WELCOME TO AUSTIN! TEEAC 2007 Irene Pickhardt TEEAC: Current Issues and Opportunities Gifted and Talented Credit! • How can you offer it? • Each district may have their own criteria for G/T for determining which workshops may count for G/T credit. G/T Credit—Why offer it? Professional Development (excerpted http://www.tea.state.tx.us/gted/GifTal.html) School districts shall ensure that: (1) teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted students have a minimum of 30 hours of staff development that includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students, assessing student needs, and curriculum and instruction for gifted students; Why Offer G/T, con’t (3) teachers who provide instruction and services that are a part of the program for gifted students receive a minimum of six hours annually of professional development in gifted education Workshops Offered for G/T • Workshop presenters offering G/T credit should be – Experienced in working with gifted and talented students – Knowledgeable about the education of gifted and talented youth, or – Expert in an academic field, e.g. a botanist offering a botany workshop – Most desirable, is a presenter who meets all three of the above criteria http://www.txgifted.org • The Texas Association for Gifted and Talented (TAGT) has a process for obtaining their endorsement for a workshop. Some districts find this useful. • TAGT can be reached at http://www.txgifted.org. Four Years of Science! See Agency press release at: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/press/graduationrequiren ts06.pdf Entering freshmen 2007; Graduating class of 2011 The total number of graduation credits required under both plans will be increased to 26 credits. ATTACHMENT III--Text of Proposed New 19 TAC; Chapter 74. Curriculum Requirements Subchapter F. Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008 §74.63. Recommended High School Program. (3) Science--four credits. One credit must be a biology credit (Biology, Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, or International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology). Students must choose two credits from subparagraph (A) and one credit from subparagraph (B) of this paragraph to complete the science requirement. ATTACHMENT III--Text of Proposed New 19 TAC; Chapter 74. (A) A student must select two credits from the following areas. Not more than one credit may be chosen from each of the areas to satisfy this requirement. (i)Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) until phase-out; (ii)Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry; and (iii)Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics. ATTACHMENT III--Proposed New 19 TAC; Chap 74 (B)After successful completion of a biology course and two credits from IPC, a chemistry course, and/or a physics course, a student may select the fourth required credit from any of the following courses: (i) Earth and Space Systems to replace Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography (GMO); (ii) Environmental Systems; (iii) Aquatic Science; (iv) Astronomy; (v) Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems; (vi) AP/IB Biology; (vii) Chemistry, AP/IB Chemistry; (viii) Physics, AP/IB Physics; (ix) AP/IB Environmental Science; and (x) Scientific Research and Design. (xi) Engineering As districts consider which courses to offer students as a fourth year of science, TWO points for TEEAC Providers First, many districts are considering adding AP Science courses. AP Environmental may be a viable options in some districts. College Board—AP Environmental AP Environmental attracts a greater percentage of Hispanics, and African Americans than other AP Science courses. AP Environmental attracts a greater percentage of females than other mathematics-heavy science course. Course % Female % Latino % African American White AP Envir. AP Bio. AP Chem. AP Phy. C Mechanics 56% 59% 46% 9.5% 7.5% 6.1% 27% 5.4% 5.9% 5.2% 4.0% 2.4% Source: Advanced Placement Report to the Nation 2006 65.2 61.8% 61.3% 62.9% As schools consider laboratory facilities for 4 years of Science, TEEAC Recommendations to Science Facilities Standards • Chap.# 5 OUTDOOR LEARNING AREAS • Creating an Outdoor Learning Area • An outdoor learning area is a natural resource that is available to students for conducting field • investigations outside the classroom setting. Although these sites are used primarily for • field investigations, they provide learning opportunities all across the curriculum. §61.1036. School Facilities Standards for Construction on or after January 1, 2004. • (D) a list of any specialized classrooms or major support areas, non instructional support areas, outdoor learning areas, outdoor science discovery centers, living science centers, or external activity spaces; (5) Instructional space--General classrooms, specialized classrooms, outdoor learning areas, and major support areas. NEW! Districts May Focus More on Career and Technical Education • §127.2. Career Investigation is a course taken at the middle school level • TEKS include: compile a list of multiple career options matching interests and aptitudes; • list and explain educational and/or training alternatives after high school Select a cluster icon below to view links to related Career Clusters. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/cte/index.html 2007 Brings Change to SCIENCE! Accountability System Commissioner of Education Final Decisions March 2005 Science The standards for science 2005 25 / 70 / 90 reflect the lower 2006 35 / 70 / 90 performance compared to 2007 40 / 75 / 90 reading/ELA and 2008 40 / 75 / 90 performance gaps 2009 45 / 80 / 90 between 2004-05 student 2010 50 / 80 / 90 passing standard Accountability Ratings for 2007 FOR SCIENCE • 40% of students must pass Science TAKS in order be Academically Acceptable • 75% of students must pass Science TAKS for Recognized rating. Many District personnel may still not be aware of this! TEKS Alignment and Refinement Opportunities • • • • Panel member—SBOE Appointee Public input Knowledge of changes Provide input to members of TEEAC committee Earth and Space Science may begin this spring! Correspondence relating to English Language Arts and Reading TEKS refinement and alignment process Dear Educators, The refinement and alignment process of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English Language Arts and Reading is underway and we need your assistance. As professionals you have worked with the TEKS on a daily basis in your classrooms and may have suggestions for improving the clarity and continuity surrounding specific knowledge and skill statements and/or student expectations. We solicit your input and ask that you use the following template to aid us in capturing all suggestions. The deadline for providing feedback is June 30, 2005. Grade Level/Name of Course Knowledge and Skills Number Student Expectation Letter Suggestion for Refinement and/or Alignment TEA and the Texas High School Project The Public-Private Partnership: A Vision for Change FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Laurey Peat Laurey Peat + Associates, Inc. Phone: 214.871.8787 Email: lpeat@lpapr.com $71 MILLION COMMITTED TO LAUNCH THE TEXAS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH (TSTEM) INITIATIVE Texas High School Project (THSP) Expands Its Public-Private Funding to Ensure Texas Students Have the Skills and Knowledge to Pursue Careers in STEM-Related Fields Update on T-STEM ACADEMIES $71 Million committed to Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (T-STEM) Academies Part of Texas High School Project: Will establish 35 small schools that will offer focused opportunities in STEM related curriculum Funded in part with Gates and Dell contributions Dana Center named first of six centers for Educator Professional Development in STEM http://www.utdanacenter.org/ TEA Grants Listserv • Grant and Contract Announcements RFAs - RFPs • Subscribers to this list will receive prompt notification of newly available TEA: • Grant and Contract Announcement Letters • RFAs (Requests for Grant Application) • RFPs (Requests for Contract Proposal) Grants • Master Teacher Grant Programs • The Master Teacher Grant Programs list will provide school districts and ESCs notification of Web postings concerning the Master teacher program. The list will also provide notification concerning updates to the TAC (Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 102, Subchapter BB, of the Commissioner’s Rules concerning Master Teacher Grant Programs). Also, information concerning the eligibility list and the opening and closing dates of the application for funding purposes will be posted. Beginning January 1, 2000, TAC updates will no longer be mailed to school districts and other recipients, and will only be available on the Web. Emerging Markets in Science On-Line Labs •The Purpose •Establish State Requirement (40% hands-on laboratory) •The TEKS •Establish the need: the growing use of Distance Learning •The Electronic Course Pilot •Present the Need from the Practitioner’s point of view, including Pilot Schools and other schools State Requirements + Growing Use of Online Learning + State Programs Supporting On-Line Learning + Need from Practitioner’s Point View = The Emerging Market Changing Demographics http://www. tea.state.tx .us/perfrep ort/pocked/ 2006/pocke d0506.pdf Instructional Strategies Academic Content Language It is important for teachers to build science conceptual knowledge at the same time they provide instruction in the skills of word recognition (relational/contextual). Word Walls and Charts Language built on experience Scientific vocabulary Connect science and literacy Science Benefits Oral Language Development • Precise science terminology, • Academic Content Language Development • Introduction and repetition of vocabulary • Word walls • Oral presentations • Posing questions • Appropriate framing in grammar structures • Association of vocabulary to items in real world Vocabulary grows most effectively when experiencing concepts, objects, etc. • • • • • • • Introduction to unit E.L.D./Science/Language Arts integration Emphasis on descriptive vocabulary Document vocabulary on chart paper Adaptable to student’s needs Relational Contextual Strategies That Work! Texas Teacher Profiles • First year teachers: 7% of Texas teachers=22,649 teachers; • Teachers 1-5 years experience: 28.7%; equals 84, 482 teachers; • Total novice teachers: 36.4% MORE THAN A THIRD of ALL TEXAS TEACHERS • Another 20% may be ready to leave teaching (20+ years) Texas Teacher Turnover and Student Performance % Teachers leaving campuses 0-10% 11-20% 21-30% % Students passing TAKS More than 30% 53.6% 48.9% 46.0% 44.3% State Average 47.9% % Texas Students Impacted 11.2% 45.3% 29.8% 13.7% http://www.widow.state.tx.us/specialrpt/teachersalary04/ Source: State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and TEA, AEIS ’02-’03 Number of Texas Science Teachers Grades 9-12: 2004 Course Number Physical Science Biology Chemistry Physics Earth Science Other Sciences 4,586 5,381 3,179 1,694 485 1,250 Certified No data 74% 78% 79% 56% No data Source: State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and TEA, AEIS ’02-’03 Texas Teachers Teaching Outside Their Field and Student Performance Teachers teaching outside of field 0-10% 11-20% 21-30% Over 30% State Average %Students Passing TAKS % Texas Students Impacted 61.% 51.8% 43.6% 36.9% 47.9% 22.2% 26.2% 26.7% 24.9% Teacher Experience vs. TAKS Performance Average Level of Teacher Experience per Campus 0 to 5 Years % of Students Passing TAKS 37% 6-10 Years 11-15 Years 16-20 Years Over 20 Years 48% 48% 48% 49% http://www.widow.state.tx.us/specialrpt/teachersalary04/ Source: State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and TEA, AEIS ’02-’03 Secondary Student Performance vs. Teacher Profiles STUDENT PERFORMANCE Students Completing High School <95% 9597.99% 98-100% TEACHER PROFILES Students Passing TAKS Teachers leaving 23.6% 33.8% 20.6% 20.0% Teachers teaching outside their field 31.2% 28.6% 44.9% 19.3% 27.9% http://www.widow.state.tx.us/specialrpt/teachersalary04/ Source: Completion and TAKS data from TEA; AEIS ’02-’03; Teacher Data From State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) , AEIS ’02-’03 and ’03-’04 NEW RESOURCES! New Design for FREE Web Site • Popular online resource • supported by the U.S. Department of Education • puts 100’s of teaching and learning resources at the public's disposal. http://free.ed.gov—helps users to better navigate more than 1,500 resources from more than 35 federal agencies Teacher to Ranger 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. If you are interested in the Teacher to Ranger to Teacher program and would like to be a Teacher-Ranger, or would just like additional information, please visit http://www.nps.gov/wupa/forteachers/trt.htm or contact the following: Leslie Dubey Texas Coordinator 409.246.2487 leslie_dubey@nps.gov www.nsta.org www.aaas.org Library Resources: These National Science Documents help to understand the content that is contained in the TEKS Online Now! http://www.t ea.state.tx.u s/curriculum /science/Gui delinesColor .pdf Science List Serve: Please Join… Our way of “shouting out” to you when you are busy And something Important comes Up for science In Texas… www.tea.state.tx.us/list/ TAKS Resource Websites Assembled by Jennifer Jordan @ ESC 13 Science TAKS Resources - Spring 2006 Test Grade 5 Test http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr5taks.p df Answer Key http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr5taksk ey.pdf Item Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/index.html Grade 8 Test http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr8taks.pdf Answer Key http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr8takskey.p df Item Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/results/itemanalysis/taks06/taks 8ia_apr06.pdf Grade 10 Test http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr10taks.pdf Answer Key http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006/gr10takskey. pdf Item Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/results/itemanalysis/taks06/taks 10ia_apr06.pdf Grade 11 Test http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006 /grxltaksapril.pdf Answer Key http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/2006 /gr11takskey.pdf Item Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/results/itemanalysi s/taks06/taks11ia_apr06.pdf Index of Released TAKS and Answer Keys to look at other years/exams http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/inde x.html Index of Item Analysis http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/results/itemanalysi s/index.html Copyright and Terms of Service Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2002. The materials found on this website are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education Agency and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Texas Education Agency, except under the following conditions: 1) Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts’ and schools’ educational use without obtaining permission from the Texas Education Agency;2) Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only without obtaining written permission of the Texas Education Agency;3) Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way;4) No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged.Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from the Texas Education Agency and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing fee or a royalty fee.Contact TEA Copyrights with any questions you may have. Contact Information Chris Castillo-Comer Director of Science chris.comer@tea.state.tx.us Irene Pickhardt Asst. Dir. of Science irene.pickhardt@tea.state.tx.us 512-463-9581