WELCOME WELCOME TO TO

AUSTIN!AUSTIN! TEEAC: Current Issues

and Opportunities

TEEAC 2007

Irene Pickhardt

Gifted and Talented Credit!

• How can you offer it?

• Each district may have their own criteria for G/T for determining which workshops may count for G/T credit.

G/T Credit—Why offer it?

Professional Development (excerpted http://www.tea.state.tx.us/gted/GifTal.html)School districts shall ensure that: (1) teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted students have a minimum of 30 hours of staff development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, assessing student needs, and curriculum and instruction for gifted students;

Why Offer G/T, con’t

(3) teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted students receive a minimum of six hours annually of professional development in gifted education

Workshops Offered for G/T

• Workshop presenters offering G/T credit should be– Experienced in working with gifted and

talented students– Knowledgeable about the education of gifted

and talented youth, or– Expert in an academic field, e.g. a botanist

offering a botany workshop– Most desirable, is a presenter who meets all

three of the above criteria

http://www.txgifted.org

• The Texas Association for Gifted and Talented (TAGT) has a process for obtaining their endorsement for a workshop. Some districts find this useful.

• TAGT can be reached at http://www.txgifted.org.

Four Years of Science!See Agency press release at:

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/press/graduationrequirents06.pdf

Entering freshmen 2007; Graduating class of 2011 The total number of graduation credits required under both The total number of graduation credits required under both

plans will be increased to 26 credits.plans will be increased to 26 credits.ATTACHMENT III--Text of Proposed New 19 TAC;Chapter 74. Curriculum RequirementsSubchapter F. Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year

2007-2008

§74.63. Recommended High School Program.(3) Science--four credits. One credit must be a biology credit

(Biology, Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, or International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology). Students must choose two credits from subparagraph (A) and one credit from subparagraph (B) of this paragraph to complete the science requirement.

(A) A student must select two credits from the following areas. Not more than one credit may be chosen from each of the areas to satisfy this requirement.

(i)Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) until phase-out;

(ii)Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry; and(iii)Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics.

ATTACHMENT III--Text of Proposed ATTACHMENT III--Text of Proposed New 19 TAC;New 19 TAC;Chapter 74.Chapter 74.

(B)After successful completion of a biology course and two credits from IPC, a chemistry course, and/or a physics course, a student may select the fourth required credit from any of the following courses:

(i) Earth and Space Systems to replace Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography (GMO);

(ii) Environmental Systems;(iii) Aquatic Science;(iv) Astronomy;(v) Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems;(vi) AP/IB Biology;(vii) Chemistry, AP/IB Chemistry;(viii) Physics, AP/IB Physics; (ix) AP/IB Environmental Science; and(x) Scientific Research and Design.(xi) Engineering

ATTACHMENT III--Proposed New 19 TAC; Chap 74ATTACHMENT III--Proposed New 19 TAC; Chap 74

As districts consider which courses to offer students as a fourth year of

science,TWO points for TEEAC Providers

First, many districts are considering adding AP Science

courses. AP Environmental may be a viable options in some districts.

Course % Female % Latino % African American WhiteAP Envir. 56% 9.5% 5.9% 65.2AP Bio. 59% 7.5% 5.2% 61.8%AP Chem. 46% 6.1% 4.0% 61.3%AP Phy. CMechanics 27% 5.4% 2.4% 62.9%

Source: Advanced Placement Report to the Nation 2006

College Board—AP Environmental

AP Environmental attracts a greater percentage of Hispanics, and African Americans than other AP Science

courses. AP Environmental attracts a greater percentage of

females than other mathematics-heavy science course.

As schools consider laboratory facilities for 4 years of Science, TEEAC Recommendations

to Science Facilities StandardsScience Facilities Standards• Chap.# 5 OUTDOOR LEARNING AREAS• Creating an Outdoor Learning Area• An outdoor learning area is a natural

resource that is available to students for conducting field

• investigations outside the classroom setting. Although these sites are used primarily for

• field investigations, they provide learning opportunities all across the curriculum.

§61.1036. School Facilities Standards for Construction on

or after January 1, 2004.

• (D) a list of any specialized classrooms or major support areas, non instructional support areas, outdoor learning areas, outdoor science discovery centers, living science centers, or external activity spaces; (5) Instructional space--General classrooms, specialized classrooms, outdoor learning areas, and major support areas.

NEW! Districts May Focus More on Career and Technical Education

• §127.2. Career Investigation is a course taken at the middle school level

• TEKS include: compile a list of multiple career options matching interests and aptitudes;

• list and explain educational and/or training alternatives after high school

Select a cluster icon below to view links to related Career Clusters.

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/cte/index.html

                                                  

2007 Brings Change to SCIENCE!2007 Brings Change to SCIENCE!Accountability SystemAccountability System

Commissioner of Education Commissioner of Education Final Decisions Final Decisions

March 2005 March 2005 ScienceScience2005 25 / 70 / 90 2006 35 / 70 / 902007 40 / 75 / 902008 40 / 75 / 902009 45 / 80 / 90 2010 50 / 80 / 90

The standards for science The standards for science reflect the lower reflect the lower performance compared to performance compared to reading/ELA and reading/ELA and performance gaps performance gaps between 2004-05 student between 2004-05 student passing standardpassing standard

Accountability Ratings for 2007

• 40% of students must pass Science TAKS in order be Academically Acceptable

• 75% of students must pass Science TAKS for Recognized rating.

FOR SCIENCE

Many District personnel may still not be aware of this!

TEKS Alignment and Refinement Opportunities

• Panel member—SBOE Appointee

• Public input

• Knowledge of changes

• Provide input to members of TEEAC committee

Earth and Space Science may begin

this spring!

Dear Educators, The refinement and alignment process of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English Language Arts and Reading is underway and we need your assistance. As professionals you have worked with the TEKS on a daily basis in your classrooms and may have suggestions for improving the clarity and continuity surrounding specific knowledge and skill statements and/or student expectations. We solicit your input and ask that you use the following template to aid us in capturing all suggestions. The deadline for providing feedback is June 30, 2005. Grade Level/Name of Course Knowledge and Skills Number Student Expectation Letter Suggestion for Refinement

and/or Alignment

Correspondence relating to English Language Arts and Reading TEKS refinement and alignment process

TEA and the Texas High School Project

The Public-Private Partnership: A Vision for Change

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Laurey PeatLaurey Peat + Associates, Inc. Phone: 214.871.8787Email: lpeat@lpapr.com $71 MILLION COMMITTED TO LAUNCH THE TEXAS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (TSTEM) INITIATIVETexas High School Project (THSP) Expands Its Public-Private Funding to Ensure Texas Students Have the Skills and Knowledge to Pursue Careers in STEM-Related Fields

Update on T-STEM ACADEMIES

$71 Million committed to Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (T-

STEM) AcademiesPart of Texas High School Project:Will establish 35 small schools that will offer focused opportunities in STEM related curriculumFunded in part with Gates and Dell contributionsDana Center named first of six centers for Educator Professional Development in STEM

http://www.utdanacenter.org/

TEA Grants Listserv

• Grant and Contract Announcements - RFAs - RFPs

• Subscribers to this list will receive prompt notification of newly available TEA:

• Grant and Contract Announcement Letters

• RFAs (Requests for Grant Application)

• RFPs (Requests for Contract Proposal)

Grants

• Master Teacher Grant Programs• The Master Teacher Grant Programs list will provide

school districts and ESCs notification of Web postings concerning the Master teacher program. The list will also provide notification concerning updates to the TAC (Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 102, Subchapter BB, of the Commissioner’s Rules concerning Master Teacher Grant Programs). Also, information concerning the eligibility list and the opening and closing dates of the application for funding purposes will be posted. Beginning January 1, 2000, TAC updates will no longer be mailed to school districts and other recipients, and will only be available on the Web.

Emerging Markets in Science On-Line Labs

•The Purpose•Establish State Requirement (40% hands-on laboratory)•The TEKS•Establish the need: the growing use of Distance Learning •The Electronic Course Pilot•Present the Need from the Practitioner’s point of view, including Pilot Schools and other schools State Requirements + Growing Use of Online Learning +

State Programs Supporting On-Line Learning + Need from

Practitioner’s Point View = The Emerging Market

Changing Demo-

graphics

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/

perfreport/pocked/

2006/pocked050

6.pdf

Instructional StrategiesAcademic Content Language

It is important for teachers to It is important for teachers to build science conceptual build science conceptual knowledge at the same time they knowledge at the same time they provide instruction in the skills of provide instruction in the skills of word recognition word recognition (relational/contextual).(relational/contextual).

Word Walls and Charts

Language built on experienceLanguage built on experienceScientific vocabularyScientific vocabularyConnect science and literacyConnect science and literacy

Science Benefits Oral Language Development

• Precise science terminology,

• Academic Content Language Development

• Introduction and repetition of vocabulary

• Word walls• Oral presentations• Posing questions• Appropriate framing in

grammar structures• Association of

vocabulary to items in real world

Vocabulary grows most effectively when

experiencing concepts, objects, etc.

• Introduction to unit

• E.L.D./Science/Language Arts integration

• Emphasis on descriptive vocabulary

• Document vocabulary on chart paper

• Adaptable to student’s needs

• Relational

• Contextual

StrategiesThat

Work!

Texas Teacher Profiles• First year teachers: 7% of Texas

teachers=22,649 teachers;• Teachers 1-5 years experience: 28.7%; equals

84, 482 teachers;

• Total novice teachers: 36.4% MORE THAN A THIRD of ALL TEXAS TEACHERS

• Another 20% may be ready to leave teaching (20+ years)

Texas Teacher Turnover and Student Performance

% Teachers leaving

campuses

% Students passing TAKS

% Texas Students Impacted

0-10% 53.6% 11.2%

11-20% 48.9% 45.3%

21-30% 46.0% 29.8%More than 30% 44.3% 13.7%

State Average 47.9%

Source: State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and TEA, AEIS ’02-’03

http://www.widow.state.tx.us/specialrpt/teachersalary04/

Number of Texas Science Teachers

Grades 9-12: 2004

Course Number Certified

Physical Science 4,586 No data

Biology 5,381 74%Chemistry 3,179 78%Physics 1,694 79%

Earth Science 485 56%Other Sciences 1,250 No data

Texas Teachers Teaching Outside Their Field and Student Performance

Teachers teaching

outside of field

%Students Passing TAKS

% Texas Students Impacted

0-10% 61.% 22.2%

11-20% 51.8% 26.2%

21-30% 43.6% 26.7%

Over 30% 36.9% 24.9%

State Average

47.9%

Source: State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and TEA, AEIS ’02-’03

Teacher Experience vs. TAKS Performance

Average Level of Teacher Experience per Campus

% of Students Passing TAKS

0 to 5 Years 37%

6-10 Years 48%

11-15 Years 48%

16-20 Years 48%

Over 20 Years 49%

Source: State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and TEA, AEIS ’02-’03

http://www.widow.state.tx.us/specialrpt/teachersalary04/

Secondary Student Performance vs. Teacher Profiles

Students Completing High School

Students Passing TAKS

Teachers leaving

Teachers teaching outside

their field

<95% 23.6% 20.6% 31.2%

95-97.99%

33.8% 20.0% 28.6%

98-100% 44.9% 19.3% 27.9%

STUDENT PERFORMANCE TEACHER PROFILES

Source: Completion and TAKS data from TEA; AEIS ’02-’03; Teacher Data From State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) , AEIS ’02-’03 and ’03-’04

http://www.widow.state.tx.us/specialrpt/teachersalary04/

NEW RESOURCES!New Design for FREE Web Site

• Popular online resource • supported by the U.S. Department of Education• puts 100’s of teaching and learning resources at

the public's disposal. 

http://free.ed.gov—helps users to better navigate more than 1,500 resources from more than 35 federal agencies

Teacher to RangerNational Park Service Offering Teacher to Ranger To Teacher Program The National Park Service is offering teachers in Texas the opportunity to participate in its Teacher to Ranger to Teacher (TRT) program. The intent of the TRT program is to give teachers the opportunity to work in a national park, become park ranger for eight weeks, and develop lesson plans based on their experience for use in their classroom the following year. This challenge has been developed so that teachers can help the Park Service to provide opportunities for all Americans to connect to their national heritage, as embodied by national parks. The TRT program focuses on teachers from schools with diverse student populations, students who have had no experience with national parks, or little opportunity to explore the relevance these areas can have in their lives.  If you are interested in the Teacher to Ranger to Teacher program and would like to be a Teacher-Ranger, or would just like additional information, please visit http://www.nps.gov/wupa/forteachers/trt.htm or contact the following:  Leslie Dubey Texas Coordinator409.246.2487leslie_dubey@nps.gov

Library Resources:

www.aaas.orgwww.aaas.orgwww.nsta.orgwww.nsta.org

These National Science Documents help to These National Science Documents help to understand the content that is contained in the TEKSunderstand the content that is contained in the TEKS

Online Now!

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/science/GuidelinesColor.pdf

www.tea.state.tx.us/list/

Science List Serve:Please Join…

Our way of “shouting out” to you when you are busyAnd somethingImportant comesUp for scienceIn Texas…

TAKS Resource WebsitesAssembled by Jennifer Jordan @ ESC 13

Science TAKS Resources - Spring 2006 TestGrade 5Test http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr5taks.pdfAnswer Key http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr5takskey.pdfItem Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/index.html

Grade 8Test http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr8taks.pdfAnswer Key http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr8takskey.pdfItem Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/results/itemanalysis/taks06/taks8ia_apr06.pdf

Grade 10Test http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr10taks.pdfAnswer Key http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr10takskey.pdfItem Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/results/itemanalysis/taks06/taks10ia_apr06.pdf

Grade 11Test http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/grxltaksapril.pdf

Answer Key http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr11takskey.pdf

Item Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/results/itemanalysis/taks06/taks11ia_apr06.pdf

Index of Released TAKS and Answer Keys to look at other years/examshttp://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/index.html

Index of Item Analysishttp://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/results/itemanalysis/index.html

Copyright and Terms of Service Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2002. The materials found on this website are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education Agency and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Texas Education Agency, except under the following conditions: 1) Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts’ and schools’ educational use without obtaining permission from the Texas Education Agency;2) Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only without obtaining written permission of the Texas Education Agency;3) Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way;4) No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged.Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from the Texas Education Agency and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing fee or a royalty fee.Contact TEA Copyrights with any questions you may have.

512-463-9581

Irene PickhardtAsst. Dir. of Scienceirene.pickhardt@tea.state.tx.us

Chris Castillo-ComerChris Castillo-ComerDirector of Sciencechris.comer@tea.state.tx.us

Contact Information