Texas Education Today

May 2013 • Volume XXVII • No. 3

News from the Texas Education Agency

Advanced

Environmental

Technology

Discrete Mathematics

SBOE gives preliminary

approval to more math and

science options

Texas high school students will have

additional course options that can

be used to meet math and science

graduation requirements under a plan

tentatively approved by the State Board

of Education in April.

If given nal approval at the board’s

July meeting, students would be able to

earn math credit if they take and pass

Robotics Programming and Design;

Principles of Engineering; Digital

Electronics; or Discrete Mathematics.

♦ See Course Options, page 6

Performance

2013 accountability system announced

Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams announced on

April 23 four components that will be part of the new 2013 state

accountability system for school districts, campuses and charters in

Texas. The rst ratings under this system will be issued by the Texas

Education Agency on Aug. 8. [complete story on page 2]

STAAR

Test release date accelerated

Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams announced on

March 12 he is accelerating the scheduled release dates for State

of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR

), with all

general assessments to be released in August following statewide

administration of the tests this spring. [complete story on page 4]

Inside this Issue

New accountability system

.. 2

Leader conrmations

...........3

STAAR test release date

......4

CSCOPE review

....................4

National History Day

...........5

Nominees wanted

................6

Fine Arts TEKS approval

......7

Student performance

...........7

Charter school process

........8

Legislature happenings

.......9

SBOE action summaries

....... 9

Information

For more information about

this newsletter, contact:

Division of Communications

Texas Education Agency

1701 N. Congress Avenue

Austin, TX 78701-1494

512 463-9000

Social Media

to schools and educators in the State of Texas

for their education and informational purposes

only. Prior express written authorization

from the TEA must be obtained for any other

distribution, use, copying, or sales.

Texas Education Today 2

Performance

Commissioner unveils new accountability system

Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams announced on April 23 four components that will be

part of the new 2013 state accountability system for school districts, campuses and charters in Texas.

The rst ratings under this system will be issued by the Texas Education Agency on August 8, 2013.

“I have heard the criticism of the previous accountability system, with its overemphasis on a school’s

lowest performing areas and its blind spot to what a district or charter might be doing well,” said

Commissioner Williams. “The new system makes use of multiple indicators to provide parents and

taxpayers a more detailed overview of the successes, as well as areas of necessary improvement, for

each school district, charter and campus.”

The revised system will still use student assessments, but also makes use of additional indicators

to provide parents and taxpayers greater detail on the performance of a district or charter and each

individual campus throughout the state. The 2013 accountability system will use a performance index

framework that considers four areas (including student groups that are part of that index):

• Student Achievement – Represents a snapshot of performance

across all subjects, on both general and alternative assessments,

at an established performance standard. (All Students)

• Student Progress – Provides an opportunity for diverse

campuses to show improvements made independent of overall

achievement levels. Growth is evaluated by subject and student

group. (All Students; Student Groups by Race/Ethnicity; English

Language Learners; Special Education)

• Closing Performance Gaps – Emphasizes advanced academic

achievement of the economically disadvantaged student group

and the lowest performing race/ethnicity student groups at

each campus or district. (All Students; Student Groups by Race/

Ethnicity)

• Postsecondary Readiness – Includes measures of high school

completion, and beginning in 2014, State of Texas Assessments of

Academic Readiness (STAAR

) performance at the postsecondary

readiness standard. This measure emphasizes the importance

of students receiving high school diplomas that provide the

foundation necessary for success in college, the workforce, job

training programs or the military. (All Students; Student Groups

by Race/Ethnicity; English Language Learners; Special Education)

District and campuses with students in Grade 9 or above must meet targets on all four indexes.

Districts and campuses with students in Grade 8 or lower must meet targets on the rst three indexes

(excluding Postsecondary Readiness).

Districts, campuses and charters will receive one of three ratings:

• Met Standard – Met accountability targets on all indexes for which they have

performance data in 2013

• Met Alternative Standard – Met modied performance index targets for alternative

education campuses or districts

♦ See Accountability System, page 3

May 2013 3

Accountability System continued

• Improvement Required – Did not meet one or more performance index targets

For eligible campuses that achieve the rating of Met Standard, distinction designations in the following

areas will also be assigned for outstanding academic achievement in reading/English language arts and

mathematics:

• Top 25 Percent Student Progress

• Academic Achievement in Reading/English language arts

• Academic Achievement in Mathematics

These distinction designations will be based on campus performance in relation to a comparison group

of campuses.

“It’s important to note that while the new system bases accountability on a index framework, the state

will emphasize the importance of closing achievement gaps and addressing the needs of all students

in Texas,” said Commissioner Williams. “Those districts and campuses that are leaders in improving

achievement for all its students will be easily identied under this system.”

Because all aspects of the performance index framework cannot be fully implemented at this time,

2013 will be considered a transition year. Accountability advisory groups will reconvene later this year

to nalize recommendations for accountability ratings criteria for 2014 and beyond.

In addition, work will continue on the conversion of this new system into an A-F rating system for

2014.

Williams acknowledged various aspects of the state accountability system are currently being discussed

by the Texas Legislature. Any changes in bills passed during the legislative session can and will be

incorporated into the system.

For a detailed overview of all components of the 2013 state accountability system, visit the Texas

Education Agency website at ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2013/index.html.

Leaders

Williams and Cargill conrmed by Texas Senate

Williams

The Texas Senate in a

unanimous vote formally

conrmed the nomination

of Michael L. Williams as

the state’s Commissioner

of Education on March 27.

Named to the position by

Gov. Rick Perry in September

2012, Commissioner Williams’

appointment required Senate conrmation.

As commissioner of education, Williams heads the

Texas Education Agency, which oversees pre-K

through high school education in both public

and charter schools. Williams is the rst African-

American to serve as commissioner of education in

the state’s history.

Cargill

Barbara Cargill was conrmed

by a unanimous vote of the

Senate as chair of the State

Board of Education on Feb 21.

Cargill, R-The Woodlands, was

rst appointed to the top spot

by Perry July 1, 2011 and re-

appointed to a full two-year term on Feb. 1, 2013.

Cargill was rst elected to the 15-member SBOE in

November 2004 and has twice been re-elected.

Texas Education Today 4

Testing

STAAR test scheduled release dates accelerated

The Texas Education Agency will accelerate

the scheduled release dates for State of Texas

Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR

with all general assessments to be released in

August following statewide administration of the

tests this spring, Commissioner of Education

Michael L. Williams said.

“As we have rolled out the STAAR assessments,

some have viewed the inability to see the actual

tests as a reason to invalidate the entire process,”

said Commissioner Williams. “I have heard those

concerns and am accelerating the release of all

the assessments while maintaining the validity of

results for the upcoming spring administration.”

Under the Texas Education Code and State Board of

Education rule, primary test forms must be released

every three years. Williams’ directive makes all

general STAAR assessments – some of which were

not scheduled for release until 2014 or beyond –

available for review by this summer. The STAAR

Modied assessment is not part of this accelerated

release, but will be made available in 2014, as

currently scheduled.

“I hope the release of these assessments eliminates

some of the concern surrounding STAAR,” said

Commissioner Williams. “In reviewing these tests,

I believe parents will nd attainable expectations

coupled with a high level of rigor that is tied directly

to course content in every grade level.”

Release of the general assessments adds to a list

of STAAR materials that have already been made

available by the TEA. Items previously released

include sample STAAR test questions, STAAR

English I writing scoring guides and essays, STAAR

Grade 4 writing scoring guides, and STAAR Grade 7

writing scoring guides.

At the commissioner’s direction, the following 2013

STAAR assessments will be released:

◊ Grades 3-8 – Math, Science, Reading,

Writing, Social Studies

◊ High School Math – Algebra I, Geometry,

Algebra II

◊ High School Science – Biology, Chemistry,

Physics

◊ English I Reading, English II Reading,

English III Reading

◊ English I Writing, English II Writing,

English III Writing

◊ World History, World Geography, U.S.

History

Ad Hoc Committee oversees CSCOPE product review

CSCOPE Review

Reacting to concerns about a widely used content

management system called CSCOPE, State Board

of Education Chair Barbara Cargill has appointed

a CSCOPE Ad Hoc Committee that will oversee a

review of this product’s content.

CSCOPE, which was created by Texas Education

Service Centers with assistance from content

experts, is now used in 875 public school districts,

charter schools and private schools in Texas. These

primarily small districts and charters educate 34

percent of the state’s total student population.

Neither the State Board of Education nor the Texas

Education Agency was involved in the development

of CSCOPE. However concern about some of the

content and privacy issues sparked the creation of

the ad hoc committee, which held its rst meeting

on March 29.

The committee in April solicited nominations from

people who would like to serve on review panels for

social studies, the rst content area to be reviewed.

The panels will be composed of parents, educators,

curriculum specialists, business professionals and

other stakeholders.

A step-by-step guide for the review has been

created.

♦ See CSCOPE, page 5

May 2013 5

CSCOPE continued

Results of the review will be given to the CSCOPE

governing board for its consideration. As the review

is voluntarily and non-binding, it will be up to the

CSCOPE governing board to decide whether to take

any actions based on the results.

CSCOPE review committee members are:

Marty Rowley, Chair

SBOE member, R-Amarillo

Mavis Knight

SBOE member, D-Dallas;

Pat Hardy

SBOE member, R-Fort Worth;

Tom Maynard

SBOE member, R-Florence;

John Bass

Executive Director

Region 16 Education Service Center, Amarillo;

Clyde Steelman, Jr.

Executive Director

Region 11 Education Service Center, Fort Worth and;

Elizabeth Abernethy

Executive Director

Region 7 Education Service Center, Kilgore.

Accomplishment

National History Day winners honored by SBOE

Winners in the 2012 National History Day Contest

were recognized at the April State Board of

Education meeting for their accomplishments.

The national contest was held in College Park,

Maryland. Students were required to conduct

extensive primary and secondary source research

on a topic of historical signicance, and which

promotes pride in each student participant’s

heritage, in our nation’s history and place in the

world.

The theme for 2012 was “Revolution, Reaction,

Reform in History.”

Honored for their accomplishments were:

Junior Division

Group Performance Category – First Place:

Noel Grisham Middle School, Round Rock ISD

Revolutionizing Revolutions:

What Gandhi Taught Us About Political Deance

• Jonathan Holle • Luke Victor

• Christian Isenhour • Cyrus Yasrebi

• Steven Mathew

Group Website Category – First Place:

Noel Grisham Middle School, Round Rock ISD

Title IX: Empowerment Through Education

• Smrithi Mahadevan • Priya Ramamoorthy

• Maanasa Nathan • Kavya Ramamoorthy

Individual Performance Category – Second Place

Rockport-Fulton Middle School, Aransas County ISD

Mustard Gas: From Weapon of Death to Promise of Life

• Jake Manlove

Group Exhibit Category – Third Place

Noel Grisham Middle School, Round Rock ISD

Tear Down This Wall

• Niti Malwade • Khira Patel

• Hamsini Nathan • Srija Reddy

• Devika Patel

Group Documentary Category – Third Place

Greenhill School, Addison, Texas

From Poison to Pure Joy: The Revolution in Milk Safety

• Henry Roseman • Sidarth Subramanian

Senior Division

Individual Documentary Category – Third Place

Nimitz High School, Aldine ISD

A Long-Awaited Revolution

• Aric Barnes

Texas Education Today 6

Course Options continued

Students could earn science credit

for Veterinary Medical Applications,

Advanced Environmental

Technology or Human Body

Systems, under the plan approved

on rst reading.

This would expand the math and

science course offerings available

to students as early as the 2013-

2014 school year if given nal

approval at the board’s next

meeting.

The robotics course is currently a technology

applications course, while the Discrete Math,

Principles of Engineering, Digital Electronics and

Human Body Systems classes are innovative

courses. The remaining two courses are Career and

Technical Education courses.

Under current rules, students who

are pursuing the Recommended

High School Program or the

Distinguished Achievement Program

must obtain four credits in math

and science.

Several bills are now being

considered by the Texas Legislature

that would dramatically alter

the current graduation plans. If

approved, the board will work to

make additional changes to the graduation plans

over the coming year.

Current graduation plans may be viewed at

www.tea.state.tx.us/graduation.aspx.

Accolades

Recognition programs now accepting nominations

Do you know a school volunteer or a business partner that deserves recognition?

Nominations are being accepted until May 31 for the two State Board of Education volunteer recognition

programs.

The SBOE’s Employers for Education Excellence and Heroes for Children awards recognize both businesses

and individuals that work with and support public education in Texas.

The Employers for

Education Excellence

program, established

in 2007, recognizes

Texas employers that encourage and support staff

participation and voluntarism in the public schools.

Any Texas employer is eligible to win the

award, including private companies, nonprot

organizations, and state, local, federal and

educational entities.

Complete program details and nomination form

are available at www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.

aspx?id=2147500174.

The Heroes for Children award

recognizes 15 outstanding

volunteers each year who have

given generously of their time to

Texas schools. School districts,

campuses, individuals and

organizations can submit nominations. This award

recognizes individuals.

Full details about the program and the nomination

form are available at www.tea.state.tx.us/

index4.aspx?id=4140.

For additional information, please contact:

DeEtta Culbertson

[email protected]

512/463-9839.

employers

education

excellence

for

Heroes

for

Children

May 2013 7

Curriculum

SBOE gives nal approval to Fine Arts TEKS

The Keller High School Chamber Singers, Keller ISD, performed for the SBOE at the April 2013

meeting. The choir is under the direction of choral director Chi-Chi King and Alexander Carr, assistant

choral director.

Student Performance

Newly revised Fine Arts curriculum

standards will be in use in Texas

classrooms in the 2015-2016 school year.

The State Board of Education gave nal

approval to the revised standards on April

19. The curriculum standards outline the

topics to be covered in art, music, dance

and theater classes.

The current standards, called the Texas

Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS),

have been in use in the state’s classrooms

since 1998.

Four basic strands –observation and

perceptions, creative expression,

historical and cultural relevance and

critical evaluation and response – provide

broad, unifying structures for organizing

therevised Fine Arts knowledge and skills

students are expected to acquire.

Some of the more signicant updates occur

at the middle school level where courses

will be based on a student’s prociency

level, rather than grade level. Another set

of revisions creates standards for dance instruction

in the middle schools. Currently, dance standards

only exist at the high school level.

Before giving nal approval to the standards, the

board amended them to make it clear that distinct

Middle School Jazz Ensemble 2 and 3 classes

continued to exist.

The proposal also increases the number of Fine

Arts classes available at the high school level.

Some of the proposed new courses are Musical

Theatre and Technical Theatre.

Fine Arts classes are consistently popular electives

for Texas students. Although nationally, some

claim there is a decline in Fine Arts classes in

public schools, this year in Texas 101,630 students

were enrolled in Music I-IV band classes for

example, and 64,815 were enrolled in Dance I-IV.

The nal Fine Arts TEKS will be posted on the

Texas Education Agency website at www.tea.

state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=2147499973 once

they are updated to reect amendments made

most recently by the board.

Texas Education Today 8

Processes

National group to review Texas charter schools

As numerous charter school-related bills swirl about

in the closing days of the 83rd Texas Legislature,

a national expert discussed the positive aspects of

the current process for awarding open-enrollment

charter schools with the State Board of Education.

William Haft, vice president for Authorizer

Development of the National Association of Charter

School Authorizers (NACSA), spoke to the members

of the board’s Committee on School Initiatives.

The committee oversees the process for and

recommends applicants to the SBOE for awarding of

the charter.

Haft will also be conducting a review for the Texas

Education Agency of the current charter processes

for authorization, monitoring, renewing and closure

of under-performing charter schools.

That review is scheduled to get under way in early

summer.

Heather Mauzé, director of the division of charter

school administration at the Texas Education

Agency, said Haft and the NACSA offered to provide

the review to help the agency and the board

improve on an already strong process.

“He was very positive about our current practices,”

Mauzé said. “Mr. Haft complimented the state’s

strong four-part process for granting charters.

However, there is always room for improvement and

it’s always a good practice to review your system

and strive for excellence.”

Overall Haft had praise for the current authorization

system. He pointed out that the strengths include:

• the completeness check to be sure that the

charter applications contain all necessary

documents and background information.

• the selection of external reviewers through

a Request for Qualications (RFQ) process;

• a substantive internal review process by

Texas Education Agency staff;

• comprehensive individual reviews of the

applications; and,

• interviews by the committee of the nalists.

He pointed out that the application process requires

specic evidence in key areas such as community

support and evidence of strong leadership for

applicants.

Applicants are also required to show nancial

capacity and a strong innovative educational plan

for the students of the proposed school.

Haft said the board could improve in some areas

such as focusing more on the substantive part of

the application versus the technical compliance.

He also suggested aligning those substantive

requirements with the training for the external

reviewers, the rating system and the interview

process.

Under the current system, the board authorizes

the creation of charters, while the commissioner of

education oversees charter amendments, renewals

and revocations.

When asked how the Texas system of authorizing

charters compares with other states, Haft said the

only two states that were comparable in size and

scope were California and Arizona.

In California though, Haft explained, school districts

are counted as charter authorizers as well as the

state education board. In all, California has over

100 different charter school authorizers.

Arizona, he said, was structured very similar to

Texas with one authorizing board.

Haft told the board that he would start his

evaluation of the Texas charter school system

in June or July beginning with a desk audit and

request for information and data. From there, he

would go on to interview staff, stakeholders and

board members.

The review will also include a focus group survey of

the personnel at the charter schools.

Haft’s nal report will provide the agency and the

board with a overview of the best practices and

strengths of the Texas charter school system, along

with recommendations for improvement.

May 2013 9

State Board of Education

District 1

Martha M. Dominguez, Ed.D., El Paso

District 2

Ruben Cortez, Jr., Brownsville

District 3

Marisa B. Perez, San Antonio

District 4

Lawrence A. Allen, Jr., Fresno

District 5

Ken Mercer, San Antonio

District 6

Donna Bahorich, Houston

District 7

David Bradley, Beaumont

District 10

Tom Maynard, Florence

District 11

Patricia Hardy, Fort Worth

District 12

Geraldine Miller, Dallas

District 14

Sue Melton, Waco

District 15

Marty Rowley, Amarillo

Chair, District 8

Barbara Cargill, The Woodlands

Vice Chair, District 9

Thomas Ratli, Mount Pleasant

Secretary, District 13

Mavis B. Knight, Dallas

Michael L. Williams Commissioner of Eduction

In Other Action

Summaries of SBOE actions can be found online

The State Board of Education met April 17 – April 19, 2013. Summaries of actions taken by the SBOE can

be found on the Texas Education Agency’s website at www.tea.state.tx.us/sboe/actions/

Government

Keeping up with the Legislature

Though there are only a few

days left in the 83rd session of

the Texas Legislature, you may

still keep up with

the nal legislative

activity by visiting

one of the links

listed on the

right.

The 83rd

session

concludes on

May 27.

General links to the legislature

www.capitol.state.tx.us/

Legislative calendar & agendas by date

www.capitol.state.tx.us/MnuCalendars.aspx

House of Representatives

www.house.state.tx.us/

Texas Senate

www.senate.state.tx.us/

House committee & chamber meetings

www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committees/MeetingsHouse.aspx

Senate committee & chamber meetings