Texas Regional Collaboratives for
Excellence in Science and Mathematics
Teaching
Thirteenth Annual Meeting
June 27-29, 2007
Hilton Austin Airport Hotel
Austin, Texas
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Science Update
This presentation is available online at:
www.theTRC.org
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June ‘07
Chris Comer
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Discussion Items:
Curriculum Update
 TEKS Revision
 Graduation
Requirements
Assessment Update
 SB 1031
 Statewide Science
TAKS Results
Resources
Contact Info
Science TEKS Review Process
The State Board of Education (SBOE) oversees all aspects of
the TEKS, including refinements/revisions
 Spring/Summer 2007
 The science review process will begin this fall following
the same process that occurred with the mathematics
and ELA/R TEKS.
 SBOE members will nominate educators to serve on
work group committees.
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Science TEKS Projected Timeline:
 September/October 2007
 SBOE work group members will convene in Austin to
review content of science TEKS
 Fall 2008
 Recommendations by the work group will be posted in
an online survey format.
 Feedback from the field will be solicited via listserv’s for
public input, conference presentations, professional
organization newsletters, education service center
representatives, etc.
June ‘07
Chris Comer
SBOE Nominated Work Groups
 Work group members to convene to make content
recommendations for refinement & alignment
 Grades K-5 work group members to meet in Austin
 Grades 6-12 work group members will meet in Austin
 Grades K-12 work group vertical alignment meeting via
TETN conferences
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Science TEKS
Proposed SBOE timeline for
revision process
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Fall 2007 workgroups will convene in Austin
Spring 2008 National content expert review
Fall 2008 Science TEKS revisions adopted
2008 – 2009 professional development
2009 – 2010 revised TEKS implementation
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Old and New RHSP- Science
Old: 3 credits,
 one of which must be
Biology (and /or AP/IB)
 two of which are selected
from
 IPC
 Chemistry, IB or AP
Chemistry
 Physics, AP or IB
Physics, or Principles
of Technology I
June ‘07
New: 4 credits,
 One of which must be
Biology (and /or AP/IB
Biology)
 Three of which are
selected from a list of
options that will include
IPC until SY 2011-2012
Chris Comer
DAP- Old and New
Old:
3 credits of science. One credit must New:
be a biology credit (Biology,
4 credits of science, which
Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, or
must consist of a biology credit
International Baccalaureate (IB)
(Biology, Advanced Placement
Biology). Students must choose the
(AP) Biology, or International
remaining two credits from the
Baccalaureate (IB) Biology), a
following areas. Not more than one
chemistry credit (Chemistry, AP
credit may be chosen from each of the
Chemistry, or IB Chemistry), a
areas to satisfy this requirement.
physics credit (Physics, AP
Students on the Recommended High
Physics, or IB Physics), and an
School Program are encouraged to
additional approved laboratorytake courses in biology, chemistry,
based science course . (Note
and physics to complete the science
the deletion of Principles of
requirements.
Technology here). After
Integrated Physics and Chemistry
successful completion of a
(IPC);
biology course, a chemistry
course, and a physics course, a
Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB
student may select the fourth
Chemistry; and
required credit from any of the
Physics, Principles of Technology I,
following lab-based courses:
AP Physics, or IB Physics.
June ‘07
Chris Comer
What does the phase-out
of IPC mean?
 IPC will no longer satisfy the science requirements in the
RHSP after school year 2011-2012
 Students on the RHSP and DAP could continue to take the
course for state elective credit
 As of now, it remains an option for students on the
Minimum Plan
 IPC will no longer satisfy the science requirements in the
DAP, effective SY 2007-2008– no phase-out
 At this time, no EOC is being developed for IPC
June ‘07
Chris Comer
New RHSP- Science
When IPC is phased out, all students must select:
 One credit from Biology, AP or IB Biology
 Two credits from
 Chemistry, IB or AP Chemistry
 Physics, AP or IB Physics, or Principles of Technology I
 A fourth credit from the following list:
June ‘07
Chris Comer
RHSP- Science, 4th yr
Newly named SBOE courses with a prerequisite of Biology,
Chemistry and Physics
 Earth and Space Science which will replace GMO
 Engineering
The SBOE has directed the TEA to write new TEKS for these
courses. The TEKS writing process for these courses will
begin this fall.
June ‘07
Chris Comer
RHSP- Science, 4th yr
Fourth Year Science Credit Courses:
 Chemistry
 Physics
 Astronomy
 Aquatic Science
 Environmental Systems
June ‘07
Chris Comer
RHSP- Science, 4th yr
Also fourth year credit courses include:
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Advanced Placement Biology
Advanced Placement Chemistry
Advanced Placement Physics
Advanced Placement Environmental Science
 Dual Credit college science courses
June ‘07
Chris Comer
RHSP- Science, 4th yr
Also, fourth year science credit courses will include:
 International Baccalaureate Biology
 International Baccalaureate Chemistry
 International Baccalaureate Physics
 International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems
June ‘07
Chris Comer
RHSP- Science, 4th yr
The following health science technology education courses:
 Scientific Research and Design
 Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems
 Medical Microbiology and Pathophysiology
The following technology education/industrial technology
education courses:
 Principles of Technology
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Should IPC be taught in Grade 8?
This is a local decision, however,
 Most experts agree that this may negatively impact Grade 8
Science TAKS scores and the earth science objective in
particular.
 6-8th grade TEKS include foundational concepts presented
in various contexts to assure literacy of those concepts.
 Thus, compressing the science TEKS into two years is not
recommended.
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Policy Implications: High School
 Grades 9-12: minimum of 40% of instructional
time spent on lab and field investigations
 Safety in the labs should be paramount…
 Crowding of students in science is dangerous!
 Science safety training is crucial.
 Plan for more students taking more science.
June ‘07
Chris Comer
The Burning Question:
What’s the Best Course Sequence
for Science?
 For all graduation plans, students are encouraged to take
Biology, Chemistry, and Physics by the State Board of
Education.
 Students who take the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
sequence perform better on SAT and ACT college entrance
tests according to college entrance data.
 Students who take the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
sequence are better prepared for college work.
 Some schools are considering the Physics First approach.
 Many schools are considering the conceptual approach to
teaching of Physics andChemistry
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Chris Comer
Conceptual Resources
The state of Texas has adopted textbooks and instructional
materials for conceptual approaches to chemistry and
physics and many schools have adopted these materials.
Conceptual Chemistry adopted instructional materials:
1. Chemistry in the Community by Bedford, Freeman &
Worth
2. Chemistry: Concepts and Applications by
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
3. Chemistry: Applied and Descriptive by J.M. LeBel
Enterprises
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Conceptual Resources
Conceptual Physics adopted instructional materials:
1. Conceptual Physics by Prentice Hall
2. Physics: Systems and Applications by J.M. LeBel
Enterprises
Some schools also use:
3. Cambridge Physics Outlet (CPO) Science—Adopted for
Physics.
June ‘07
Chris Comer
SB 1031—EOC Assessments
Phase-out high school TAKS and replace it with EOC
assessments in:
Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry
English I, English II, and English III
Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
U.S. History, World History, and World Geography
Freshman class of 2011-2012 is first group to have EOC as
graduation requirement
To graduate, students must attain
Cumulative score ≥ 70n
n = number of EOC assessments taken in each subject
June ‘07
Chris Comer
SB 1031—EOC Assessments
 Students must score at least 60 in order for it to count
towards their cumulative score
 Students scoring below 60 shall retake the assessment
each time it is administered
 Students scoring below 70 will receive accelerated
instruction
 Any other student may retake an EOC assessment for any
reason.
June ‘07
Chris Comer
SB 1031—EOC Assessments
 A student’s score on an EOC assessment shall be worth
15% of the student’s final grade for that course
 A school district is not required to use the student’s score
on subsequent administrations to determine the student’s
final grade for that course
 A student is not required to retake a course as a condition
of retaking an EOC assessment
June ‘07
Chris Comer
SB 1031—General Information
 Allows the agency to release assessment questions every
third year
 Requires all assessments (grades 3-12) to be developed in
a manner that allows a measure of annual student
improvement
 Requires a vertical scale in grades 3-8 for mathematics and
reading starting with the 2008-2009 school year
 Prohibits schools from spending more than 10% of the
instructional year administering district-required tests
June ‘07
Chris Comer
SB 1031—General Information
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Establishes a committee to review the accountability
system and make recommendations to the legislature
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Requires the agency to conduct a survey and prepare a
report to determine the ability of school districts to
administer assessment instruments by computer
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Requires assessment instruments, starting in 20072008, to be administered at least two weeks later than
the date on which they were administered in 2006-2007
June ‘07
Chris Comer
TAKS Items Correct by Objectives
All Students: 2006 (Percent)
90
80
70
60
50
Grade
Grade
Grade
Grade
40
30
20
10
0
Nature of
Science
June ‘07
Life
Physical
Chris Comer
Earth
Science
5
8
10
11
Demographic Summary
2006 Grade 5: (Percent Items Correct)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
June ‘07
Male
Female
African American
Hispanic
White/Asian
Nature
of
Science
Life
Physical
Earth
Chris Comer
Demographic Summary
2006 TAKS Grade 8: (Percent Items Correct)
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
Male
Female
African American
Hispanic
White/Asian
10
0
June ‘07
Nature
of
Science
Life
Physical
Earth
Chris Comer
Demographic Summary
2006 TAKS Grade 10: (Percent Items Correct)
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
Male
Female
African American
Hispanic
White/Asian
10
0
June ‘07
Nature
of
Science
Life
Physical
Chris Comer
Demographic Summary
TAKS Grade 11: (Percent Items Correct)
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
Male
Female
African American
Hispanic
White/Asian
10
0
June ‘07
Nature
of
Science
Life
Physical
Chris Comer
Tips for Students and Teachers
 Hands on experiences are important
 The fifth grade science test covers TEKS from third and
fourth grade. Instruction must cover the TEKS (especially
the ones specified in the Information Booklet)
 Pay attention to units
 Using math skills in science
 Carefully reading the details of the item
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Physical Science Note
 8th grade students did much better on Motion,
Forces, and Energy than Structures and
Properties of Matter
 Least variation in Asian Scores (7%)
 Most variation in White Scores (15%)
 Other groups had score variations of 12 or 13,
including males, females, African Americans and
Hispanics
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Life Science Note
 In 11th grade all student groups had average percent
items correct about 10 points higher for
Interdependence of Organisms and the Environment
than for Organization of Living Systems
June ‘07
Chris Comer
http://k12testing.tx.ncspearson.co
m/AssessmentResults/
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Committee Participation
 Committee member selection based upon
demographics
 Recommendation forms available at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/dev
elop/recform.pdf
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Texas Science
Diagnostic System (TSDS)
www.accesstsds.com
Web-Based Diagnostic Assessment Tool Free to All Texas
Public & Charter Schools
TAKS-based question banks grades elem-HS reviewed by
TEA, teachers, experts
Can be used to diagnose student Skills, Finding Knowledge
Points
of Departure, for tests,
and/or homework
June ‘07
Chrisquizzes,
Comer
Science List Serve:
www.tea.state.tx.us/list/
June ‘07
Chris Comer
Who To Contact:
Curriculum
Assessment
Chris Castillo-Comer
Cyndi Louden
Director of Science
Chris.Comer@tea.state.tx.us
Science Assessment Manager
cyndi.louden@tea.state.tx.us
Irene Pickhardt
512-463-9556
Assistant Director
Irene.Pickhardt@tea.state.tx.us
512-463-9556
June ‘07
Chris Comer