91Èȱ¬

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June 19, 2017

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT:  2017-2021 Commissioner’s List of Approved Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Assessment Instruments

The 91Èȱ¬ has posted a new list of Commissioner Approved Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Assessment Instruments for use during the 2017-2021 school years in accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §29.169 and §28.006.

The Commissioner’s Lists of Approved Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Assessment Instruments are comprehensive and ensure school districts and charter schools select instruments that are based on valid and reliable scientific research, thoroughly measure each domain of development, and are user friendly. The following five primary domains of development may be assessed using the instruments on the lists: 

1. Emergent literacy - Reading
2. Emergent literacy - Writing
3. Language and Communication
4. Health and Wellness
5. Mathematics.

Prekindergarten:  In accordance with Rider 78, school districts and charter schools are strongly encouraged to adopt a multidimensional prekindergarten student progress monitoring instrument from the Commissioner’s List of Approved Prekindergarten Assessment Instruments and administer it for all 4 year-old students in prekindergarten. 

Kindergarten:  School districts and charter schools are required to administer a Kindergarten assessment instrument for all students enrolled in Kindergarten. A district may meet this requirement with use of a reading or multidimensional assessment included on the 2017-2021 Commissioner’s Approved List of Kindergarten Assessment Instruments. (§28.006 (c)). The district shall administer the reading instrument in accordance with the commissioner's recommendations. Use of an assessment instrument from the Commissioner’s list is highly recommended. 

The 2017-2021 Commissioner’s List of Approved Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Assessment Instruments may be accessed on the Educator Resources page on the 91Èȱ¬ website.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Howard Morrison at howard.morrison@tea.texas.gov in the Office of Early Childhood Education.

Marnie Glaser
Executive Director of Early Childhood Education
Academics Division
Texas Education Agency
Marnie.glaser@tea.texas.gov