The Texas Education Agency has awarded $4 million to the College of Education at UT Austin to design and launch the state’s new literacy and reading-to-learn academies. The goal of the academies is to provide professional development for Texas K-5 elementary school teachers this summer and next summer on research-based best practices that can be implemented to enhance Texas students’ reading skills.
The UT College of Education has a history of taking the lead on statewide education initiatives for past governors. “We are honored to once again be seen as the trusted leader and go-to partner on Gov. Greg Abbott’s reading academies,” says Dean Manuel J. Justiz.
The college’s content development teams are charged with creating engaging, hands-on professional development sessions. Beginning June 20, the college will implement intensive sessions in Austin and San Antonio with kindergarten and first-grade teacher literacy academies. During the summer of 2017, the college will implement the second- and third-grade teacher literacy academies, and the fourth- and fifth-grade reading-to-learn academies.
