Chris Castillo Comer

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HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE UPDATE Summer 2006Austin,
Texas
Texas Education Agency Science Education Update

• Chris Castillo Comer
• Director of Science

This presentation is available at www.theTRC.org
for your convenience
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• Entering freshmen 2007
• Graduating class of 2011
• The total number of graduation credits required
  under both plans remains at 24.
• TAC Title 19 Part 2 Chapter 74. Curriculum
  Requirements
• Subchapter F. Graduation Requirements, Beginning
  with School Year 2007-2008
• 74.63. Recommended High School Program.
• 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.

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http//info.sos.state.tx.us
Title 19 Part 2 Chapter 74 Sub-Chapter F (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) (ii)Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or
IB Chemistry
and (iii)Physics, Principles of Technology I,
AP Physics, or IB Physics.
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• (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
• 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
• Scientific Research and Design.
• Engineering

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The State of Science in Texas
85 of all 11th graders passed the Exit Level
Science Assessment 55 of all Texas seniors
graduated with the
Recommended High School Plan Last year 23 of all
graduating seniors took 4 years of science
Grade 8 science was tested this spring with a 71
pass rate for all students at 2 SEMs, and the
online testing was successful with good
result. The percentage of students passing
science Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills
(TAKS) increased this spring at grades 5,10, and
Exit Level Grade 11.
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State Curriculum Trends

• Emphasis on science at very early ages
• At-risk students identified earlier and more
  programs to support students in credit recovery
• More High Schools with dropout recovery programs
  specializing in technical school/employment
  training
• Emphasis on higher expectations and more science
  to prepare students for technical training
• Greater high school to college coordination

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GOVERNOR PERRY ANNOUNCES 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
• Charles A. Dana Center named first of six centers
  for Educator Professional
• Development in STEM

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How We Did Overall
Science
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SCIENCE TAKS HIGH SCHOOL BLUEPRINT
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The Personal Graduation Plan
By Law, A High School Personal Graduation Plan
Must.

• Identify educational goals for student
• Include diagnostic information, monitoring
  intervention
• Include intensive instruction
• Provide innovative methods to promote students
  advancement
• Address participation of parent

TEC 28.0212, SB 1108, 2003
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www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/g
uides/study/

• Study Guides are provided to students who do
  not meet the standard.

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Executive Order RP53Signed by the Governor of
Texas on December 16, 2005-End of Course Tests

• The development of a series of voluntary
  end-of-course assessments in Science,
  Mathematics, and other subjects, currently
  assessed by the 11th grade Texas Assessment of
  Knowledge and Skills, to measure student
  performance
• For science this will include Biology, Chemistry
  and Physics

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Biology EOC Field Test Dates

• A field-testing window for Biology
• end-of-course exam has been added for
• April 23May 11, 2007.
• Note that these mandatory field tests are
• planned to be administered online only during
  this three-week window to students enrolled in
  Biology courses at the time of field testing.

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Secondary Educators Alert!

• July 13, 2006 (Thursday) is the
• Exit Level Science Retest
• It is important to make arrangements for all
  students who failed to meet the standard on the
  April 20th Science TAKS.

MARK THE DATE!
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Science Testing Calendar2006-07

• October 19, 2006 Exit-Level Retest
• February 22, 2007 Exit-Level Retest
• April (exact dates TBA) TAKS-Alt
• Field Test Window
• April 19, 2007 (Thurs.) Science
• Grades 5,8, 10, 11
• April 23-May 11 Field-test window for
  Biology EOC.
• July 12 Exit Level Science Retest

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TAKS-Modified (TAKS-M)

• The federal government has proposed regulations
  for 2 of the special education population that
  could be eligible to take an assessment that
  reduces the complexity of the grade-level
  content.
• Currently, assessment staff have modified the
  TAKS (minus the field test questions) grade 5
  science, grade 5 reading, and grade 10
  mathematics tests by reducing the number of
  answer choices, reducing complex language and
  vocabulary, etc.

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• TAKS-Alt
• Designed for 1 of students
• Performance-based
• Administered by Life Skills teacher
• Teacher records results on line
• Authentic grade-level activities are adapted to
  provide appropriate instruction assessment
  opportunity for students who are functioning at
  Levels 1-3

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Get Ready for TSDS!
TSDS
Welcome to the Texas Mathematics and Science
Diagnostic Systems
www.accesstsds.com
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What is TSDS?
TSDS

• Web-Based Diagnostic Assessment Tool
• Free to All Texas Public Charter Schools
• Available in September 2006
• Part of the TEA Science Initiative

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Example of class summary report teachers can
create after administering a diagnostic to
students. Report summarizes individual student
performance by Science strand and aggregate class
performance
The Texas Science Portal And Diagnostic has been
funded!
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How Can I Use This Content?
TSDS

• Student Skills Diagnosis at BOY EOY
• Finding Knowledge Points of Departure
• Periodic Instructional Benchmarks
• Tests, Quizzes, Homework

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Where Are We In Development?
TSDS

• Now TSDS interface developed
• Now TSDS items being written
• Now TSDS tests being developed
• July TSDS items reviewed
• Aug TSDS district sign-up launches
• Sep TSDS application launched!

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How do we improve our science program?

• The Teacher is the Key
• Experience
• Retention
• Professional Development

• The role of the Administrator is VitalPolicies
  are important
• 1. Limit class sizes when possible
• Provide needed equipment and resources
• Set High Expectations for staff and students

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Secondary Student Performance vs. Teacher Profiles
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
TEACHER PROFILES
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
http//www.widow.state.tx.us/specialrpt/teachersal
ary04/
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Science Using the Data for Instruction
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Science Using the Data for Diverse Learners
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Science Using the Data for District Planning
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Safety and Facility Resources Should be in every
school library!
Also available online www.tenet.edu/teks/science/
safety
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Secondary Science

• Vertical Alignment Chart for Secondary Science
  Grade 10 and Exit Level Grade 11
• Has TAKS OBJECTIVES and TEKS Student Expectations
  that are assessed from grades 1-High School
  Physics
• Gives highlights from TAKS

To Order http//www.region4store.com/esc/Shop
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Teacher Professional Development through the
Texas Regional Collaboratives
Professional Development Academies Contact Your
ESC Or Visit the TRC Website
32 Regional Collaboratives around the state
Teacher Training and Mentoring
www.thetrc.org
Grades 6-8 Earth Science Science Diagnostic
Training Teacher Module Training in middle school
EARTH SCIENCE, BIOLOGY, IPC, and PHYSICS
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Science List ServePlease 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/
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We dedicate this new websiteOur Schools, Our
Starsto the quiet successes our school community
achieves everyday. Shirley J.
Neeley E-mail goodnews_at_tea.state.tx.us/comm/stars

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Who to Contact
Texas Education Agency Chris Castillo-Comer Direc
tor of Science 512-463-9581
chris.comer_at_tea.state.tx.us
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Resources

• TAKS Science Objectives
• www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/taas2/objec
  tives/science.pdf
• TAKS SCIENCE revised INFORMATION BOOKLET
  (Educator Guides)
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/taks
  /booklets/science/g10.pdf
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/taks
  /booklets/science/g11e.pdf
• TAKS Science Results
• www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/reporting/r
  esults/swresults/taks/index.html
• TAKS Released Tests, Online Tests, and item
  analysis
• www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/r
  elease/taks/index.html
• TAKS Study Guides
• www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/g
  uides/study/
• TAKS Scale Score Reports
• www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/scoring/con
  vtables/2004/index.html
• Resources on Graduation Requirements for Science
• www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum/side1.doc

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Resources

• Resources from organizations
• Science Teachers Association of Texas Convention
  Wichita Falls, TX Nov. 9-11 06
• www.statweb.org
• NCLB Teacher Toolkit
• http//www.ed.gov/teachers/nclbguide/nclb-teachers
  -toolkit.pdf
• NSTA National Science Convention St. Louis, MO
  Mar 29-Ap 1, 2007
• National Association of Biology Teachers
• www.nabt.org
• American Chemical Society
• www.acs.org
• American Association of Physics Teachers
• www.aapt.org
• Texas Earth Science Teachers Association
• http//statweb.org/TESTA/
• National Earth Science Teachers Association
• www.nestanet.org
• Texas Marine Educators Association
• http//statweb.org/TMEA/

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Resources

• Resources for Certification Requirements and PD
  Provider Number
• www.sbec.state.tx.us
• Teacher Toolkit Safety Facilities TEXTEAMS
  Charles A. Dana Center
• www.utdanacenter.org
• Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in
  Science Teaching
• http//theTRC.org
• The TEKSLink Project
• http//libraries.risd.org/TEKSLink/
• Homework Hotline UT homework service for TAKS
  AP, and college placement exams
• http//hw.utexas.edu/overview.html
• Science Teacher Toolbag
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/tchrtoolbag/ProDev_Sci.
  html
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/tchrtoolbag/CurRes_Scie
  nce.html