TSR Alignment to Texas Rising Star

Texas School Ready Comprehensive is proven to have a positive impact on the instructional practices of early childhood educators and the school readiness of the children in their classrooms.

Benefits | How They Work Together | Alignment At-A-Glance | Full Alignment to Texas Rising Star |

Texas School Ready Course Guide

Benefits of Texas School Ready

Directors

Directors participating in Texas School Ready (TSR) gain valuable professional development, access to resources, and the opportunity to impact children’s educational outcomes positively. TSR directors lead high-quality early education programs, collaborate with peers, and continuously use data-driven insights to improve their practices. Additionally, directors in TSR programs have access to an APLS coach to assist them in early childhood best practices.

Teachers

Teachers participating in Texas School Ready (TSR) benefit from specialized training, resources, and ongoing professional development, helping them enhance their teaching practices and improve student outcomes. TSR teachers have access to a research-based curriculum, collaborative opportunities with peers, and data-driven insights to guide instruction, fostering a positive impact on early childhood education. Additionally, teachers in TSR programs gain recognition for delivering high quality instruction. Additionally, teachers in TSR programs have a TSR coach to support them in early childhood best practices.

How Texas School Ready and Texas Rising Star Work Together

Being part of Texas School Ready (TSR) enhances a program already in Texas Rising Star by providing additional resources, specialized training, and a research-based curriculum that strengthens early childhood education practices. TSR emphasizes the school readiness aspect of Texas Rising Star’s quality standards, offering data-driven insights and professional development to enhance teaching strategies, child outcomes, and overall program quality. This alignment supports continuous improvement and ensures the program meets high-quality educational standards, further solidifying its reputation and effectiveness in preparing children for future academic success.

Texas School Ready Key Components

The Texas School Ready (TSR) program is designed to improve early childhood education by offering targeted professional development, coaching, and progress monitoring tools. A key part of the program is its focus on individualized support for educators to enhance teaching practices and improve child outcomes. Through various TSR components, including coaching, the Circle Progress Monitoring System (C-PM), and professional development, teachers are equipped with the tools they need to create positive learning environments for children from birth to age 5.

Coaching

Coaching is an essential component of the TSR initiative, providing personalized support for educators. Coaches use positive coaching strategies aligned with the Circle Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) tool to help teachers set goals and track their progress. Studies have shown that one-on-one coaching, combined with professional development and child progress monitoring, significantly enhances teaching quality and child outcomes.

eCircle Professional Development

The eCircle Professional Development courses offer teachers and administrators comprehensive training to improve instructional practices. These courses include video-based demonstrations and activities covering key topics like classroom management, language, literacy, social-emotional development, and more. By aligning these professional development courses with TSR, teachers gain the knowledge and skills to effectively support young children’s learning and growth.

Circle Progress Monitoring System

A core component of TSR, the Circle Progress Monitoring System (CPM), enables real-time tracking of children’s progress. This research-based tool helps teachers identify and focus on areas that need improvement, providing immediate and reliable data to enhance instructional effectiveness. By supporting personalized, ongoing assessments, CPM contributes to better child outcomes and more targeted teaching strategies.

Circle Activity Collection

The Circle Activity Collection provides teachers with structured lesson plans aligned with the Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF). These activities are designed to support intentional teaching with clear guidance on how to introduce, model, and scaffold children’s learning. By linking the activity collection with CPM, educators can use data-driven insights to plan effective lessons that meet individual student needs.

Circle Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Tool

The CQI tool offers valuable support for coaching and professional growth. There are versions of the tool: Circle Infant & Toddler Teacher Competencies and the CQI tool used in Pre-K classrooms that are designed to support Texas School Ready Staff in working with childcare programs to continuously improve the quality of their practice. TSR Staff can use this tool with TSR teachers to assign goals, write action plans, and document progress. The tool then generates a report to document the action plan and track progress over time. These tools focus on key areas that promote effective instruction, with built-in goal-setting and tracking features to progress. By aligning with state standards and research-based practices, the observation tools help teachers refine their techniques, ultimately leading to improved child outcomes.

The Texas School Ready program provides a comprehensive approach to early childhood education, integrating coaching, professional development, and progress monitoring to support teachers in their instructional efforts. Through tools like Circle Progress Monitoring, eCircle, and Circle Activity Collection, TSR empowers educators to tailor their teaching to meet the unique needs of each child, ultimately fostering better learning outcomes.

Texas School Ready Alignment At-A-Glance

CoachingCircle Professional DevelopmentCircle Progress Monitoring SystemCircle Activity Collection & Curriculum

Aligns with:

Warm and Responsive Style (P-WRS)
Language Facilitation and Support (P-LFS)
Play-Based Interactions and Guidance (P-PBIG)
Support for Children’s Regulation (P-SCR)
Instructional Formats and Approaches to Learning (P-IFAL)
Developmental Milestone Checklist (S-FE-02)
Curriculum (P-PM-03)
Curriculum Planning and/or Child Progress Monitoring Supports
(P-PM-04)
Facilitate Division of Interest Areas (P-ILE-01)
Materials Displayed at Eye-Level (P-ILE-03)
Equipment and Materials Arrangement (P-ILE-04)

Aligns with:

Director Training Hours (S-DQT)
Staff Training Hours (S-COTQ)
Staff Workforce Registry (P-CQT-04)
Warm and Responsive Style (P-WRS)
Language Facilitation and Support (P-LFS)
Play-Based Interactions and Guidance (P-PBIG)
Support for Children’s Regulation (P-SCR)
Instructional Formats and Approaches to Learning (P-IFAL)
Developmental Milestone Checklist (S-FE-02)
Curriculum (P-PM-03)
Curriculum Planning and/or Child Progress Monitoring Supports
(P-PM-04)
Facilitate Division of Interest Areas (P-ILE-01)
Materials Displayed at Eye-Level (P-ILE-03)
Equipment and Materials Arrangement (P-ILE-04)

Aligns with

Curriculum Planning and/or Child Progress Monitoring Supports
Instructional Formats and Approaches to Learning (P-IFAL)

Aligns with:

Warm and Responsive Style (P-WRS)
Language Facilitation and Support (P-LFS)
Play-Based Interactions and Guidance (P-PBIG)
Support for Children’s Regulation (P-SCR)
Instructional Formats and Approaches to Learning (P-IFAL)
Curriculum (P-PM-03)
Curriculum Planning and/or Child Progress Monitoring Supports (P-PM-04)
Facilitate Division of Interest Areas (P-ILE-01)
Materials Displayed at Eye-Level (P-ILE-03)
Equipment and Materials Arrangement (P-ILE-04)

Full Alignment of TSR to Texas Rising Star

Category One: Director and Staff Qualifications and Training

Director Training Hours (S-DQT)

Measure Explanation
This measure tracks the total number of training hours completed by directors, ensuring they receive professional development to enhance their leadership and management skills in early childhood settings.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Directors participating in TSR-APLS (Texas School Ready – Administrator and Professional Learning Series) earn professional development hours that count toward the required hours needed to maintain Texas Rising Star certification.

Staff Training Hours (S-COTQ)

Measure Explanation
This measure records the total number of training hours completed by staff members, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to support children’s development effectively.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Teachers participating in Texas School Ready earn professional development hours that count toward the required hours needed to maintain Texas Rising Star certification.

Teacher Qualifications (P-CQT-01)

Measure Explanation
This measure assesses the educational qualifications of teachers to ensure they meet the required standards for providing quality early childhood education.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Teachers who complete the three-year Texas School Ready program will receive a certificate that will increase the program’s teacher qualification score.

Staff Workforce Registry (P-CQT-04)

Measure Explanation
This measure tracks whether staff are actively using their TECPDS account, meaning they have uploaded up-to-date professional development records and relevant documents, such as transcripts, diplomas, or other related credentials.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Teachers participating in the Texas School Ready program must have an active TECPDS (Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System) account.

Category Two: Teacher-Child Interactions

Warm and Responsive Style (P-WRS)

Measure Explanation
This measure evaluates how teachers demonstrate warm and responsive behavior to children’s needs, and how teachers fostering a positive and supportive learning environment.

Texas School Ready Alignment
The Circle Infant-Toddler and eCircle classes provide strategies for creating nurturing, responsive environments. TSR coaches observe classroom interactions and offer guidance to teachers on strengthening teacher-child relationships and enhancing classroom warmth and engagement.

Language Facilitation and Support (P-LFS)

Measure Explanation
This measure assesses how teachers support and facilitate language development through intentional interactions and verbal guidance.

Texas School Ready Alignment
The Circle Infant-Toddler and eCircle classes offer strategies for fostering language development. TSR Coaches provide feedback on verbal interactions, helping teachers implement language facilitation strategies and model effective language-rich interactions.

Play-Based Interactions and Guidance (P-PBIG)

Measure Explanation
This measure tracks how teachers guide and support children’s play, using it as a tool for learning and development.

Texas School Ready Alignment
The Circle Infant-Toddler and eCircle classes help teachers develop skills to integrate play into learning. TSR Coaches observe play activities and support teachers in enhancing play-based learning opportunities, setting goals for improving children’s engagement through guided play.

Support for Children’s Regulation (P-SCR)

Measure Explanation
This measure evaluates how teachers help children manage and regulate their emotions and behavior through supportive strategies and guidance.

Texas School Ready Alignment
The Circle Infant-Toddler and eCircle classes teach teachers strategies for supporting emotional development and regulation. TSR Coaches assist teachers in identifying and implementing strategies for improving children’s emotional regulation and engagement.

Instructional Formats and Approaches to Learning (P-IFAL)

Measure Explanation
This measure examines the instructional methods and approaches used by teachers to engage children and promote active learning.

Texas School Ready Alignment
eCircle classes offer methods for engaging children through instructional formats. TSR Coaches support teachers in adapting their instructional methods to better meet the needs of children and improve overall engagement.

Category Three: Program Administration

Developmental Milestone Checklist (S-FE-02)

Measure Explanation
This measure tracks the use of a checklist that helps assess children’s developmental milestones in key areas such as cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Texas School Ready participants use the Circle Progress Monitoring System (CPM) for progress monitoring (for children aged 36-48 months) and the Developmental Milestone Checklist (children aged from 0-35 months) to track children’s developmental milestones, with coaches providing guidance on how to use this data to personalize instruction.

Curriculum (P-PM-03)

Measure Explanation
This measure evaluates the curriculum used in the classroom to ensure it aligns with early learning standards and promotes developmental progress.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Texas School Ready participants receive free digital access to the Circle Infant & Toddler Curriculum and the Circle Pre-K Curriculum. Coaches also provide training on how to best implement the curriculum within the classroom.

Curriculum Planning and/or Child Progress Monitoring Supports (P-PM-04)

Measure Explanation
This measure assesses how teachers use curriculum planning tools and progress monitoring strategies to support individual children’s development.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Texas School Ready supports the ongoing process of using the Circle Progress Monitoring System (CPM) for progress monitoring (for children aged 36-48 months) and the Developmental Milestone Checklist (children aged from 0-35 months) to meet individual children’s needs. This measure aligns with TSR’s emphasis on data-driven instruction, where teachers adjust their teaching strategies based on children’s progress, ensuring more personalized and effective learning.

Category Four: Indoor and Outdoor Learning Environments

Facilitate Division of Interest Areas (P-ILE-01)

Measure Explanation
This measure evaluates how teachers organize the classroom into distinct learning areas that support various types of play and learning activities.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Texas School Ready participants receive training on classroom organization through the Circle Infant-Toddler and eCircle classes. Coaches also support teachers in creating well-defined learning spaces that foster children’s exploration and learning.

Materials Displayed at Eye-Level (P-ILE-03)

Measure Explanation
This measure tracks how materials are displayed at a child’s eye level to encourage independence and access to resources.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Texas School Ready participants learn strategies for organizing materials through the Circle Infant-Toddler and eCircle classes. Coaches provide feedback on how to set up environments that promote children’s independence and engagement.

Equipment and Materials Arrangement (P-ILE-04)

Measure Explanation
This measure assesses how equipment and materials are arranged to encourage active engagement and independent use by children.

Texas School Ready Alignment
Texas School Ready participants receive guidance on arranging classroom materials through the Circle Infant-Toddler and eCircle classes. TSR coaches support teachers in optimizing classroom layouts to foster hands-on learning and child-initiated activities.

Texas School Ready Course Guide

The table below outlines the training completed by teachers participating in the Texas School Ready program. It includes the series name, course topics, and the alignment of each course with Texas Rising Star measures.

Texas Infant, Toddler, and Three-Year-Old Early Learning GuidelinesTexas Prekindergarten GuidelinesGrow With Me: Using Developmental AssessmentsRead with Me: Promoting Early Literacy DevelopmentCIRCLE Activity Collection: Infant and ToddlereCircle Professional Development Series: Self-Instructional

Course Topics

This self-paced course covers the domains of Physical, Social-Emotional, Language, and Cognitive development for infants, toddlers, and three-year-olds. After completing the course, participants engage in a facilitated PLC.

Texas Rising Star Alignment

The course aligns with Texas Rising Star by supporting teachers in developing strategies for early childhood education that meet state standards, especially in the areas of child development and learning.

Course Topics

This self-paced course covers the domains of the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines, including Language and Communication, Emergent Literacy, Mathematics, and Social and Emotional Development. After completing the course, participants engage in a facilitated PLC.

Texas Rising Star Alignment

The course aligns with Texas Rising Star by supporting teachers in implementing research-based practices in early childhood education that meet state standards.

Course Topics

This self-paced course focuses on best practices in developmental screening and referral for infants and toddlers using tools such as the Developmental Milestones Checklists. After completing the course, participants engage in a facilitated PLC.

Texas Rising Star Alignment

The course aligns with Texas Rising Star by helping teachers understand and use assessment tools to monitor child development, especially in the early stages.

Course Topics

This self-paced course offers strategies to promote early literacy development, including activities for enhancing language, reading, and writing skills in young children. After completing the course, participants engage in a facilitated PLC.

Texas Rising Star Alignment

The course supports Texas Rising Star by providing teachers with research-based strategies for promoting literacy and language skills, which are key to early childhood success.

Course Topics

This self-paced course focuses on developmentally appropriate activities for infants and toddlers, supporting their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional growth. After completing the course, participants engage in a facilitated PLC.

Texas Rising Star Alignment

The course aligns with Texas Rising Star by offering teachers a resource of structured activities that enhance child development in alignment with state standards.

Course Topics

This self-paced series covers a range of topics, including classroom management, language and literacy, social-emotional development, and supporting dual language learners. After completing the course, participants engage in a facilitated PLC.

Texas Rising Star Alignment

The series aligns with Texas Rising Star by providing flexible, research-based professional development that helps teachers enhance their instructional practices.