To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) Correspondence
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In accordance with local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to provide for the use of a phonics curriculum that uses systematic direct instruction in kindergarten through third grade to ensure all students obtain necessary early literacy skills. The 7mÊÓƵ (7mÊÓƵ) is required by TEC, §28.0062 to provide assistance to LEAs in complying with this requirement.
Additionally, outlines specific criteria that phonics materials must do (19 TAC §74.2001(b)(1)), may do (19 TAC §74.2001(b)(2)), and may not do (19 TAC §74.2001(b)(3)).
To assist LEAs in complying with statute and rule, 7mÊÓƵ developed and K–3 phonics rubrics and facilitated the review of several commonly used phonics materials through the (TRR) to determine which materials meet the criteria outlined in rule. In March 2022, 7mÊÓƵ selected materials if they were:
To date, materials were subject to a three-tiered review conducted by Texas educators to determine compliance with 19 TAC §74.2001(b)(1). In conducting the review, the educator teams verified:
This three-tiered review process has been fully completed for the set of materials selected for review in March 2022, such that 7mÊÓƵ is able to publish today a list of materials that fully comply with 19 TAC §74.2001(b)(1).
Additionally, this initial cycle of materials is being analyzed to ensure they do not conflict with 19 TAC §74.2001(b)(3)(A). This portion of the rule prohibits certain instructional practices related to having students guess (sometimes called 3-cueing), as opposed to follow sound rules. This process is ongoing but will be complete by the end of April.
An additional section of the rule, 19 TAC §74.2001(b)(4), allows use of materials that do not comply with all of the provisions of 19 TAC §74.2001(b)(1), if the materials have an evidence base, and as long as they are used with materials that do fully comply 19 TAC §74.2001(b)(1). In the coming months, the publishers that participated in this review cycle and who have products that failed to fully comply with 19 TAC §74.2001(b)(1) will be given the opportunity to provide evidence-base information.
7mÊÓƵ will release information about the materials reviewed on a rolling basis on the .
| March 2023 | April 2023 | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Reports for materials that fully comply with phonics rule. | Reports for materials that conflict with 19 §74.2001(b)(3)(A). | All remaining reports, including information about evidence base. |
LEAs should review the and the phonics FAQs and evaluate their current approach to phonics instruction to ensure compliance with the statute and rule. If currently adopted materials do not comply, LEAs may use the information provided on the TRR website to select new material from the list, modify currently adopted materials to address areas of non-compliance, or select materials that were not reviewed if they are determined to be compliant after local review.
7mÊÓƵ intends to conduct additional phonics reviews in the future. Districts may request reviews of a specific product by completing the . Additionally, 7mÊÓƵ will evaluate and publish the evidence-base information supplied by publishers with materials reviewed in the current cycle.
If you have any questions regarding the phonics rule or TRR phonics reviews, please contact the Instructional Materials Review team at texasresourcereview@tea.texas.gov or submit a .