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HB 3 requires the following educators to complete the Texas Reading Academies:

• K–3 general education classroom teachers.
• K–3 special education classroom teachers.
• Principals who serve campuses with K–3 classrooms.

Generally, the requirement applies to the teacher of record for students in kindergarten through grade 3. 

Local school systems may exempt educators who are not the teacher of record in required grades, including (but not limited to): 

• Art
• Music
• Physical Education
• Health
• Speech Communication
• Theatre Arts

Additional Staff Participation (Local District Decision) 

In addition to those required by statute, districts and charter schools may determine that other staff should participate in the Reading Academies to support early literacy instruction. Participation is strongly encouraged for roles such as: 

• Assistant principals
• Reading interventionists and literacy coaches
• Special education teachers who are not the teacher of record
• Dyslexia teachers
• Speech pathologists
• Librarians
• Full‑time ELAR/SLAR tutors
• Grade 4–5 teachers 

Districts may also decide whether participation is appropriate for other instruction or support staff based on local needs.

All certified educators teaching K–3 students, and principals at K–3 campuses, were required to have a Reading Academies certificate of completion on file in the 7mÊÓƵ Searchable Database by the end of the 2023–24 school year. 

After the 2023–24 school year, educators new to Texas public or open‑enrollment charter schools must enroll in and actively participate in Reading Academies during their first year of employment. 

This includes: 

• Educators new to teaching or administering K–3 students.
• Educators new to Texas.
• Educators new to a Texas public or charter school. 

Educators who do not meet this requirement by the end of their first year of employment may not continue to serve as teacher of record in K–3 classrooms. Human Resources staff within each school system are responsible for ensuring compliance. 

Educators who completed Reading Academies through an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) have met the requirement and are listed in the 7mÊÓƵ database. Districts may require re‑enrollment for local purposes, but the state does not require it.

Districts and charter schools can verify completion using 7mÊÓƵ’s Searchable Database for Reading Academies.*  

All Reading Academies questions and technical issues can be Technical assistance for platform issues may also be submitted via the.

*7mÊÓƵ is updating its website at the end of May 2026; there may be disruptions to the searchable database during the update. Please reach out via with any questions. 

Program Costs 

• Comprehensive Model: $3,000 per participant
• Blended Model: $400 per participant
  • Blended models are available only for Administrator, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, or Extenuating Circumstances pathways. 

Payment Responsibility 

Districts and charter schools are responsible for paying the cost of an educator’s first attempt to complete the Texas Reading Academies, as required by HB 3. 

After the first attempt, school systems may require educators to pay for additional enrollments under locally established policies. 

Allowable Funding Sources 

Districts may use a variety of state and local funding sources, including but not limited to: 

• Early Education Allotment
• Dyslexia Allotment
• Bilingual Allotment
• Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) funds
• Compensatory Education funds
• Basic Allotment increases 

Funding decisions are made at the local district level.

Comprehensive Model (Required for Most Participants) 

The comprehensive model is a face‑to‑face, in‑person learning experience that includes:

• Online modules and assignments in Canvas LMS
• In‑person literacy learning sessions
• Classroom observations and coaching
• Demonstration of content mastery with support from a Comprehensive Cohort Leader 

Comprehensive Pathways include:

• ELAR
• Biliteracy
• Science of Teaching Reading (STR)
• Educator Preparation Program (EPP) 

Blended Pathways (Limited Availability) 

ESC Region 16 currently offers the following blended pathways:

• Administrator Pathway
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Extenuating Circumstances Course 

Science of Teaching Reading (STR) Pathways 

The STR pathway is a streamlined option for educators who have successfully passed the STR exam and are required to complete Reading Academies. 

• Available only if approved by the district.
• Requires proof of STR exam passage.
• May be substituted with full TRA at district discretion. 

The STR pathways are a total of 42 instructional hours, take 12 months to complete, and cost the same as the full Texas Reading Academies. 

Available STR Pathways: 

• STR ELAR
• STR Biliteracy

Teachers who have passed the STR exam and teach only mathematics may qualify for a Reading Academies waiver. 

School systems must submit the following for the

• Teacher STR certification documentation, and
• Assurance the teacher will teach math only during the school year.

If teaching assignments change, eligibility must be reevaluated. 

Questions should be submitted through the

Districts may allow experienced educators with deep STR knowledge to attempt a test‑out option instead of completing the full academy. 

Eligibility Requirements 

• Written administrator recommendation
• Passing a prescreening exam
• Completion of three required artifacts 

Educators who pass all requirements on the first attempt receive HB 3 credit and are not required to enroll in Reading Academies. Those who do not pass must enroll in the full academy; no refunds are issued. 

Note: This is a test‑out option only—no CPE hours are awarded. 

Registration Process 

1. Educator requests district approval.
2. District submits a formal approval letter.
3. District contacts an Authorized Provider (AP).
4. Authorized Provider submits a request through the AP Hub.
5. Education Elements coordinates payment ($350 per participant).
6. Educator receives enrollment instructions.

An enrollment counts as an attempt unless the educator completes all the following: 

• Active participation in all in‑person sessions.
• Four classroom observations with coaching follow‑ups.
• Completion of all Canvas pretests and posttests.
• 80% mastery on all Checks for Understanding.
• 80% mastery of all artifacts. 

Local school systems may require educators to repay course costs if the educator:

• Withdraws without approval,
• Misses required sessions or coaching,
• Does not complete required work, and/or
• Fails to respond to outreach and support efforts.

Authorized Providers are required to offer one make‑up session per day of missed comprehensive learning.

Authorized providers (APs) play a critical role in the successful implementation of the Texas Reading Academies by registering eligible cohort leaders for training, ensuring fidelity of content delivery, providing ongoing support to cohort leaders, and monitoring participant progress and completion throughout the programs. 

APs include: 

Cohort Leaders are the lead facilitators for K–3 Reading Academies and are responsible for:

• Facilitating in‑person sessions.
• Building professional literacy communities.
• Coaching classroom implementation.
• Conducting observations and feedback cycles.
• Supporting mastery of modules and artifacts.
• Ensuring fidelity to program requirements.

Use the following steps to register for a Cohort Leader Screener: 

1. .
2. Register during an open window on .
3. Check email for login instructions from 7mÊÓƵ.

Screener Windows 

Registration opens on the first day of each window. 

2026

• March 23 – April 1, 2026
• April 27 – May 6, 2026
• June 8 – June 16, 2026
• July 20 – July 29, 2026
• August 31 – September 10, 2026
• December 7 – December 16, 2026

2027

• February 1 – February 9, 2027
• March 15 – March 24, 2027

Most applicants complete the Cohort Leader Screener in approximately 3–5 total hours, though the Screener is completed over a 7‑day access window to allow flexibility. 

The Initial Assessment typically takes 30–60 minutes for the General Education screener and 45–90 minutes for the Biliteracy screener. The artifact portion requires additional time, averaging 2.5–3 hours for General Education and 3–3.5 hours for Biliteracy. 

Once registered, participants have seven consecutive days, including weekends, to complete all components. 

• The countdown begins immediately at registration, progress is saved if participants log out, and access to all materials ends when the 7‑day window closes.

The Screener has three required parts, completed in order. A score of 80% or higher is required on each section. 

1. Initial Assessment
   1. Multiple‑choice and short‑answer questions
   2. Focused on STR foundational knowledge 

The General Education (ELAR) Initial Assessment has 34 questions, and the Biliteracy (SLAR) Initial Assessment has 69 questions. 

2. Canvas‑Graded Artifacts
   1. Short quizzes and applied tasks
   2. Automatically scored with immediate results
3. Panel‑Graded Artifacts
   1. Performance‑based tasks that are reviewed by a panel of national STR experts.
   2. Each artifact scored by three reviewers; scores are final and aligned to 7mÊÓƵ rubrics.

Results for the Cohort Leader Screener are released in stages. Educators receive immediate results for the Initial Assessment and Canvas‑graded Artifacts upon completion. Panel‑graded artifact results are released after the screener window closes. Final screener status can be viewed by logging in to the.

Applicants who do not complete the Screener within the 7‑day window or who do not pass must register for a future Screener window to continue. Any previously passed sections are retained, and applicants may attempt the Screener up to three times within 12 months from their initial enrollment. 

Passing the Cohort Leader Screener is a required step, but it does not automatically make an educator a Cohort Leader. 

To become an active Cohort Leader, individuals must:

• Pass the Cohort Leader Screener,
• Be hired by an Authorized Provider,
• Complete Cohort Leader Training, and
• Successfully lead at least one Texas Reading Academies cohort during the 12‑month term.