ESC-20 Curriculum Communiqué: January 10, 2007
Volume #5
We are continuing the Curriculum Communiqué series as requested. Please continue to share the
information with your staff. If there is additional information that you think would be helpful, please
do not hesitate to let me know.
ESC Contact: Ed Vara, ed.vara@esc20.net or (210) 370-5465
1. TEA Correspondence
New TEA Correspondence has been posted at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/taa/sortf.cgi?command=bydate
Date: 12/14/2006
Subject: Texas Round-Up T-Shirt Design Contest
From: Commissioner's Office
Date: 12/19/2006
Subject: Student Transfer System Reminder
From: Legal Services
Date: 12/29/2006
Subject: 2006-2007 Data Validation Monitoring Notification Letter
From: Special Programs
2. NCLB NEWS FROM TEA © 2006 by the Texas Education Agency
NEW State’s Revised Highly Qualified Teacher Plan Approved by USDE Posted to NCLB Web
Site
The Texas Education Agency’s revised Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) Plan, as approved in late
December 2006 by the U.S. Department of Education, is now available on the NCLB Program
Coordination Web site at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/HQTPlan.html. Documents posted to this
section include the cover letter from USDE, including the USDE review sheet and comments, and the
plan and attachments.
NEW School Improvement Lists Posted to NCLB Program Coordination Web Site
Final lists of the School Improvement Program (SIP) status of school districts and campuses for the
2006-07 school year are on the NCLB Program Coordination Web site at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/new.html. The lists include campuses and districts in SIP status for
2006-07 and those preliminarily identified but not in SIP status for 2006-07.
NEW TEA Closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Next Monday
All Texas state agencies, including the Texas Education Agency, will be closed all day next Monday,
January 15, 2007, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. TEA will reopen for business at 8
a.m. Tuesday, January 16. Because of the holiday, next week’s NCLB E-mail Update will be sent next
Tuesday, January 16.
REMINDER Two-Month Calendar of Grant Submission and Reporting Dates Available
The Texas Education Agency’s Office for Planning, Grants and Evaluation (OPGE) is pleased to
announce the posting of a new planning document entitled “2-Month Calendar of Grant Submission
and Reporting Due Dates” on the TEA Web site. This new calendar provides grant application
submission due dates, as well as reporting due dates, in chronological order for formula and
discretionary grants administered by TEA. It is designed to assist individuals in complying with
important due dates related to grants.
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All LEA grant program and fiscal staff are encouraged to review the 2-month calendar on a regular and
frequent basis to ensure all due dates are met. These dates are firm and grantees are in noncompliance
with grant requirements if a reporting deadline is missed. Noncompliance with a reporting due date can
cause the grantee to be identified as high risk and could result in TEA imposing certain sanctions on
the grantee. Application submission due dates are equally important and must be adhered to in order
for grantees to receive grant funds in a timely manner.
The calendar will be updated monthly to include two months of due dates, the current month and the
subsequent month. The calendar may be viewed on the Discretionary Grants page and on the Formula
Funding page on the TEA website (see important dates below for specific date information). Also
remember that the NCLB web site has a generic calendar of deadlines and due dates at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/nclb/deadlines.html.
NCLB NATIONAL NEWS
Please note that this is national information and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas
Education Agency.
Spellings Marks NCLB Anniversary With Speech at U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings on Monday, January 8, 2007, marked the fifth-year
anniversary of President Bush’s signing of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in a speech and
question-and-answer session with national education and business leaders at the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce in Washington, D.C.
As an example of the significant achievement that America’s schools have made since the
implementation of NCLB, Spellings cited the gains made by the nation's fourth graders in reading and
math, according to the 2005 Nation's Report Card. The same assessment showed that the achievement
gap is narrowing in the fourth grade.
She also discussed the Bush administration's efforts over the past five years, why the law was needed,
and why she and President Bush are pushing for NCLB’s renewal by Congress this year. Bush signed
NCLB into law on January 8, 2002.
More information on Spellings’ remarks is available on the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site
at http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2007/01/01082007.html. A copy of her speech is available at
http://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/2007/01/01082007.html. Audio clips from the speech also are
available at http://www.ed.gov/news/av/audio/2007/01082007.html, and photographs from the speech
are at http://www.ed.gov/news/photos/2007/0108/edlite-0108_1.html. Additional information on the
accomplishments achieved under NCLB can be found at
http://www.ed.gov/nclb/overview/importance/nclbworking.html.
Spellings Answers NCLB-Related Questions on “Ask the White House”
Spellings also marked the fifth-year anniversary of the No Child Left Behind Act by answering
questions about NCLB on “Ask the White House,” an interactive forum which allows citizens to ask
questions of Bush administration officials. To see the questions asked and Spellings’ answers to them,
visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/
Television Program Focuses on Five-Year Anniversary of NCLB
To help commemorate the fifth-year anniversary of the signing of the No Child Left Behind Act,
stories of successful schools and school districts, high-performing teachers and students will be the
focus of the January edition of “Education News Parents Can Use,” the U.S. Department of
Education’s monthly television program. The program will air from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time on
Tuesday, January 16, 2007.
Guests on January's show will explore the ways in which NCLB’s principles of accountability, parent
choice and teacher quality have helped to close the achievement gap and raise test scores. In addition,
videotaped stories of high-performing schools will showcase examples of how all students—regardless
of race, family income or zip code—can achieve at high levels.
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Each month, “Education News Parents Can Use” showcases schools and school districts from across
the country and includes conversations with school officials, parents and education experts; and advice
and free resources for parents and educators. To learn about viewing options, including webcasts, for
this program, visit http://www.ed.gov/news/av/video/edtv/ or call toll-free 1-800-USA-LEARN.
Spellings Emphasizes Parental Awareness of Free Tutoring Availability
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings discussed ways to increase parental awareness of the free
tutoring services available to students at schools which do not make Adequate Yearly Progress under
the No Child Left Behind Act during a visit to the Los Angeles, California Unified School District on
December 11, 2006.
Spellings visited Los Angeles’ Noble Avenue Elementary School, where she held a roundtable
discussion with state and local education leaders to discuss ways to better inform parents about
Supplemental Educational Services (SES) and to ensure that school districts are working with SES
providers and that eligible students get the services they need. The visit is part of a tour that U.S.
Department of Education officials are conducting in 14 major cities, where they plan to meet with
district and state officials, parents and SES providers, to discuss how best to collaborate on providing
children with the tutoring available to them and the most effective ways to implement SES.
Visit http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2006/12/12112006b.html for more information on this
topic and for a copy of Spellings’ December 11 speech at the Los Angeles school.
National 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. Currently, the Park Service is
able to offer this opportunity only to teachers in Colorado, Texas, and Arizona.
If you are interested in the Teacher to Ranger to Teacher program and would like to be a TeacherRanger, or would just like additional information, please visit
http://www.nps.gov/wupa/forteachers/trt.htm or contact the following:
Leslie Dubey; Texas Coordinator; (409)246.2487 or leslie_dubey@nps.gov
USDE Offers Emergency Management for Schools Training Sessions
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) is offering two
1½ day training sessions to provide schools and school districts with information and resources on
emergency management.
The Emergency Management for Schools trainings are primarily designed to provide an opportunity
for school personnel to receive critical training on emergency management issues, resources and
practices. Emphasis for the Emergency Management for Schools trainings will be placed on
emergency management plan development and enhancement within the framework of the four phases
of emergency management: prevention & mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
These trainings provide an opportunity for school-based staff and administrators from local educational
agencies (LEAs) or nonpublic schools to acquire requisite knowledge to help develop effective, allhazards emergency management plans. To assist with OSDFS’ ongoing curriculum development
work, participants will be asked to evaluate the training curriculum and provide recommendations and
feedback to USDE for future Emergency Management for Schools trainings.
The two trainings are scheduled as follows:
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February 21-23, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On-site registration begins at 5:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, February 21st, 2007.
May 9-11, 2007 -St. Louis, Missouri. On-site registration begins at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9th,
2007.
Participation is currently limited to 125 people per training so only one representative per LEA or
nonpublic school will be eligible to attend. Participants should register early to ensure a place. There is
a $100 registration fee for the training per participant to help defer conference hotel and materials
costs. In addition, registered participants living more 50 miles away are eligible to receive up to two
nights of complimentary lodging in the conference hotel.
This training is mainly intended for LEAs that do not have an OSDFS Emergency Response and Crisis
Management (ERCM) grant. If you are a current or previous ERCM grantee and are interested in being
added to a wait list for these meetings, or if you have any specific questions about them, please feel
free to contact your federal project officer directly (Sara Strizzi at sara.strizzi@ed.gov; Tara Hill at
tara.hill@ed.gov; or Michelle Sinkgraven at michelle.sinkgraven@ed.gov).
Registration for the trainings began Tuesday, December 5, 2006. Registration, scholarship, and
additional information on the Emergency Management for Schools training are available at
http://www.sei2003.com/ERCM/ERCM_PA_MO/registration.asp. Questions about these training
events, including who is eligible to attend, may be directed to Elizabeth Eaton at
eeaton@icfcaliber.com or (703) 219-4329.
New Publications Offer Resources for Emergency Response and Crisis Management
The Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education’s
Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM) Technical Assistance Center, also has
announced the release of a new series of resource publications for school districts engaged in
improving the emergency management practices within their school communities. This series, entitled
Lessons Learned, offers brief summaries of actual school emergencies and crises and the resulting
lessons learned by schools.
The first two issues are available online and include:
1) "Dealing with Weapons on Campus"
http://www.ercm.org/views/documents/DealingWithWeaponsOnCampus11_7.pdf
2) "Coordinated Response to Multiple Deaths in a School Community Helps the Healing Begin"
http://www.ercm.org/views/documents/CoordinatedResponseToMultipleDeaths_1102.pdf
Two additional Lessons Learned documents are already in production. They include:
"After-Action Reports"
"Recovering from Natural Disasters: Lessons Learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita"
Two more issues will be released during the winter. OSDFS hopes that educators will find this new
series to be helpful in their work on the emergency management plans within schools.
Newsletter Features Articles on Link Between Safe Schools, Academic Success
The newest edition of the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools' The Challenge newsletter, which
includes articles on the relationship between safe schools and academic success, the Healthy People
2010 initiative, and research on protective factors, is now available in print and online at
http://www.thechallenge.org
Regional Summits On Student Drug Testing Scheduled
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will hold four Student Drug Testing
Summits for schools that would like to learn more about student drug testing programs, including
addressing relevant legal and program development issues.
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According to the 2005 “Monitoring the Future: report, over half of all high school students have tried
an illegal drug. Random student drug testing is a valuable prevention strategy that can help deter
children from initiating drug use. It can also identify children who have just started using drugs as well
as children who have a dependency so that they may be referred to treatment. To date, more than 912
schools nationwide have implemented student drug-testing programs.
The Student Drug Testing Summits will address relevant legal and program development issues and
serve as an introduction for schools that would like to learn more about student drug testing.
Participants will also be provided with information on Department of Education grants for the
program. For schools that already have a program in place, new information will be available.
Summit dates are as follows:
o January 23, 2007 Charleston, South Carolina
o February 27, 2007 Newark, New Jersey
o March 27, 2007 Honolulu, Hawaii
o April 24, 2007
Las Vegas, Nevada
There is no cost to attend the summits. Individuals interested in attending should register at
http://www.cmpinc.net/dts or contact the Office of National Drug Control Policy at:
bspencer@ondcp.eop.gov with any additional questions.
Workshop on Evidence-Based Reform Strategies Available
The not-for-profit Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, which has done extensive work in evidencebased reform with Congress, the federal Office of Management and Budget and other federal
agencies, is offering a new workshop on concrete evidence-based reform strategies. The two-day
workshop will be held February 21-22, 2007, Washington DC. The workshop will include personalized
consulting, on topics such as:
o Developing an effective evaluation strategy in your program area(s) - one capable of
building research-proven practices to greatly improve program performance.
o How to identify existing research-proven practices.
o How to effectively replicate and/or scale-up such practices.
o Drafting program solicitations or legislation to advance the development and/or use of
rigorous evidence.
o Making a persuasive case for evidence-based strategies to colleagues and key
constituencies.
The cost is $520 for the two-day workshop, including personalized consulting with the coalition staff.
Lunch will be provided on both days. Space is limited. Individuals may register at
http://www.excelgov.org/userpreview.php?formid=389. The deadline for both registration and
payment is February 14th. For additional information or questions about payment, please contact David
Anderson at danderson@excelgov.org or 202-530-3284.
New Design for FREE Web Site
One of the most popular online resources supported by the U.S. Department of Education recently
received a makeover that has put hundreds of teaching and learning resources at the public's disposal.
The redesign of the Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) Web site—available at
http://free.ed.gov—helps users to better navigate more than 1,500 resources from more than 35 federal
agencies. These resources range from an interactive program picturing phases of the moon from the
National Science Foundation to video narratives by Holocaust survivors from the U.S. Holocaust
Memorial Museum. The new site organizes these resources according to academic subjects, using an
appealing display of photos and illustrations for easy identification. The redesign was the first since the
FREE Web site was created in 1998.
In addition, the new design adds a subject map on the home page that organizes the online collection
according to eight categories: language arts; math; science; U.S. history; U.S. time periods; world
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studies; arts and music; and health and physical education. Each category follows with a subgroup that
helps to fine-tune the search for resources. And, for observances celebrated in the classroom, the site—
which is updated weekly—includes resources for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Sept. 11 as part
of its special collections.
USDE Grant Application Opportunities
Recent announcement from the U.S. Department of Education include the following grant application
opportunities:
Program for North American Mobility in Higher Education -- CFDA# 84.116N
Grant Competition to Prevent High-Risk Drinking or Violent Behavior Among College Students -CFDA# 84.184H
Charter School Program (CSP) -- CFDA# 84.282A
Using Assistive Technology to Support Development and Learning of Infants and Toddlers with
Disabilities, Birth through Two -- CFDA# 84.327X
Information on these and other USDE grant application opportunities can be found on the USDE Web
site at http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/announce/index.html.
TEA Contact: Cory Green, Senior Director, cory.green@tea.state.tx.us
3. ESC-20 School Improvement and High School Summit
The Center is offering a number of professional development modules targeting high school
audiences. Please see the attached for information on these sessions.
ESC Contact: Jeff Goldhorn at jeff.goldhorn@esc20.net or (210) 370-5490.
Tech Fiesta 2007
4.
A Riverwalk Through Technology
April 25 – 26, 2007
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Please join us for the 2007 Tech Fiesta. As you know this event fills quickly and is highly popular.
Click on the link below to access relevant information.
http://portal.esc20.net/portal/page?_pageid=78,1&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
5. Student Assessment Website Update
Please note that the revised Complete Listing of Frequently Asked Questions has been posted to the
website and is available here: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/faq/
Note: Because several districts and regional service centers are closed for the winter holiday this week,
the TETN session on test security to be conducted on Friday, January 5th was cancelled. The session
will be rescheduled, and TEA will inform you of the date and time through the Student Assessment
Newsletter.
6. Family Literacy Funds for 2007
Grants of up to $50,000 each are available for family literacy projects that provide reading instruction
for parents or primary caregivers and their children. Note that beginning this year the amount of the
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grant has been increased from $25,000 to $50,000. The funds are available through a statewide
initiative called The First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas, part of the Barbara Bush Texas
Fund for Family Literacy program. The Honorary Chair of this initiative is first lady Laura Bush.
These grants are awarded to help create new family literacy programs, or expand existing programs
that currently work with just one generation (e.g. children) in order to provide a component for the
parents and children to read and learn together. The grant also allows for innovative projects within
existing family literacy programs, as well as replication of a successful program with a new population
or in a new location. It is not expected that this grant will suffice to fund all components of the
proposed family literacy program.
Grant projects must:
 provide reading instruction for parents and/or primary care-givers, and reading or pre-reading
instruction for their children;
 provide a specific parent/child literacy component during which they learn and read together;
 include children pre-K through Grade 3;
 measure progress for adults via the Test of Adult Basic English (TABE) and Basic English
Skills Test+ (BEST+);
 measure progress via the Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI) for children in Kindergarten
through Grade 3, and administer another appropriate instrument to measure the progress of
younger children;
 demonstrate fiscal responsibility; and
 have maintained current non-profit or public status for at least two years as of the date of the
application, or be associated with an entity that has a known track record, such as a school
district, a library, a community college, Head Start, Even Start, Health and Human Service
Cooperative, a correctional institution, a community based organization, or a faith based
organization.
The complete grant application can be downloaded beginning January 8, 2007 at: www-tcall.tamu.edu.
Grant applications may also be requested by contacting Pat Peebler at The First Lady’s Family
Literacy Initiative for Texas: ppeebler@mcnairgrp.com, phone (713) 336-7889, fax (713) 336-7709, or
mail:
The First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas
4400 Post Oak Parkway, Suite 1400
Houston, Texas 77027
It is important that the grant application include a contact name, phone number and complete mailing
address.
Note: The deadline for submission of completed applications is 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 16,
2007. Faxed or emailed grant materials will not be accepted.
7. Newspaper Story on AP Spanish
G/T and AP/IB Incentives Listserv members: Please visit the link below for an exciting story about the
Texas Middle School Project for AP Spanish http://www.teamiddleschoolspanish.org/:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/16373497.htm
TEA Source: Kelly Callaway, Director, Advanced Academics/Gifted Education
8. Distance Learning News
The January distance learning newsletter is now available:
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http://portal.esc20.net/portal/page?_pageid=130,143348&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
In the News: The Mexican Charro and Rodeo and their Influence on our Language and Culture
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Ft. Worth, Texas
Friday, January 12th from 9:00 - 9:30 AM.
Grade Levels Targeted - 4th through 6th (younger students might enjoy this too and may join)
Most sites will be "view only"
Description - In celebration of the beginning of rodeo season, join the National Cowgirl Museum and
Hall of Fame as they introduce you to a performer in the Mexican Rodeo, Juan Oropeza. Juan will visit
with us about the rodeo and will bring artifacts that are used in their performances. He will talk about
the Mexican charro and how so much of the rodeo vocabulary we use today came to us from the
Spanish terms used by Mexican cowboys. If we are lucky, we might even see him perform rope tricks!
Virtual Wednesday: Video Technology Basics (ET70117-E01)
January 17, 2007
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Presenter: James Medlock, Video Production Manager, ESC-20
Presented by the professional video production staff at ESC-20, this session focuses on best practices
in videography and basic editing techniques.
Please register in iLearning by January 12, 2007.
Subject/Grade level: Spanish 1/Middle School
Date: February 8, 2007
Project: A middle school Spanish 1 class would like to share a two part project with another middle
school Spanish 1 class. Part 1 is a research paper on Las Posadas in Mexico. In Part 2 each student will
create a product that was used in the celebration of Las Posadas in Mexico. The students will give an
oral presentation and bring their product to class. The teacher is looking for a Spanish 1 Class that
would like to view the presentations and ask questions about the products themselves. Preferred times:
9:00 - 9:30 or 8:45 - 9:15 and
1:50 - 2:20.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Framing America: The American Civil War
Presenter: Amon Carter Museum, Ft. Worth, Texas
Offered via videoconference only
Make lessons on the American Civil War come alive by intersecting art, history, literature, and music!
What are the differences between war literature from the North and the South? How do Civil War
songs relate to nineteenth-century poetry? How did artists use paintings, prints, photographs, and
sculpture to reflect events from the war? This broadcast connects to all grade levels of language arts,
music, U.S. history, and visual arts.
ESC Contact: Susan Altgelt at susan.altgelt@esc20.net or (210) 370-5639.
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9. TEA Press Release:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/comm/page1.html Jan. 4, 2007
Task Force on Test Integrity recommends security enhancements
AUSTIN – After studying the Texas student testing program since August, the Task Force on Test
Integrity is offering 10 recommendations that include calling for the creation of a transparent data
analysis system that looks at one-time occurrences as well as trends, and includes quicker resolution
when irregularities are suspected.
“It is the aim of the Task Force that the recommendations be used to enhance the state’s test security
system so that the highest level of test integrity is maintained,” Olga Garza, the task force’s
coordinator, said in a letter to Commissioner of Education Shirley J. Neeley.
In its recommendations, the task force said: “As a result of its work, the Commissioner’s Task Force
on Test Integrity agreed that integrity in assessment is essential to improving student learning. They
were in further agreement that educators and students are expected to demonstrate the highest
standards of integrity in the testing and reporting of student achievement. Task force members worked
to develop recommendations that would enhance the test security system so that all Texans can have
complete confidence in the state’s testing program and the test results it produces.”
Neeley appointed the task force in August and asked the members, who came from the business and
education communities, to examine test security issues surrounding the state’s extensive testing
program and to provide guidance into investigations of campuses identified by Caveon Test Security as
having possible testing irregularities in 2005.
Of the 700 campuses identified by the firm as having potential testing anomalies, 592 were cleared of
wrongdoing last month and four campuses have closed since the 2005 testing cycle. Cases remain open
for 104 campuses. The vast majority of the state’s 7,908 schools that existed in the 2004-2005 school
year never had their test results called into question.
As investigators with the Texas Education Agency’s Student Assessment Division and later staff of the
newly created Inspector General’s Office attempted to investigate the irregularities, it became
problematic that Caveon used proprietary software to identify data anomalies. Neither the agency, nor
school districts, could replicate the company’s methodology, which complicated efforts to identify
possible security breaches.
Because of that issue, the task force recommended creating a data analysis system that was easy to
understand and could be replicated.
“TEA should develop, implement, and evaluate transparent statistical procedures for identifying
potential instances of test security violations. Such procedures should include indicators that are
monitored annually, as well as trend indicators that assess patterns of inappropriate testing practices
over time. As part of this process, TEA should consider developing a standardized format for
submitting test data for processing,” the task force said.
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The other recommendations are:
2. TEA should assemble a panel of educators and public representatives to review and make
recommendations regarding the specific test-related practices that will be routinely monitored
and the statistical procedures that will be used in test integrity analysis.
3. TEA should develop criteria for triggering on-site investigations of school districts, a
standardized protocol used for on-site investigations and criteria for referring investigations
to the Office of the Inspector General.
4. TEA should develop standards and procedures to ensure rapid follow-up and resolution of
suspected test security violations.
5. TEA should enhance, to the extent allowable by law, avenues for confidential reporting of
test security incidents directly to the agency.
6. TEA should develop and implement a system of random audits of school districts. A number
of randomly selected districts should be audited each year.
7. TEA should develop a model policy on test integrity and test security procedures for
dissemination and adoption by local districts. Local districts should develop policies and
procedures for self-analysis, monitoring of test security, regular review of test integrity and
test security procedures, and follow-up on suspected test security violations. These policies
should be submitted to TEA as part of compliance with test integrity regulations.
8. TEA should require districts to maintain test security materials and signed security oaths for
five years following a test administration.
9. TEA should ensure that investigations, sanctions and corrective actions are conducted in a
fair, expeditious and equitable manner.
10. TEA should consider incorporating a measure of test security into the state’s school
accountability rating system.
“I welcome the recommendations from the task force and we will give strong consideration to all their
suggestions,” Neeley said. “Over the past several years, TEA has taken a number of steps to enhance
test security but that must be an ongoing process that is regularly refined and updated.”
“We will do whatever it takes to make sure our students’ test results are valid and reliable and our
testing program above reproach,” she said.
Neeley thanked the task force members for their service. The members are:
• A.J. Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce. Rodriguez has a background in strategic planning and analysis;
• Diane Boudreaux-Kraft, a clinical psychologist from Pearland. Boudreaux-Kraft is on the faculty of
Houston Community College-Southwest in Houston;
• Bill Hammond, president and chief executive officer of the Texas Association of Business &
Chambers of Commerce. Hammond served four terms in the Texas House of Representatives and
served on the House Public Education Committee;
• Sylvia Hatton served as the executive director of the Region I Education Service Center in Edinburg
for 10 years, before her retirement this spring. Hatton has been an educator for 35 years; and
• George McShan, former president of both the Texas Association of School Boards and the National
School Boards Association. He has served on the Harlingen board of trustees for 18 years and has held
every board officer position. McShan is the retired dean of Texas State Technical College – Harlingen;
• Michael Donley, inspector general at TEA. Donley is an attorney, who also served as a security
officer in the United States Air Force.
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• Olga Garza served as the coordinator of the task force. Garza has an extensive background in school
performance reviews, governmental relations, reporting and research. She also served on the Austin
Independent School District’s Board of Trustees from 1998-2002.
• Gregory Cizek, professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, served as an advisor to the task force.
10. Call for Outstanding Student Nominations
A Lone Star Leadership Academy Call for Outstanding Student Nominations follows for you to
forward to the 5th-8th grade educators in your region and/or post on your ESC’s website. We
look forward to receiving student nominations from the educators in your region and to those
outstanding students' participation in Lone Star Leadership Academy. For more information visit
www.educationinaction.org, call 817-285-8961 or e-mail mhayes@educationinaction.org.
Thank you for making these unique experiential learning opportunities available to the students in your
region!
EDUCATION IN ACTION’S CALL FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENT NOMINATIONS
Education in Action invites you and your fellow educators to nominate your outstanding 5th-8th
grade students for participation in summer 2007 Lone Star Leadership Academy programs
online at: http://www.educationinaction.org/educators/nominations.php.
FINAL NOMINATION DEADLINE FOR SUMMER 2007: FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2007.
Education in Action is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young Texans to
be informed and active leaders in their communities. Education in Action's experiential learning
programs take outstanding 5th-8th graders from across the state of Texas on weeklong TEKS-based
Lone Star Leadership Academy programs to the Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin and Houston/Galveston
areas during summer break. Participants experience what they are learning in school during visits to
historically, politically, scientifically and environmentally significant sites with a focus on leadership
throughout. There is no limit to the number of students educators may nominate as long as they meet
the application requirements:
1. Are currently in the 5th-8th grade
2. Maintain an 85 or higher average
3. Receive an educator recommendation (your nomination) based on demonstrated leadership
ability.
For more information, visit www.educationinaction.org or call 817-285-8961. Education in Action
looks forward to receiving your nominations and to your outstanding students' participation in summer
2007 Lone Star Leadership Academy programs.
Education in Action hires Texas educators to facilitate summer programs. Information and
employment applications are available at www.educationinaction.org.
11. Reading First News
The following First Interim Activity/Progress Report (Cycle 1 Year 4 and Cycle 2 Year 3) for the
Reading First grant is available on the Division of Discretionary Grant
website under Progress Report Forms 2006-2007 at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/opge/grantdev/reports.html
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The due date has been extended to February 1, 2007. Please note the new email address for submission
of this report is ReadingFirst@tea.state.tx.us. Reports will only be accepted at this email address. This
is the first of two Activity/Progress reports due this grant cycle. Two Expenditure Reports are due as
well for 2006-2007. Please find a report summary below.
2006-2007 Texas Reading First Report Summary
Activity/Progress Reports / Expenditure Reports
First Report - due 1/16/07 (extended to 2/1/07) -- Activity
First Report - due 2/15/07 -- Expenditure
Final Report - due 5/15/07 -- Activity
Final Report - due 8/30/07 – Expenditure
12. Feedback Request
As you may recall, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for mathematics were refined in
2005. The Student Assessment Division of the Texas Education Agency is in the process of updating
the summer study guides for TAKS mathematics at grades 6-11 based on the TEKS refinements. We
are requesting your feedback on the current guides and your input on the subsequent ones. Please
contact Dr. Muffet Livaudais at muffet.livaudais@tea.state.tx.us or 512-463-6035 to let us know what
suggestions you have to improve the text, questions, or activities in the guides. We want them to be
truly helpful and user-friendly for students. Please offer your comments to Dr. Livaudais by no later
than Friday, January 26, 2007. Thank you so much for assisting us in this effort.
TEA Contact: Muffet Livaudais, Ed.D., Communications Director, Student Assessment Division,
muffet.livaudais@tea.state.tx.us or 512-463-6035
13. AP(R) Course Audit Update -- January 9, 2007
As scheduled, the AP Course Audit process will officially open later this January. AP teachers,
principals, AP Coordinators, and district representatives will receive instructions on how to access the
AP Course Audit website and submit materials during the fourth week in January. Instructions will
also appear on AP Central.
The AP Course Audit provides schools with clear guidelines on the course content and resources
typical of college-level classes, and helps colleges and universities better interpret courses marked
"AP" on students' transcripts. Schools have until June 1, 2007 to submit materials as part of the AP
Course Audit. Prior to the opening of the AP Course Audit website, the College Board encourages AP
teachers to review the course audit information and resources available on AP Central at
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/courseaudit, which include:
* ANNOTATED SYLLABI & SAMPLES OF EVIDENCE
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/37231618.54057.0.21553
Multiple samples of evidence in each AP subject illustrate the variety of ways curricular requirements
can be met in a syllabus. Annotated syllabi have been written by AP teachers who teach in the public
or private sector and by college professors who teach the parallel college-level course. Collectively,
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these syllabi illustrate a variety of ways a course can meet the AP Course Audit curricular
requirements.
* AP COURSE AUDIT WEBSITE DEMO http://click.collegeboard.com:80/37231618.54057.0.23131
This online demo will help familiarize teachers and administrators with the website through which
teachers will submit their syllabi.
* COURSE AUDIT MANUAL
This manual provides teachers and school administrators with an overview of the AP Course Audit
and includes the curricular and resource requirements for each AP course. Schools can also order free
copies from http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/freepubs
As always, schools develop their own curriculum for courses labeled "AP." The AP Course Audit
simply specifies core elements colleges and universities expect to see within the curriculum you
develop for college-level AP courses. You will see when reviewing the AP Course Audit requirements
that they do not in any way constitute a mandated curriculum, and provide schools with tremendous
flexibility in development of curricula for courses labeled "AP." Courses that meet or exceed these
expectations will be authorized to use the "AP" designation.
The AP Course Audit deliberately does not base its outcomes on student exam grades, because doing
so would put pressure on teachers to avoid taking risks on students less certain to succeed in an AP
course. Because the AP Course Audit requirements were established by professors from several
hundred of the nation's top colleges and universities, it is our hope that even experienced AP teachers
with high-performing students will benefit from the opportunity the AP Course Audit provides to
reflect on their own curriculum and how they are meeting or, in many cases, exceeding the most recent
set of expectations voiced by college and university faculty.
The College Board recognizes and applauds all the work you do to provide quality, college-level
opportunities to your students. The AP Course Audit is a means to validate and confirm this
remarkable achievement. For more information on the AP Course Audit, please visit
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/courseauditor email apaudit@collegeboard.org.
14. Important Dates
Monday, January 15, 2007
Interim Expenditure Report
o Adult Education and Family Literacy Continuation Grant 2006-2007
o Career and Technology Education State Leadership Projects Continuation 2006-2007
o Comprehensive School Reform Texas High School Initiative Cycle 1, Year 2 Continuation
o Early College High School (ECHS) Grant Program 2006-2009 (First)
o English Literacy and Civics Education Continuation Grant 2006-2007
o Investment Capital Fund Cycle 15
o Limited English Proficient (LEP)—Pre-Kindergarten LEP Pilot Continuation 2006-2007
(First)
o LEP—Pre-Kindergarten LEP Pilot Program Year 2
o LEP Student Success Initiative Cycle 3, 2006-2007 (Second)
st
o Texas 21 Century Cycle 1 Year 4 Continuation
o Technology Immersion Pilot 2006-2008 Continuation (First)
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Interim Progress Report
o Adult Education and Family Literacy Continuation Grant 2006-2007
o Career and Technology Education State Leadership Projects Continuation 2006-2007
o Early College High School (ECHS) Grant Program 2006-2009 (First)
o English Literacy and Civics Education Continuation Grant 2006-2007
o LEP—Pre-Kindergarten LEP Pilot Program Year 2
o LEP Student Success Initiative Cycle 3, 2006-2007 (Second) POSTPONED
o Technology Immersion Pilot 2006-2008 Continuation (First)
o Texas High School Redesign and Restructure Grant 2006-2007, Cycle 2 (Second)
o Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Centers (T-STEM) (8/1/06-12/31/07)
o Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) 2007 Academies-Startup
(8/1/06-12/31/07)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Application Due Date
o Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) Centers East Texas 2007-2008
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Application Due Date
o Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) Network Acceleration Grant
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Interim Progress Report
o Comprehensive School Reform (CSR) Texas High School Initiative Cycle 1, Year 2 Continuation
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
NCLB Data Request Form – SC5010
(for new or significantly expanded charter schools)
Interim Expenditure Report
st
o Texas 21 Century Cycle 3 Year 3 Continuation
Interim Progress Report
o Texas 21st Century Cycle 4 Year 1 (First)
o Texas 21st Century Cycle 2 Year 3 Continuation (Second)
o Texas 21st Century Cycle 1 Year 4 Continuation (Second)
February
Thursday, February 1, 2007
IDEA Shared Services Arrangement (SSA) letter of intent deadline for any changes
Interim Progress Report
o Texas Reading First Cycle 2, Year 3 Continuation (First)
o Texas Reading First Cycle 1, Year 4 Continuation (First)
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Refunds Due
o 2005-2006 OEYP (refunds due, following reconciliation w/PEIMS)
Interim Expenditure Report
o Comprehensive School Reform Cycle 3 Year 3 Continuation 2006-2007
o Texas High School Redesign and Restructure Grant 2006-2007 (Second)
o Texas Reading First Cycle 1 Year 4 Continuation (First)
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o Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) Academies 2006
Implementation
o Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) 2007 Startup
o Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) Centers
Interim Progress Report
o Comprehensive School Reform Cycle 3 Year 3 Continuation 2006-2007
o Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (T-STEM) Academies-2006
Implementation
o Texas 21st Century Cycle 3 Year 3 (First)
Thursday, February 22, 2007
IDEA newly opened/significant expansion CHARTER schools
(for new or significantly expanded charter schools)
Application Due Date
st
o Texas 21 Century Cycle 2 Year 4
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Application Due Date
o State Engineering and Science Recruitment Fund (SENSR) 2007-2008
st
o Texas 21 Century Cycle 1 Year 5 Continuation
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Application Due Date
o 2006-2007 Optional Extended Year Program (OEYP)
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