Part 2 of 2 (click here for Part 1)
20,000 Educators are Currently Being Trained
Morath Briefs Board on Reading Academies
Education Commissioner Mike Morath reported to the State Board of Education (SBOE) that the pandemic has not been slowing down the effort to implement the requirement under 2019’s HB3 that all K-3 teachers, and principals whose campuses encompass those grades, must complete “a teacher reading literacy achievement academy” by the end of the 2022-23 school year.
Morath reported that about 20,000 educators are undergoing training in the HB3 Reading Academies from about 38 authorized providers, including all 20 education service centers, and includes about 700 trainers.
Training can last as long as a year and is being conducted via in-person and online instruction.
“This is a big deal,” Morath told the board.
SBOE member Barbara Cargill, R-Conroe, stated that she is voluntarily taking the training, and has found it to be interesting, challenging and academically demanding. She noted she had failed a pre-test, but after studying harder, did well on a post test.
An initial survey of participants reflected that 83 percent agreed — or strongly agreed — that the reading academy models were well designed and would positively impact classroom practices.
Resources:
- Webcast of Morath's remarks to SBOE (starts at the beginning)
- Slides (pdf)
- Reading Academies website