprehensive
Per HB3, all sessions must be attended in person. Participants are expected to plan accordingly. Make-up sessions may be available for extenuating circumstances with prior facilitator approval. More than two conflicts will require enrollment in a future cohort.
Cohort Start Month Options
June 2026
How to Pre-register - ESC Region 16 - Blended Admin Pathway
ADMINISTRATOR BLENDED PATHWAY will be through ESC Region 16. Use the link below to pre-register!
Cohort Leader Screener Windows
District Leader Support Material
Become a Cohort Leader
Cohort Leader Information
Process:
- Successfully complete screener
- Demonstrate proficiency with artifacts
- Review & evaluate sample artifacts effectively
- Secure employment with Authorized Provider or district
If you are a teacher and are interested in this opportunity, talk with your school, district and regional leadership.
- Authorized Provider will arrange registration for virtual training.
- Only hired Cohort Leaders will attend training dates.
- All cohort leaders must attend mandatory training and complete the work as assigned.
The goal of this the Reading Academies Facilitator is to offer local education agencies with direct support that fits their specific needs in the implementation of the Science of Teaching Reading practices.
Diana Davis is the designated Reading Academy Facilitator for Region 12. She leads the coordination and implementation of reading initiatives across our region. With the understanding of statewide reading initiatives and unique challenges that face our LEAs, Diana bridges the gap between compliance and implementation.
If you or your teachers have completed HB3 Reading Academies, ESC Region 12 can support strong implementation of STR practices in the classroom and ongoing instructional support.
FAQs
- How will teachers new to the profession or specific grade level be trained? Will districts not be allowed to hire a new teacher for K-3?
- If a teacher passes the new Science of Teaching Reading certification test, do they still have to attend the HB 3 Reading Academies?
- What are district implementation options for HB3 Reading Academies?
- What are the implementation models for HB3 Reading Academies?
- If a district chooses to use the local implementation option and pays the annual flat fee to the Authorized Provider, will it also have to pay per teacher or administrator who enrolls in the course?
- Can a district/charter use the Comprehensive model for some teachers and the Blended model for other teachers?
- Are the HB3 reading academies required for special education teachers?
- If a teacher is enrolled in a Comprehensive Cohort, what happens if he/she has to miss one or more of the face-to-face sessions?
- How will teachers and administrators register for the HB 3 Reading Academies?
- How do I find my TEAL Unique ID?
- How will teachers and administrators pay for HB3 Reading Academies?
- When teachers and administrators pay for academies, will the money go through TEA and/or ESC Region 12?
- Will the content be differentiated based on what type of teacher enrolls?
- What type of content will be covered in the reading academies?
- What types of assignments or artifacts will teachers and administrators need to submit?
- How will the artifacts be graded?
- How will the administrator training vary from the teacher training?
How will teachers new to the profession or specific grade level be trained? Will districts not be allowed to hire a new teacher for K-3?
The wording of the law indicates that beginning 2021-22 school year, K-3 teachers and principals must attend the Texas Reading Academies. All K-3 teachers and principals must complete Texas Reading Academies by the end of the 2022-2023 Academic Year before 1st year of placement in that grade level or campus.
Starting the 2023-2024 Academic Year teachers and principals must have started the year-long Reading Academies before placement in a K-3 classroom or campus. This mean that K-3 teachers and principals new to this placement will need to be concurrently enrolled in Texas Reading Academies while being in their first year of placement. A new teacher for the 2024 -2025 school year can be enrolled in ANY cohort during this year. For Region 12, the cohort available is June 2025. This means that a first year teacher can enroll at the END of their first year (June 2025). A note: All cohorts are comprehensive. Please be mindful of the dates of the face-to-face trainings. A new teacher for the 2025 -2026 year can attend the June 2025 cohort or June 2026 cohort.
If a teacher passes the new Science of Teaching Reading certification test, do they still have to attend the HB 3 Reading Academies?
Yes. The HB 3 Reading Academies are written into state statute and are required for all teachers and principals in grades Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. A shortened version of the course has been created by TEA. You have to show proof of STR designation on your teaching certificate or passing the STR exam.
What are district implementation options for HB3 Reading Academies?
View the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) outlining implementation options.
What are the implementation models for HB3 Reading Academies?
Districts can choose to implement through a blended or comprehensive model.
A comprehensive model includes:
- Personalized coaching from a Cohort Leader
- 10 face-to-face professional development sessions
- Use Canvas for submission of artifacts and receive feedback from Cohort Leader
- 11 months to complete coursework
A blended model includes:
- Completely online professional development using Canvas
- Use Canvas for submission of artifacts and receive personalized feedback from Cohort Leader
- 11 months to complete coursework
If a district chooses to use the local implementation option and pays the annual flat fee to the Authorized Provider, will it also have to pay per teacher or administrator who enrolls in the course?
Districts that choose the local implementation option will pay an annual flat fee per Cohort Leader, and will not pay a separate fee per teacher or administrator. However, it is important to note that there is a limit on the number of people who can be in a cohort.
Districts will need to employ enough qualified Cohort Leaders to provide training to their teachers by 2022, and they will pay the flat fee per Cohort Leader annually.
Can a district/charter use the Comprehensive model for some teachers and the Blended model for other teachers?
Are the HB3 reading academies required for special education teachers?
If a teacher is enrolled in a Comprehensive Cohort, what happens if he/she has to miss one or more of the face-to-face sessions?
Teachers and administrators who are enrolled in the Comprehensive model of the reading academies will still have access to the online materials through Canvas, so they will be able to work with their Cohort Leader and make up the content that they missed. Exact procedures for this type of scenario are still being developed.
How will teachers and administrators register for the HB 3 Reading Academies?
Users will register through register.TEAlearn.com, which will open on or after June 1, 2020. This URL will take users to a Canvas Catalog registration portal. Before registering through register.TEAlearn.com, users must identify their TEAL Unique ID.
How do I find my TEAL Unique ID?
View the Texas Education Agency's (TEA) outlining how to obtain your TEAL Unique ID.
How will teachers and administrators pay for HB3 Reading Academies?
When teachers and administrators pay for academies, will the money go through TEA and/or ESC Region 12?
Will the content be differentiated based on what type of teacher enrolls?
What type of content will be covered in the reading academies?
The content for the reading academies is still under development. The reading academies are using current research on literacy and language development in addition to solid research from the past that is still relevant for teachers and administrators. The content is reflective of the characteristics and needs of today’s learners. There will be 12 modules covered:
- Introduction
- The Science of Teaching Reading
- Establishing Literacy Communities
- Using Assessment Data to Inform Instruction
- Oral Language and Vocabulary
- Phonological Awareness
- Alphabet Knowledge
- Decoding, Encoding, and Word Study
- Reading Fluency
- Reading Comprehension
- Composition
- Tiered Supports
What types of assignments or artifacts will teachers and administrators need to submit?
How will the artifacts be graded?
All artifacts are graded by a single entity grader. This single entity grader will assign a score based on a rubric. The learner does have access to this rubric in the course. If the learner does not make an 80 or above on the artifact, the learner does have opportunity to resubmit until the grade is 80 or above. The cohort leader is responsible for grading resubmissions.
How will the administrator training vary from the teacher training?
Administrators will be provided with the same content as teachers, but they will have a specific pathway within each module that will address their needs as an administrator. If an administrator is enrolled in the same course as their teachers (not admin only cohort), the administrator will have the same content as the teachers.
Troubleshooting
Please navigate through the prompts below to troubleshoot using the TEALearn.com website.
- How to Register for HB3 Reading Academies (VIDEO)
- It says that I am already registered but I am unable to find my course.
- It says to enter a promo code and not a PO number.
- How do I find my TEAL 10-Digit Unique ID?
- How do I enroll in the Passport to Canvas Course?
How to Register for HB3 Reading Academies (VIDEO)
It says that I am already registered but I am unable to find my course.
FIX - It looks like you already have an account and will need to log in before you enroll.
(These next steps work best if you are on a computer and not a phone.)
- Click the cohort link that was emailed to you.
- In the top right corner, you should see the word 'login' in blue. Click this and it should take you to the blue TEA Learn screen.
- Enter your login information. This should take you to the screen where you see that you have been enrolled in the passport to canvas course.
- Come back to this email and click your cohort link again.
- Instead of login in the top right, it should say your name.
- Now, click on the $400 enroll / enroll button and you should be able to continue the registration process.
It says to enter a promo code and not a PO number.
How do I find my TEAL 10-Digit Unique ID?
Please follow the link here - https://txeduagency.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/223080947-Find-Your-Unique-ID-on-Your-TEAL-Profile-Educators
How do I enroll in the Passport to Canvas Course?
Use the link below to enroll in the Passport to Canvas Course:
https://tealearn-region12-ra-k3.pdx.catalog.canvaslms.com/courses/escregion12