| INFORMATION ONLY |
December 28, 1999
TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: First Grade Teacher Reading Academies
The 76th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 4, which placed in the Texas Education Code elements of the Student Success Initiative. One of those elements is the Teacher Reading
Academies. The Initiative is to provide support for the training of teachers and the implementation of scientific, research-based programs to support students in their reading development
in the primary grades.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is again working with the Texas Center for Reading and Language Arts and Education Service Center Region XIII, Statewide Initiatives, to develop four-day reading academies for first grade teachers. The academies are voluntary; however, I would like to ask you to please encourage every teacher assigned to teach first grade in the 2000-2001 school year in your district to attend the academies. To have all public school first grade teachers receive this professional development is a massive effort that depends on your leadership and support.
You will be receiving information from your regional Education Service Center (ESC) regarding schedules for academies and the process for registration. A First Grade Teacher Reading Academies (1TRA) contact person has been designated at each ESC to assist you with information. Please contact your ESC with any specific questions you might have.
Each first grade teacher who chooses to participate will receive a stipend of $600.00 for attending the four-day academy. This stipend will be paid directly to each teacher by the ESC, and participants must attend all four days to receive the stipend. No partial stipends will be paid. Most importantly, teachers will receive knowledge of how best to assist children in their classroom to gain strong reading foundations for the future.
Thank you in advance for your support of this first grade teacher initiative.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Nelson
Commissioner of Education