English Language Arts and Reading

Clarification, guidance, and support for English language arts and reading stakeholders, including districts, schools, parents, educators, & students.

Contact Information

Curriculum Standards and Student Support

(512) 463-9581

For questions or additional information, please submit a Curriculum Request Form through the

 TEA Help Desk.

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NEWS 



 

Foundation Team

Shawna Wiebusch
Foundation Director

Tamara Robert
Reading Language Arts Content Specialist

Vanessa Alba
Elementary Content Specialist

Liz Baker
Science Content Specialist

Jenny Gaona
Social Studies Content Specialist

James Slack
Mathematics Content Specialist

The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted new English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) at the September 2024 SBOE meeting. The new ELPS became effective in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 120, on February 2, 2025.  

The new ELPS are scheduled to be implemented in classrooms beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. Local education agencies (LEAs) must continue providing instruction in the current ELPS in 19 TAC, Chapter 74, §74.4, until they are replaced with the new ELPS in 2026–2027.   

The links below provide access to the new ELPS posted on the TEA Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills web page.  

ELPS Resources

The ELPS resources below provide information to support understanding and implementation of the ELPS.

The side-by-side tables provide a comparison of the ELPS student expectations by grade band (Kindergarten–Grade 3 and Grades 4–12). Each grade band includes a side-by-side table for each domain showing the alignment between the current ELPS and the new ELPS adopted in 2024.

The links below provide a side-by-side view of the current ELPS and the new ELPS student expectations.  

Stakeholder Engagement Sessions

The reading language arts team at TEA is committed to enhancing opportunities for stakeholder engagement across the state of Texas. Reading Language Arts Stakeholder Engagement Sessions allow the TEA reading language arts team to expand information sharing and interaction with stakeholders. 

May Reading Language Arts Stakeholder Engagement Session

Topic: English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) Guide 101

Target Audience: English Language Arts, English as a Second Language, Bilingual or Dual Language Stakeholders- Teachers, District Administrators, Campus Administrators, Education Service Center Specialists, Parents, Professional Organizations  

Session Description: This session is designed to introduce participants to the purpose, structure, and key components of the ELPS Guide. This tool will help provide a consistent and clear interpretation of the revised ELPS so that all educators in Texas have the same understanding of the standards. Attendees will receive a high-level overview of how the guide is organized and how it can be used to support planning, instruction, and decision-making. The session will highlight major sections of the guide and clarify how the content is intended to be used in practice. Participants will leave with an understanding of the guide’s goals and where to find information to support their work.

Date, Time, and Registration Link

Wednesday, May 20, 1:00-2:00 p.m. (CT): May 20 Registration Link 

Recent English Language Arts Communications

The recent newsletters and engagement session presentations updates below have been shared by the reading language arts team with stakeholders.

Additional TEA Web Pages Related to English Language Arts and Reading

Commemorative Weeks and Months

    • Each year, during the week that includes September 17, Texas schools honor Celebrate Freedom Week (TEC § 29.907) to highlight the values and ideals on which the United States was founded as well as the sacrifices that were made for freedom in the founding of the country. Students learn about the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.  Students also examine the relationship between the ideas in these documents and subsequent American history.
    • Celebrate Freedom Week web page

    • Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans who trace their heritage to Latin America or Spain. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. The following websites provide instructional materials, activities, and lessons that can be used to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies.
    • Hispanic Heritage Month web page

    • Each year, during February, we celebrate the history and cultural contributions of Black Americans in the United States. Students will explore over 400 years of Black history within the broader context of American History. The following websites provide a variety of lessons, activities, and instructional materials that can be used to honor Black History Month and to support instruction in Ethnic Studies: African American Studies and other social studies courses throughout the year.
    • Black History Month web page

    • SB 1828 was passed in 2019 in acknowledgment of the Holocaust’s ongoing significance. SB 1828 instructs the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) to develop or approve materials for public schools for a statewide Holocaust Remembrance Week. Counseled by the Commission, the Governor’s Office selected the week of January 27th as the date for Remembrance Week. (International Holocaust Remembrance Day is January 27, which is the date that Auschwitz was “liberated” by Allied troops.)
    • Holocaust Remembrance Week web page