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Overview of the STR Exam Requirement

House Bill 3, passed during the 86th ɬÀï·¬ Legislature, established the requirement that all teacher candidates who teach students in grades Pre-K-6 demonstrate proficiency in the science of teaching reading on a new, standalone certification exam. This requirement took effect on January 1, 2021.

The STR exam will be required for the issuance of five certification fields.

	Early Childhood: EC – Grade 3Ìý
	Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading: Early Childhood–Grade 6Ìý
	Core Subjects with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4–8Ìý
	English Language Arts and Reading with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4–8​Ìý
	English Language Arts and Reading/Social Studies with Science of Teaching Reading: Grades 4–8

The STR exam will be required for the issuance of intern, probationary, and standard certifications for these certification fields beginning January 1, 2021.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Teacher candidates who have finished their educator preparation program and have been issued their standard certification in Core Subjects: EC-6, Core Subjects: 4-8, English Language Arts and Reading: 4-8, or English Language Arts and Social Studies: 4-8 prior to December 31, 2020 will not be required to take the STR certification exam.ÌýÌý

Teachers who are currently standard certified in Core Subjects: EC-6, Core Subjects: 4-8, English Language Arts and Reading: 4-8, or English Language Arts and Social Studies: 4-8 will not be required to pass the STR exam for renewal of their certificate. The STR exam requirement only impacts candidates seeking certification after Jan. 1, 2021.ÌýÌý

Tools and Resources for Educator Preparation ProgramsÌýÌý

During the roll-out of the Science of Teaching ReadingÌýCertificationÌý(STR) certification exam, we have appreciatedÌýthe opportunities to partner with ourÌýɬÀï·¬ÌýprogramsÌýas theyÌýdesign andÌýimplement STR-alignedÌýcurriculum andÌýpreparation for teacher candidates.ÌýIncluded here are training decks, tools,Ìýand recorded webinars of our past STR training series.ÌýWe share theseÌýtrainingÌýopportunities through our EPP newsletter. If you have not yet subscribed, please enroll here:ÌýIf you are not currently subscribed to the newsletter, please sign up at the link below:ÌýÌýÌý

STRÌýWebinarÌýSeries: Constructed Response Deep Dive (November 2020)Ìý

• Training DeckÌýÌý
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STRÌýWebinarÌýSeries: Oral and Written Communication Deep Dive (January 2021)

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STRÌýWebinarÌýSeries:ÌýText Comprehension and Analysis DeepÌýDive (March 2021- content coming soon)Ìý

• Training DeckÌýÌý
• Participant’s ResourcesÌýÌý

Other Helpful Resources for Programs:ÌýÌý

• STR Exam Frequently Asked Questions for LEAsÌý
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• The HB3 Reading AcademiesÌýÌý

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