ESC-20 Curriculum Communiqué: March 31, 2006
Volume #4
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: 03/02/2006
Subject: Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Campus Awards for May 2005
Examinations
From: Standards and Programs
Date: 03/10/2006
Subject: Designated Low-Income Schools and Designated Subject-Matter Teacher Shortage
Areas for Texas, and Student Loan Forgiveness, Deferment, and Cancellation Opportunities for
Teachers with Certain Types of Student Loans
From: Commissioner's Office
Date: 03/10/2006
Subject: Survey of Private Non-Profit Schools and Facilities for the Neglected or Delinquent to
Identify Subject-Matter Teacher Shortage Areas and Low-Income Schools
From: Commissioner's Office
Date: 03/13/2006
Subject: Request for Application (RFA) Learn and Serve America: S.T.A.R.S. of Texas Grant
Program
From: Education Services and Waivers
Date: 02/28/2006
Subject: Updated 2005-2006 Summary of Finances
From: State Funding
Date: 03/10/2006
Subject: Request for Application (RFA) #701-06-010 Texas Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Math (T-STEM) Centers
From: Planning, Grants & Evaluation
Date: 03/22/2006
Subject: Master Reading Teacher Announcement
From: Standards and Programs
Date: 03/22/2006
Subject: Master Mathematics Teacher Announcement
From: Standards and Programs
2. NCLB Update
The Office of the Inspector General at USDE is currently conducting an audit of the HERA
funding. This audit will include site visits to several districts and will last several weeks.
NEW Small Rural Schools Achievement Program Fund Application Period Opens
The U.S. Department of Education has notified the Texas Education Agency that Texas LEAs
that need to apply for 2006-2007 Small Rural Schools Achievement (SRSA) funds may do so
beginning Monday, March 13, 2006. Only LEAs that are eligible and have never applied before
need to apply. LEAs do not need to wait for the Eligibility Spreadsheets to be posted to the Web
in order to apply. To ensure that LEAs receive 2006-2007 allocations, eligible LEAs need to
apply by June 2, 2006.
USDE says it intends to provide a list of LEAs eligible for SRSA funds on its Web site at
http://www.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/index.html by May 1, 2006. The Web site will also
indicate which of these eligible LEAs must submit a new application to receive their FY 2006
SRSA grant award, and which eligible LEAs are considered already to have met the application
requirement.
Eligible LEAs that must submit a new application in order to receive their 2006-2007 SRSA
funding must do so electronically by the June 2, 2006, deadline. The electronic application for
the SRSA Program can be accessed at: http://e-grants.ed.gov. More information, including the
Federal Register notice concerning the application deadline, is available at the USDE Web site at
http://www.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/applicant.html.
Bush Comments on NCLB at National Newspaper Association Meeting
President Bush commented on the No Child Left Behind Act last Friday, March 10, at the
National Newspaper Association Government Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. During
his speech to the conference, Bush was asked about complaints concerning NCLB, whether he
considers the complaints to be weaknesses of the law, and how effective he believes the law has
been in spite of the complaints against it. A copy of the president's response is available on the
U.S. Department of Education's Web site at
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2006/03/03102006.html.
USDE Offers Crisis Response Plan Training
The U.S. Department of Education's Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM)
Technical Assistance Center is offering a pilot training session to assist school districts in
developing and strengthening their crisis response plans. The session will be held Friday, March
31, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Washington, D.C., and will focus on the phases of crisis
planning: (1) mitigation/prevention, (2) preparedness, (3) response, and (4) recovery.
Additionally, participants will have an opportunity to learn about the agency's Safe and Drug-
Free Schools Program and the ERCM Grant Initiative. More information on this training session
is available at http://www.ercm.org/.
Justice Department Seeks Applicants for Mentoring Initiative for System Involved Youth
The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is
soliciting applications for several components of its Mentoring Initiative for System Involved
Youth.
The first program seeks applicants for programs that OJJDP will fund under its Mentoring
Initiative for System Involved Youth. This program supports the development and enhancement
of mentoring programs for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, reentry and foster care.
Application deadline is 8 p.m. Eastern Time on April 17, 2006. More information on this
program is available at
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/grants/solicitations/06mentoringinitiative.pdf.
The second program seeks applicants to conduct an evaluation of the programs funded under the
Mentoring Initiative for System Involved Youth. The evaluation will assess the four mentoring
sites receiving awards under OJJDP's Mentoring Initiative for System Involved Youth, which
will provide funds to faith- and community-based, non-profit, and for-profit agencies to enhance
and expand existing mentoring strategies; programs to develop, implement, and pilot test
mentoring strategies and programs designed for youth involved in the juvenile justice system,
reentry, or foster care. Information on the evaluation solicitation can be found at
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/grants/solicitations/06mentoringeval.pdf.
The third component for which OJJDP is seeking applicants is the Training and Technical
Assistance Program for Mentoring Initiative for System Involved Youth. This program will
conduct technical assistance and training for OJJDP's Mentoring Initiative for System Involved
Youth.
More information on this component is available at
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/grants/solicitations/ttamentoring06.pdf.
Harvard Family Research Project Produces Guide on Engaging Families In After-School
Programs
The Harvard Family Research Project, in partnership with BOSTnet and United Way of
Massachusetts Bay, has released a new comprehensive, easy-to-read guide to understanding how
to engage families in after-school programs. "Focus on Families! How to Build and Support
Family-Centered Practices in After-School Programs" is a critical resource for after-school
providers looking to create or expand an existing family engagement program. Program leaders,
local decision makers, and others interested in promoting family involvement will also find the
guide vital to their work. The guide provides a research base for why family engagement matters,
concrete program strategies for engaging families, case studies of promising family engagement
efforts, and an evaluation tool for improving family engagement practices. The guide can be
read online
or printed as a PDF file at:
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool/resources/families.
UPDATE Highly Qualified Teachers
The U.S. Department of Education conducted a monitoring visit to Texas the week of February
14, 2006. USDE staff reviewed documentation of TEA and three local districts. The audit
report is expected around the middle of April. This audit report will be a major component of
the decision as to whether Texas qualifies for the one-year extension of the highly qualified
teacher deadline. USDE expects to release information on the one-year extension decisions in
late April.
UPDATE Hurricane Education Recovery Act Funding
The Texas Education Agency expects to receive notice of its allocation under the Temporary
Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students under the Hurricane Education Recovery Act
(HERA) from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) later this week. This notice will be the
first installment of the payment for the first quarter of this year. After the notice is received,
Part II of the application for HERA funding will be posted on the NCLB Program Coordination
Web site. The Office of the Inspector General at USDE began an audit of the HERA funding at
TEA last week. This audit will include site visits to several districts and last several weeks.
NEW Governor's Division of Emergency Management Hosts "Texas Hurricane Conference
2006" May 23 - 25
The Governor's Division of Emergency Management will host the "Texas Hurricane Conference
2006" on May 23 -25, 2006, at the Ford Park Convention Center in Beaumont, Texas. This
conference is a unique opportunity for local officials and first responders from coastal cities and
towns to meet with their counterparts from the inland communities that will shelter hurricane
evacuees.
Volunteer organizations, emergency management professionals and first responders will join
with local leaders to discuss key issues involved in evacuation, sheltering and the
re-entry process after the storm. The goal is to share information and improve coordination
among our communities in planning to respond to a catastrophic storm. Topics will include
planning for special needs populations, hurricane debris management, National Weather Service
hurricane products, issues for industry, computer modeling programs to help local officials make
evacuation decisions, surge models, re-entry and short-term recovery, the Incident Command
System short course and more.
For more information, contact the Texas Education Agency's Division of Agency Infrastructure
at 512-463-9095 or visit the Governor's Division of Emergency Management Web site at
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/ and look for the topic "Hurricane Conference 2006."
NEW TETN Broadcast on March 31 Will Focus on Even Start Programs
"Family Literacy Beyond Even Start," a TETN broadcast, will be conducted from 1 p.m. to 4
p.m. Friday, March 31, 2006. This broadcast is intended to prepare existing Even Start programs
whose federal Even Start funding will end in August 2006 and their host organizations for the
transition to providing family literacy without Even Start funding. Even Start coordinators,
federal programs administrators, and Title I coordinators are invited to attend.
Attendees can register with their nearest Education Service Center. The TETN Event Number is
18832.
NCLB NATIONAL NEWS
Please note that this is national information and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the
Texas Education Agency.
Spellings Says USDE Will Host National Math and Science Summit for Girls
The U.S. Department of Education will host its first-ever national summit for girls on math and
science later this year, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced last Tuesday,
February 28. Spellings made the announcement while speaking to a Girl Scouts of the USA
meeting in Orlando, Florida.
Spellings said the purpose of the summit will be to develop a national strategy to help more girls
and their parents become interested in math and science and related careers. She cited statistics
showing that girls currently make up only a third of Advanced Placement physics classes, and
only 15 percent of AP computer science classes. At the college level, she noted, less than 20
percent of engineering majors are women.
The summit will feature women who are in prominent science and mathematics-related
positions, such as former astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; Julie
Gerberding, who heads the Centers for Disease Control; Kathie Olsen, a former chief scientist at
NASA who is now with the National Science Foundation; and Carol Bartz, chairman and chief
executive officer of Autodesk, Inc., one of the world's leading employers of engineers. USDE is
expected to announce more details about the summit later this year.
New Learning Resources Posted to FREE Web Site
Eleven new learning resources have been posted to Federal Resources for Excellence in
Education (FREE), the Web site that makes teaching resources from federal agencies easier to
find. Among the topics of the 11 new resources are the chemistry of health, water ecology, the
environment, "money math," saving and investing, the industrial U.S. (1870-1900), the
emergence of modern America (1890-1930), and the Great Depression are among the topics of
11 new resources at FREE, a website that makes teaching resources from federal agencies easier
to find. These and other learning resources can be found at the FREE Web site at
http://www.ed.gov/free.
USDE Grant Application Opportunities
Recent notices from the U.S. Department of Education include the following grant application
opportunities:
*National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) -- CFDA# 84.133N-1
*College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) -- CFDA# 84.149A
*High School Equivalency Program (HEP) -- CFDA# 84.141A
*Demonstration Grants for Indian Children -- CFDA# 84.299A
*Indian Education Formula Grants to Local Education Agencies -- CFDA# 84.060A
*Office of Indian Education -- Professional Development -- CFDA# 84.299B
*Early Reading First - CFDA# 84.359A/B
*Early Reading First (ERF) Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Competition -- CFDA# 84.359A/B
*Carol M. White Physical Education Program -- CFDA# 84.215F
*Model Demonstration Centers on Implementing Tertiary Level Behavioral Interventions -CFDA# 84.326M
*Open Meeting of the National Advisory Council on Indian Education Teleconference
Information on these and other grant application opportunities is available at the USDE web site
at http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/announce/index.html. In addition, a listing of all USDE
grant programs that are currently open can be found at
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps.
TEA Source: Cory Green, Senior Director, Division of NCLB Program Coordination
cory.green@tea.state.tx.us
TEKS refinement surveys for grades 3-8
The TEKS refinement surveys for Grades 3-8 have been posted. We encourage you to take time
to provide input on the proposed refinements. Please go to:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/elar/teks.html to access the links to each grade level
survey. We've enclosed a copy of the current posting below.
Surveys of Proposed Refinements to English Language Arts and Reading TEKS
Each of the following links will take you to a survey of the proposed refinements to the Texas
Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for the course listed. You may complete and submit any
one survey, several or all surveys. The surveys are designed to capture public comment on
proposed refinements to TEKS. Organizational changes are not reflected in the surveys, but will
be available for review and comment when presented to the State Board of Education (SBOE)
for first reading.
Each survey question addresses either a portion of an introduction, a knowledge and skills
statement, or a student expectation. The number and letter following the question number refer to
the current student expectation. Red italics indicate additions and strike-throughs indicate
deletions. The current TEKS should be used for reference when reviewing the refinements and a
link to the TEKS can be found on each individual survey.
The following surveys will be open until March 31, 2006:
Kindergarten http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/Kindergarten.htm
Grade 1 http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/FirstGrade.htm
Grade 2 http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/SecondGrade.htm
(NEW!) The following surveys will be open until April 7, 2006:
Grade 3 http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/ThirdGrade.htm
Grade 4 http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/Fourth%20Grade.htm
Grade5 http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/Fifth%20Grade.htm
Grade 6 http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/Sixth%20Grade.htm
Grade 7 http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/Seventh%20Grade.htm
Grade 8 http://landry.tea.state.tx.us/TEA_Survey/EdDev/Eighth%20Grade.htm
Access the surveys by going directly to http://www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/elar/teks.html and
click on the hyper links to each grade level survey from that main page. We are happy that so
many of you are providing input.
TEA Source: Casey McCreary, Director of Reading, casey.mccreary@tea.state.tx.us
Science Resources
TEACHERS' CONSERVATION INSTITUTE
The Teachers' Conservation Institute (TCI) is a week-long workshop which uses the forest as a
theme for environmental education. Activities are led by foresters, educators, natural resource
conservationists and industry professionals. Come explore Texas forests from a variety of
perspectives!
Why Teachers Should Come to TCI
* TCI trainers are scientists and provide experiences that help teachers to be “highly qualified” in
science.
*Teachers receive 45 hours of continuing education (SBEC) credit.
*All materials are correlated to TEKS. TCI meets requirements of the Professional Development
Appraisal System.
*Teaching strategies utilized are research-based and proven to improve students' achievement.
*TCI is field-based and provides opportunities for inquiry investigation.
*TCI provides teachers with activities to meet the requirement that 40% of science be taught in a
lab setting or in the field as stated by law.
*Teachers receive certification in Project Learning Tree and Project WILD.
*All activities are interdisciplinary.
*Graduate credit is available.
*Teachers receive lots of FREE stuff.
*Participants learn how forests are managed for a variety of purposes, including wildlife habitat
and the production of over 5000 items we use daily.
*TCI is fun!
Cost $100 - Includes all teaching materials and instruction, food, lodging and transportation
during the workshop. Participants are responsible for travel to and from the Piney Woods
Conservation Center near Broaddus, Texas www.sfasu.edu/forestry/pwcc
Session 1: July 9 – 14, 2006
Session 2: July 16 – 21, 2006
To Register call (936) 632-TREE or email cstanco@texasforestry.org for a registration form.
NSTA and Children's Book Council Release List of Outstanding Science Trade Books for
Students K-12
Every year many good science trade books are published for children. But teachers and parents
want to know which are the very best. NSTA and the Children's Book Council (CBC) answer
that question with this year's list of Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12. NSTA
and CBC have refined the criteria for the highest quality, most engaging, and scientifically
accurate publications for children. This year's list contains a variety of books, including
informational texts and biographies, fiction, poetry, and even a book of songs. The full list
appears in the March editions of Science & Children, Science Scope, and The Science Teacher.
You can also view the 2006 list, and view previous years, by going to
http://www.nsta.org/ostbs06 .
National Wildlife Week 2006 (April 22 to 30)
Newsletters -- websites -- web logs and other links will help tremendously. Here is the main link:
http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek/
Our main NWW projects this year are:
Wildlife-related volunteer work in collaboration with National Youth Service Day (by: Youth
Service America) on April 22 (Earth Day) and April 23. We are calling it "Rebuild Places for
Wildlife" http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek/rebuild.cfm
A nationwide week-long literacy and reading program we are calling "Read with Ranger Rick"
http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek/reading.cfm
A nationwide event to monitor and record spring wildlife species (April 29 and April 30) called
"National Wildlife Watch" http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek/watch.cfm
Directions to download Cycle 1 Year 4 Continuation Funding Application for Texas
Reading First
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is pleased to provide continuation funding to Cycle 1 Texas
Reading First Initiative (TRFI) grantees during the 2006-2007 school year. The Texas Reading
First Continuation Application for Cycle 2 Year 3 will be published at a later date.
The instructions for completing the application and the SAS schedules can be downloaded from
the TEA Discretionary Grants website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/opge/disc/cont.html . Please
note that the majority of the program description forms have changed to better organize and
collect pertinent information related to the grantee's Reading First program. These changes to the
schedules may require additional time to complete, so the grantee should plan adequate time to
complete the continuation application.
Three copies of the application with original signatures (in blue ink), on Schedule #1 General
Information, must be received in the Texas Education Agency by April 4, 2006. A new addition
to Schedule #1 General Information is that original signature of the business manager, certifying
that budgeted costs have been assigned to the proper class/object codes according to the
Financial and Reporting (FAR) guide, is required.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is announcing the extension of the 2006-07 Cycle 1
Year 4 Texas Reading First Initiative Application. The current due date is April 4, 2006.
The date has been extended to April 25, 2006.
The instructions for completing the application and the SAS schedules can be downloaded from
the TEA Discretionary Grants website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/opge/disc/cont.html .
Three copies of the application with original signatures (in blue ink), on Schedule #1 General
Information, must be received in the Texas Education Agency by April 25, 2006. A new
addition to Schedule #1 General Information is that original signature of the business manager,
certifying that budgeted costs have been assigned to the proper class/object codes according to
the Financial and Reporting (FAR) guide, is required.
TEA Contact: Jana Bland Judkins, Ph.D., Director, Reading First Initiative
Tools for Transition
Online Description
Resources for Educators Helping Students Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
This training will provide participants with information, experiences, and resources that will:
-Increase educators' understandings of the range of possible effects of traumatic displacement on
students and their families.
-Increase educators' awareness of similarities and differences in Texas and Louisiana
instructional standards, and of the implications of those similarities and differences for students'
academic skills and instructional needs.
-Provide educators with strategies and resources to help address the needs of students displaced
by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
This training includes a strand for trainers who will be working with teachers and a strand for
individual participants.
The URL for this online training is: http://intolearning.esc20.net . AFTER REGISTERING
IN ILEARNING, ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST CONTACT DAVID PTASNIK AT
DAVID.PTASNIK@ESC20.NET TO OBTAIN A USERNAME AND PASSWORD.
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR FIRST NAME, LAST NAME, SCHOOL AFFILIATION,
AND PREFERRED EMAIL ADDRESS.
ESC Contact: Susan Altgelt, Coordinator, Distance Learning Services, susan.altgelt@esc20.net
Student Loan Forgiveness and Cancellation Opportunities for Teachers
Every year TEA produces a list of subject-matter teacher shortage areas and a list of designated
low-income schools that are submitted to the USDOE. Eligible teachers with certain types of
student loans may qualify for partial loan forgiveness, deferment, or cancellation benefits.
Eligibility requirements can be found on the Quick Reference Chart and 7-page Fact Sheet at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/eddev/loanforgiv/. Designated low-income schools are those with
greater than 30% of enrolled students from low-income families, in districts that are eligible for
Title I funds. The following are the Texas designated subject-matter teacher shortage areas for
the 2004-2005 school year:
 Special Education
 Bilingual/ESL
 Foreign Language  Mathematics
 Science
 Technology Applications
For more information contact Maria Huth, Manager of the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program,
at 512-264-3939 or by email at MariaHuth@austin.rr.com.
TEA PRESS RELEASE
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/comm/page1.html
March 10, 2006
Hurricanes disrupt school year but reading performance continues to improve
AUSTIN - Despite an academic year disrupted by hurricanes and evacuations, passing rates on
the fifth-grade Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills reading exam rose substantially this
year, Commissioner of Education Shirley J. Neeley said today.
Third-grade students posted a six percent increase in the percentage of youngsters who are
reaching the Commended Performance level. Students who earned commended status missed
very few questions on the test. Passing rates on the Spanish version of the third-grade TAKS
also improved this year, while overall performance on the English exam remained stable at thirdgrade.
"This has been a stressful year for Texas students and teachers, but they have obviously stayed
focused on education. We continue to see more and more students who are reading at or above
grade level and that is good news. I particularly want to thank the teachers for their hard work.
An analysis of these results also confirms what classroom teachers have been telling us. We
have a lot of work to do with our Katrina students whose performance lags behind that of Texas
students," Neeley said.
Statewide, 89 percent of the 284,634 students who took the third-grade reading TAKS passed the
test. That passing rate matches the rate achieved on the comparable test in 2005. The 2006
passing rates were 81 percent for African-American students; 86 percent for Hispanics and 95
percent for white students.
The percentage of all students reaching the prestigious Commended Performance level rose from
37 percent last year to 43 percent this year.
Among the 28,768 third-grade students who took the reading test in Spanish, the passing rate
was 76 percent, up from 74 percent in 2005. The percentage achieving Commended
Performance was 16 percent this year, compared to 17 percent last year.
When the performance of 2,414 Katrina or Rita evacuees in third-grade is examined, the data
show that 59 percent passed the exam and 17 percent achieved Commended Performance.
Almost all these children took the test in English and the vast majority of these students are
Katrina evacuees.
"It is critical that all students, including the Katrina children, who failed this test receive
additional intensive reading instruction. Whether students are in Texas schools for 30 days or
until graduation, our goal is to make them better, stronger students," Neeley said.
Students must pass the reading TAKS at third and fifth-grades to be promoted to the next grade.
Fifth-grade students must also pass the TAKS math test to be promoted to sixth grade. Those
who did not pass the reading test they took on February 21 will have two other testing
opportunities on April 19 and June 28. Parents can appeal the retention of their children.
Fifth-grade results
The percentage of fifth-grade students who met the passing standards improved across the board
this year. The passing rate for the 291,723 students who took the English-language exam was 80
percent, up from 75 percent in 2005. The 2006 passing rates for the student groups were: 69
percent for African-American students; 73 percent for Hispanics and 91 percent for whites.
Twenty-two percent of the students achieved Commended Performance status this year,
compared to 23 percent last year.
Of the 7,881 students who took the reading test in Spanish, 65 percent passed, compared to 60
percent last year. The percentage achieving Commended Performance rose dramatically from 10
percent in 2005 to 19 percent in 2006.
Among the 2,548 Katrina or Rita evacuees, the passing rate was 47 percent and 6 percent
reached the commended standard.
"Students cannot succeed in school if they cannot read. We will do all we can do at school to
help any child who is a struggling reader. We encourage parents to read with their children at
home," Neeley said.
Please contact your local district or charter school for scores for your local schools. The Texas
Education Agency only has statewide results at this point.
And from the TEA Bilingual/ESL Staff….
Both 3rd and 5th grade Spanish Reading TAKS passing rates have increased as compared to last
year. Congratulations to each and every one of you that has been working together to make our
English Language Learners’ successful. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/press/readingtaks06.pdf
TEA Source: Georgina K. González, Bilingual/ESL Director
Reminders about TEXAS AP FEE REDUCTIONS:
All Texas public school students are eligible for the Texas State Fee Reduction of $30 per test.
There are two steps to receive this fee reduction. On section 1 of the student answer sheets in
the section marked “School Use Only” you must fill in OPTION 2. Then when generating your
invoice to be included with materials shipped to College Board – ETS at the conclusion of
testing, you must include the same number of OPTION 2 CREDITS on your invoice as
marked on the student answer sheets.
Students with financial need are eligible for the Texas Federal Fee Reduction and Texas State
Fee Reduction for a total of $47 for each test. You must mark OPTION 1 on the student exam
in the section marked “School Use Only” to receive this credit. Then when generating your
invoice to be included with materials shipped to College Board – ETS at the conclusion of
testing, you must include the same number of OPTION 1 CREDITS on your invoice as
marked on the student answer sheets. College Board will waive the $22 administration fee for
these students and the district is expected to waive the $8 rebate which will bring the cost of each
exam down to $5 for students with financial need.
Option 1 OR Option 2 must be marked on the exam; do not mark both.
State reductions can only be awarded to a district through the College Board – ETS invoicing
process. You must send a signed copy of your invoice to College Board. Do not send paperwork
to the Texas Education Agency.
The following is provided to you for informational purposes only. For further information,
please contact the College Board.
MARCH CHECKLIST FOR AP COORDINATORS (Information from College Board)
MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THE AP ORDERING ONLINE EVENT
Join us for an AP Central(R) Online Event, "Ordering AP Exams -- A Refresher on Using the
Online Ordering System" on March 23, 2006, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit the Online
Events homepage on AP Central for more information.
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.16566
ORDER AP EXAMS
To avoid late fees and ensure timely processing and delivery of your exam materials, make sure
to submit your AP Exam order prior to the following deadlines:
For Schools in the United States, U.S. Territories, and Canada
* March 31: Priority deadline. Submit orders by this date to ensure timely processing and
delivery.
* April 5: Deadline for ordering pre-administration materials, which can only be placed with the
initial exam order. Orders placed by March 15 will be delivered by April 7. Orders placed
between March 16 and April 5 will be delivered by April 14.
* April 14: Extension deadline. Each order received after this date incurs a $50 late fee.
* April 21: Final deadline. No orders will be accepted after this date.
* May 5 (Canada), May 12 (U.S. states and territories): Deadline for ordering alternate exams for
late testing. Coordinators should call AP Services if an emergency occurs after this date.
VISIT AP CENTRAL FOR UPDATED FEE REDUCTION INFORMATION
The Federal and State AP Exam Fee Assistance page on AP Central has been updated to include
information relating to the 2006 AP Exam administration. As some states have not yet finalized
their fee assistance policies for this year, you should check back often for updates. In addition,
you can also find the 2006 Fee Reduction Policy online at AP Central.
Federal and State AP Exam Fee Assistance
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.18712
2006 Fee Reduction Policy (.pdf/56K)
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.17473
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Latest version recommended.
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.16268
VISIT AP CENTRAL FOR INSTRUCTIONS AND RESOURCES FOR RECORDING
DIGITAL STUDENT RESPONSES
If you plan to administer portions of the world language or Music Theory exams using a digital
or computer lab, visit the Coordinator's home page on AP Central after March 15th to download
specific exam instructions. There, you will find information on administering the exams using
this equipment and how to record, save, and return student responses.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/coordinators
CONTINUE PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2006 AP EXAM ADMINISTRATION
As you begin to identify testing spaces, remember that in order to be in compliance with AP's
exam security guidelines, you must allow no less than 5 feet (approximately 1.5 meters) between
students. Do you have enough rooms in your school to conduct the administration or will you
need to arrange for off-site testing? Will you need extra rooms to test students with disabilities
who have been granted accommodations by the College Board? Download a template from AP
Central to help you organize exam rooms.
Finding and Evaluating Off-Site Testing Facilities
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.18713
Room Organization spreadsheet (.xls/24K)
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.16830
And don't forget that new resources are available on the Coordinator's homepage to help you
train AP proctors and conduct a preadministration session.
AP Proctor Training
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.18714
AP Pre-administration Session Presentation
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.18715
.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
* AP Central Home Page for Coordinators
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.16353
* AP Coordinator's Manual (.pdf/2.7MB)
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.16831
* AP Program Guide (.pdf/722K)
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.16354
* AP Course Audit
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/courseaudit
* Coordinator Electronic Discussion Group
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.16356
* Contact AP Services apexams@info.collegeboard.org
* AP Coordinator Planning Calendar (.rtf/321K)
http://click.collegeboard.com:80/41791026.41004.0.16357
TEA Contact: Dalissa Brandenburg, Director of AP/IB Initiatives
Hurricanes Katrina/Rita Relocated Students
The Louisiana Department of Education is offering the Graduation Exit Examination (GEE)
online to assist students who were displaced to other states because of Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita but would like to earn a Louisiana diploma in 2005-2006 or 2006-2007 and still need to
retake all or part of the GEE. On Monday, March 6, 2006, the Louisiana Department of
Education began accepting online student registrations for eligible students. Online testing is
from March 27 - 31, 2006. School administrators can register Louisiana students to take the
GEE Online at their new school out of state. If students registered for the January 2005 online
GEE administration, it is not necessary for them to register again. To be eligible for the test,
students must be residing in a state other than Louisiana. A User Guide is located at
http://www.louisianagee.org/Registration/GEE%20Online%20User%20Guide%20March%2020
06.pdf.
Obtain additional eligibility requirements at
http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/uploads/8291.pdf. Contact the Louisiana Department of
Education at 1-877-453-2721 with questions about the online GEE administration or Louisiana
graduation requirements.
Grant Opportunities
Grant Title: MetLife Foundation Bridge Builders Grant Program
Organization: MetLife Foundation and the National Association of Secondary School Principals
Eligibility: Public middle and high school principals
Value: 25 awards of $5,000 each
Deadline: April 17, 2006
Contact: http://www.principals.org/s_nassp/sec.asp?CID=568&DID=482
$50,000 and newspaper recognition for outstanding K-12 educators
Grant Title: 2006 All-USA Teacher Team
Organization: USA Today
Eligibility: K-12 teachers
Value: 20 awards of up to $2,500 each
Deadline: April 29, 2006
Contact: http://sev.prnewswire.com/publishing-informationservices/20060124/DCTU02124012006-1.html
Grant Title: Award for Global Understanding
Organization: National Council for the Social Studies
Eligibility: PreK-12 Social Studies educators
Value: One award of up to $2,700
Deadline: May 15, 2006
Contact: http://www.socialstudies.org/awards/curriculum/global/
Call for Publishers to Submit Diagnostic Instruments for K-3
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is notifying publishers of a second opportunity to submit
early reading diagnostic instruments for Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 for review. The
original notice was published in the Texas Register on December 30, 2005 (30 TexReg 9035).
Publishers who submitted instruments under the December 2005 notice do not need to resubmit
materials. Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.006, authorizes the commissioner of education to
develop recommendations for school districts to administer early reading instruments to diagnose
student reading skill and comprehension development. (For more details, see
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/in-addition/in-addition.html#318)
In addition, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is notifying publishers of a second opportunity
to submit for review early reading diagnostic instruments for the List of Grade 3 Early Reading
Instruments . The original notice was published in the Texas Register on December 30, 2005, (30
TexReg 9036). Publishers who submitted instruments under the December 2005 notice do not
need to resubmit materials. P.L. 107-110, Title I, Part B, Subpart 1 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, CFDA
#84.357, authorizes the commissioner of education to develop recommendations for school
districts to administer early reading instruments to diagnose student reading skill and
comprehension development. (For more details, see http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/sos/inaddition/in-addition.html#319)
TEA Source: Jana Bland Judkins, Ph.D., Director, Reading First Initiative
ESC-20 is proud to announce that the Leadership Academy for Social Studies (LASS)
(Attachment) brochure is currently in print. We are very excited about offering an opportunity to
bring secondary educators together with post-secondary educators to create a social studies staff
development module. The academy is a three-year commitment - billed once each of the three
years - for a social studies leader or leadership team.
Astronomy Day at the McDonald Observatory
Day: May 4, 2006
Grade Levels: 5th - 8th
Description: In celebration of Astronomy Day, join Marc Wetzel as he takes you on an
interactive tour of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory. If the weather cooperates, he
will show us live video of our star, the sun!
Times:
9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
If you are interested in participating in this live, interactive videoconference, please contact
Susan Altgelt at (210) 370-5639 or susan.altgelt@esc20.net. This is a statewide videoconference
and slots will fill quickly!
Availability of Pre-kindergarten Expansion Grant ListServ
TEA is pleased to announce the installation of the TEA Prekindergarten ListServ. This ListServ
is primarily for recipients of the Cycle 11 Prekindergarten Expansion Grant. Recipients are
encouraged to sign onto the Prekindergarten ListServ as it will serve as a method of
communicating current and important information on programmatic and funding matters related
to the grant. Information will include: training opportunities on integration plans to be
incorporated in Cycle 12, information regarding the Cycle 11 reconciliation and refund process,
TEA’s online Expenditure Reporting (ER) system, final expenditure report (FER), and program
compliance report due dates.
The information will benefit grantees during this process of creating integration plans to
coordinate resources. To sign up for the ListServ email listserv@list.tetn.net. Include the text
below in the BODY of the email (not in the subject line), replacing Jane Doe with an appropriate
first and last name. A confirmation email will be sent.
subscribe prekindergarten_programs Jane Doe
A TEA funding information sheet was mailed with the Prekindergarten Expansion Grant
ListServ announcement on March 21, 2006. This funding information sheet provides notices on
the Cycle 11 fiscal timeline, draws down from the Expenditure Reporting (ER) system, and the
loss of any remaining Cycle 11 funds that are not drawn down (there is no rolling forward of
Cycle 11 funds into the Cycle 12 school year). If you have not received this letter, contact Karyn
Gukeisen, Lori Leija, or Sandy Senn in the Division of Formula Funding, TEA at (512) 4638525.
TEA Press Release
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/comm/page1.html
March 24, 2006
Approximately $20 million available for intensive reading and math programs for
qualifying schools
AUSTIN - About $20 million in Intensive Reading and Math Instruction grant funds will soon be
available to Texas schools to be used to improve reading and math achievement for students in
grades 4-6, the Texas Education Agency announced today. Campus eligibility is based on 2005
student passing rates on the fifth-grade reading and math Texas Assessment of Knowledge and
Skills (TAKS) tests.
“Students cannot succeed in school if they cannot perform well in math and reading. It is critical
that all students who failed either the math or reading test receive additional intensive
instruction,” Commissioner of Education Shirley J. Neeley said.
Funding for the Intensive Reading Instruction and Math Instruction programs was established
through Rider 48(a), passed by the 79th Legislature in 2005. This non-competitive funding is to
be used to provide immediate, targeted instruction programs for students who are struggling in
reading and/or mathematics so those students will be able to meet the grade advancement
requirements of the Student Success Initiative and master grade level curriculum expectations.
Schools can choose from 8 different math programs and 10 different reading programs to provide
the targeted instruction. The Intensive Reading and Math Instruction grant program will be
expanded for the 2006-2007 school year to include students in grades 4-7.
Programs were evaluated on the quality of the technical component, the quality of the
management component, the quality of the activity plan, and the quality of the program
evaluation plan. Necessary components of the comprehensive math and reading programs
included, but were not limited to:
• comprehensive researched-base instruction for reading and mathematics;
• assessment and performance outcome measures;
• data-driven instructional systems; and
• professional development in the implementation and use of comprehensive research-based
reading and mathematics program
• A program may include the use of technology to help achieve these elements.
To see the list of the final applicant pool of eligible campuses, go to
www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/iriimi.html. Funding for the intensive math and reading programs
is available through the 2007 school year. The list of approved math and reading program
providers follows.
Intensive Math Initiative Program Providers:
CompassLearning
Harcourt School Publishers
Pearson Digital Learning
PLATO Learning
Regional Education Service Center IV
River Deep
Tom Snyder Productions, Inc.
Voyager Expanded Learning
Intensive Reading Initiative Program Providers:
CompassLearning
Harcourt Achieve/ Steck Vaughn / Renaissance
Harcourt School Publishers
Pearson Digital Learning
PLATO Learning
Regional Education Service Center IV
River Deep
Scholastic
Scientific Learning
Voyager Expanded Learning
2006 Advanced Placement Summer Institutes information is now available.
The APSI list is available on the College Board website under the Regional section, the
Southwestern Region home page
http://www.collegeboard.com/about/association/regional/southwest/southwest.html. The APSI
list can be accessed by contact Information or by subject. Please contact the institute directly for
information about registering for an AP Summer Institute.
------------------------------------------------Eligibility requirements for 2006 AP/IB Teacher Training Reimbursements are listed below.
Districts may be reimbursed for applicants who attend a College Board endorsed AP Summer
Institute only if all of the following apply:
 The teacher attends the entire training and receives a Certificate of Completion as
verification;
 The teacher teaches a 6 -12th grade Pre-AP or PEIMS designated AP® course at a Texas
public school during the 2006-07 school year;
 The teacher attends the specific course training for the first or second time only, OR the
district has not received reimbursement from the TEA for that teacher’s specific course
training in either of the past two years;
 The teacher completes and submits the electronic application form; and
 The teacher verifies the electronic submission by providing the TEA with the required
Certificate of Completion and Statement of Verification by the deadline posted.
Notification to districts about this and other 2006 AP/IB incentives is posted on the TEA website
in the Correspondence to Districts section at
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/taa/sortf.cgi?command=bydate. (Please reference the letter dated
1/13/06.)
AP Summer Institute directors will provide participants with the directions for completing the
online applications and application process. (No hard copy application form is available.)
The application will become available in June 2006 and remain available until September 29,
2006.
TEA Source: Dalissa Brandenburg, Director of AP/IB Initiatives
Texas Connects: Edison Day
Solving Real Life Problems with Math
Monday, May 8
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (schools may participate at anytime during the day)
Grades 7-12
Hosted by The University of Texas at Austin Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
and TETN
Texas Connects: Edison Day is a videoconference event for middle and high school students. It
is an opportunity for students to learn and demonstrate how science and mathematics are used to
solve real life problems. Students will conduct videoconference presentations and activities
focused on inventors, new technologies, how high tech devices work, how technology plays a
role in our life and how the world has been
changed by inventions. UT will also be making four presentations throughout the day.
Examples of student presentation topics:
-kitchen appliances that require circuitry to operate
-machinery or products that have microprocessors
-interviews with an electrical engineer in the community
-computers or PDA's
-video game systems
-cell phones
-iPods or other MP3 devices
-anything else related to math and real-life situations!
What should presentations look like?
-"show and tell" activities
-computer modeling
-interviews
-scientific demonstration
-other activities that allow for the exchange of ideas and information!
Those of you who have participated in previous Texas Connects programs know how exciting
they are. Please distribute the promotional flyer to teachers on your campus:
http://www.esc20.net/distancelearning?PDFs/FAQ.pdf
If you are interested in submitting a presentation proposal or participating as a view-only site,
please contact Susan Altgelt at susan.altgelt@esc20.net or (210) 370-5639. Proposals are due
APRIL 10!
SOUTHWEST VISTAS: THE BORDER IN AMERICAN HISTORY
The story of United States history generally advances westward from the establishment of the
original British colonies. But the Spanish colonial experience also shaped our history, just as its
legacy continues to influence American life and culture. How does our understanding of U.S.
history and Texas history expand when seen through the broader perspective of the western
hemisphere? How does the U.S.-Mexico border, where cultures meet, represent a key to our past
as well as our future?
In June 2006, Humanities Texas will partner with the University of Houston and the University
of Texas at El Paso to hold "Southwest Vistas: The Border in American History," a pair of
residential teacher institutes in Houston (June 4-7) and El Paso (June 11-14). Designed for
teachers of U.S. history, Texas history, and world history, the institutes will explore the U.S.Mexico border, comparing the histories of the Americas on either side.
BENEFITS
"Southwest Vistas" will offer teachers the opportunity to:
* work with leading scholars of U.S. and Latin American history on TEKS-specific
topics
* share innovative strategies for teaching with primary sources
* explore Houston’s and El Paso’s rich cultural resources as a model for using their own
communities in teaching local, state, national, and international history
Participating teachers will receive a $300 stipend and continuing professional development credit
in addition to a travel allowance, housing, and most meals.
SCHEDULE
Each day will feature engaging lectures as well as dynamic, interdisciplinary seminars exploring
U.S., Texas, and Latin American history. Seminars will be centered on the use and interpretation
of primary sources and aligned with the TEKS for Social Studies. Topics include the indigenous
peoples of the Americas, the era of European colonization,
immigration history, the arts in British and Latin America, and the development of border
culture.
HOW TO APPLY
Teachers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as priority consideration will be given to
applications received by April 15, 2006. Applications are available at
http://www.humanitiestexas.org/initiatives/southwestvistas.html
SPONSORS
As the state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Texas supports
public programs that provide opportunities for people to deepen their understanding of ideas,
values, and human experience. The University of Houston and the University of Texas at El Paso
are national leaders in the study of Latin American and U.S. Hispanic history, literature, and
culture.
"Southwest Vistas" is made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities We the People initiative.
QUESTIONS
Please direct questions regarding Southwest Vistas to Dr. Eric Lupfer, Director of Grants and
Education, Humanities Texas, (512) 440-1991 ext. 120, elupfer@humanitiestexas.org. or
http://www.humanitiestexas.org
The Spring 2006 Interpreting Assessment Reports Guide has been posted to the TEA Student
Assessment Division website. Please note that the sample reports in this guide are for illustration
only. They are provided to show the basic layout of the reports and the information they include.
This guide may be accessed from the What's New box on the Student Assessment home page:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/index.html
22. Important Dates…
March 31 – Deadline to submit ePlan (district technology plans)
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