Accelerated Instruction

What is HB 4545?

HB 4545 establishes new requirements for accelerated instruction for students who do not pass the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®).
Any student who did not pass STAAR grades 3-8 must receive accelerated instruction delivered in the 2022-2023 school year (starting in fall 2022). Students who were absent for the assessments are also required to receive accelerated instruction.

What is an accelerated instruction?

Accelerated instruction is designed to assist students in achieving satisfactory performance on STAAR. It provides targeted instruction on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).

Accelerated instruction includes delivering supplemental instruction before or after school (including Saturday if needed) or embedded in the school day. Accelerated instruction delivered in summer will only satisfy the HB 4545 requirements if the criteria for supplemental instruction were met.

School Year 2022-2023 and beyond
Continue to provide supplemental accelerated instruction in the subsequent summer and school year: For any student who did not perform satisfactorily on STAAR grades 3-8 assessments. The details above continue to apply in subsequent school years and should be guidance districts follow for the 2022-2023 school year and beyond.

Establish Accelerated Learning Committees and develop individual plans prior to the subsequent school year: After student STAAR scores are received which may take place before the end of that school year or during the summer and prior to the start of the school year.

Weekly/Hourly Accelerated Instruction Requirements

  • At least once per week (short weeks and holiday weeks may be excluded)
  • A minimum of 30 hours per subject (reading and writing count as one subject)
  • Required each year a student does not pass an assessment
  • Example: A student who did not pass the reading, math, and science STAAR in a single year would need at least 90 hours of acceleration instruction.

Delivery of Accelerated Instruction

  • Provided by individuals trained to use the supplemental instructional materials
  • Provided in small groups of 3 or less
  • Groups can be larger if parents agree with the school’s plan for effective accelerated instruction

Accelerated Instruction is Supplemental

Supplemental means that it is–

  • In addition to instruction normally provided.
  • Not scheduled so that a student is removed from
    • grade-level content for the foundation curriculum.
    • instruction in enrichment.
    • recess or physical activity available to other students enrolled in the same grade level.

What is an Accelerated Learning Plan?

For students who did not pass the math or reading STAAR test in grades 3, 5, or 8 an accelerated learning committee must develop an educational plan that provides—

  • the necessary accelerated instruction to enable the student to perform at the appropriate grade level by the conclusion of the school year
  • the areas of accelerated instruction needed by the student
  • the plan for progress monitoring
  • assessment data
  • the actions and support

The plan must be documented in writing with a copy provided to the student’s parent or guardian.

Who is represented on the Accelerated Learning Committee?

Members of the Accelerated Learning Committee are as follows:

  • Principal or designee
  • Student’s Parent or Guardian
  • Teacher of the subject
  • LPAC, ARD, or 504 representatives (if applicable)

Parent/Guardian Notification

Families will receive notification by mail of—

  • accelerated learning instruction
  • Accelerated Learning Committee time/date (for students who did not pass STAAR math or reading in grades 3, 5, or 8)
For more information, contact your child’s campus, or visit the Texas Education Agency website. https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/house-bill-4545-implementation-overview.