Math Sessions

Monday, December 18, 2017

TEA UPDATE ON AP/IB EXAMS

The exam fee subsidies for May 2018 AP/IB exams will be $24 per AP/IB exam taken by eligible students.
Historically, there has been a state subsidy of $30 per AP/IB exam taken by eligible students, plus a federal subsidy ($16 per eligible AP exam, $65 per eligible AP Capstone Exam, $65 per eligible IB exam). The federal subsidy was eliminated with the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Therefore, LEAs should plan on receiving only a state subsidy in the amount of $24 per exam taken by eligible students.
For more information, please read the To the Administrator Addressed letter: Texas Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Incentive Program - State Exam Fee Subsidies for the 2017-2018 School Year

For questions regarding AP/IB announcements, please contact Lauren Dwiggins at  AP-IB@tea.texas.gov or 512-463-8864.

Friday, December 15, 2017

TEA CLARIFICATION ON SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS FOR TESTING

Further clarification on supplemental aides per TEA has been released.

For a student not receiving special education or Section 504 services, the decision is made
by the appropriate team of people at the campus level (e.g., RTI team, student assistance
team) based on the eligibility criterion and is documented according to district policies.

Please check 2018 Accessibility Features for ALL students.
https://tea.texas.gov/Student_Testing_and_Accountability/Testing/Student_Assessment_Overview/Accommodation_Resources/2018_Accessibility/

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

SAT SCHOOL DAY SPRING 2018

Below are two terrific links that will give you more details on SAT School Day Spring 2018.

Contact Fred Hordge Associate Director State and District Partnerships for more information at fhordge@collegeboard.org. 


Click the link below for detailed information (students with disabilities, test ordering, timeline for test day and more)

See SAT School Day video:





Monday, December 11, 2017

SUPPLEMENTAL AIDS FOR ALL STUDENTS

TEA has released examples and clarification on supplemental aids for the 2018 testing cycle. Student eligibility criterion:
A student may use this designated support if:
he or she routinely, independently, and effectively uses it during classroom instruction and classroom testing.
Below are the links for the documentation.
2018 Supplemental Aids for STAAR: What is Allowed and What's Not?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YSucTREo7cuiKqNIeVUA1eGt4iYBlHHT/view?usp=sharing

2018 Mathematics Manipulatives
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ywiZwYk2zLgUamdPzCqOGiXeHlPNhayS/view?usp=sharing

2018 Supplemental Aids
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jv6xbuLgacdTtLYghK5w8NXWag_BIScO/view?usp=sharing

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

FINAL 2017 Academic Accountability Ratings Released


AUSTIN – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released the final 2017 state academic accountability ratings for more than 1,200 school districts and charters and more than 8,600 campuses. The final ratings include the results of an appeals process that provides districts and charters an opportunity to contest preliminary ratings.
Preliminary state accountability ratings were announced by TEA in August. The Texas Education Code requires the commissioner of education to provide a process for districts and charters to challenge their accountability ratings. School district appeals are first carefully reviewed by an independent appeals panel before being sent to the commissioner for a final decision.
The Texas Education Agency received 66 school district and campus-level appeals in 2017, compared to 104 in 2016, 72 in 2015, and 90 in 2014. 
Two of 14 district appeals were granted by the commissioner. The final district ratings for Grandfalls-Royalty ISD and Ranger ISD were changed from Improvement Required to Met Standard
Under the final 2017 ratings, more than 90 percent of school districts and charters across Texas achieved the rating of Met Standard. Districts, campuses, and charters receive one of three ratings under the state’s accountability system: Met Standard,Met Alternative Standard, or Improvement Required
https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Press_Releases/2017/Final_2017_academic_accountability_ratings_released/

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

The Preliminary 2016-2017 Texas Academic Performance Reports are Available

AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced today that the preliminary 2016–17 Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR) are now available on the Texas Education Agency website. A tremendous resource for parents, the TAPR provides a wide range of performance information for every public school and district in the state. The campus-level, district-level, regional, and statewide reports combine details of academic performance with information about staff, programs, and demographics.
To review the preliminary 2016–17 Texas Academic Performance Reports, visit the Texas Education Agency website at https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport/tapr/2017/index.html.

The final TAPR – with final ratings following the resolution of district appeals of preliminary academic accountability ratings – is scheduled for release on Nov. 16, 2017. 
https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Press_Releases/2017/Preliminary_2016%E2%80%9317_Texas_Academic_Performance_Reports_available/

Monday, September 25, 2017

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN COMPUTER SCIENCE!

WeTeach_CS Foundations of Computer Science for Teachers

The WeTeach_CS Foundations of Computer Science for Teachers online fall session is now open. This self-paced course is designed to prepare teachers to take the TExES 141 or 241 Grades 8-12 Computer Science certification exam. Course materials provide extensive detailed instruction, examples, and practice on everything from introductory programming topics such as variables, functions, loops, and logical expressions to more advanced topics such as data structures, recursion, and object oriented programming. Basic enrollment is free. Participants who would like to receive 40 CPE credit hours from The University of Texas at Austin upon completing the course can upgrade their enrollment. Upgraded participants will also have access to weekly quizzes and the comprehensive final, which mimics the actual 100 question CS certification exam. 

Additional information and registration forms for upcoming sessions are located at

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

ESTAR/MSTAR Algebra Ready Universal Screeners

Elementary School Students in Texas: Algebra Ready (ESTAR) and Middle School Students in Texas: Algebra Ready (MSTAR) Universal Screeners and Diagnostic Assessments

As the new school year approaches, please note the availability of ESTAR (grades 2–4) and MSTAR (grades 5–8) Universal Screeners (US) and Diagnostic Assessments (DA) and plan to use these valuable tools to support math planning and instruction.

Over the summer, the ESTAR/MSTAR system underwent a number of enhancements designed to improve user experience.

District admins can now
  • add new schools;
  • modify existing campuses and classrooms;
  • add new classrooms;
  • modify existing admin, teacher, and student accounts; and
  • temporarily reset student, teacher, and campus admin passwords.
Campus admins can now
  • add new classrooms;
  • modify existing class rosters;
  • modify existing teacher, and student accounts; and
  • temporarily reset student and teacher passwords.
While the fall administration window for the ESTAR/MSTAR US opened August 21st, it is recommended that campuses wait until rosters are set before administering the fall US. Campuses administering the US prior to September 1, 2017, will be considered part of a soft launch and may be asked to provide feedback regarding the enhancements. If your district wishes to complete screening prior to September 1, please contact the Texas Math Support Center helpdesk at mathTX@esc13.net.


The ESTAR/MSTAR system can be accessed through the Texas Gateway at https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/estarmstar or directly at www.estarmstar.org (note the new URL). Users will be able to access resources such as a user’s manual, upload templates, FAQ documents, etc. For questions and assistance, contact the helpdesk at mathTX@esc13.net

Monday, August 7, 2017

TEACHER TO TEACHER VIDEOS, RESOURCES & ESTAR/MSTAR Information


Teacher2Teacher Videos
Seventeen Teacher2Teacher videos are now available on the Texas Gateway. The topics range in grades from kindergarten to Algebra I and include fraction division, integer operations, addition and subtraction of a variety of numbers, percent increase/decrease (growth and decay), solving equations, and multiple representations of equations. These videos demonstrate a transition from various strategies to the standard algorithm and include vertical alignment discussions. You can access the videos at https://www.texasgateway.org/node/227936.

OpenStax Open-Source Instructional Materials
OpenStax (Rice University) open-source instructional materials are available at http://tea.texas.gov/Academics/Instructional_Materials/Open-Source_Instructional_Materials/. The products are organized into units and chapters and can be used like traditional textbooks as the entire syllabus for a course.
OpenStax open-source instructional materials will be fully available in September. For assistance in locating sample materials, contact the Instructional Materials Division at (512) 463-9601 or instructionalmaterials@tea.texas.gov.

Study Edge Open-Source Instructional Materials
Study Edge open-source instructional materials are available on the Texas Gateway. Materials are available for Precalculus and Statistics as well as Chemistry and Physics. The products created by Study Edge are delivered in short videos with master teachers presenting the material. The videos can be used to teach an entire course or as supplemental material to help students be more successful in these challenging courses.
For more information about Study Edge open-source materials available through TEA, visit https://www.texasgateway.org/node/227231. For additional assistance, contact the Instructional Materials Division at (512) 463-9601 or instructionalmaterials@tea.texas.gov.

Grade 6 OnTRACK Lessons
Two OnTRACK lessons for grade 6 have been added to the Texas Gateway. Each is filled with instruction and interactives designed to assist students is sixth grade mathematics. Additional lessons are in development.
Applying the Order of Operations: https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/applying-order-operations
Generating Equivalent Forms of Rational Numbers: https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/generating-equivalent-forms-rational-numbers

ESTAR/MSTAR Assessment Windows for 2017–2018 School Year
The purpose of the ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners is to determine if a student is at-risk for algebra readiness. The content in these screeners does not cover all the TEKS for the grade levels. The results should be used to guide instruction for whole class and interventions where appropriate. The Diagnostic Assessments can then be used to find specific areas of needs for the students who are identified as “at-risk” for algebra readiness by the Universal Screener. These tools can be accessed on the Texas Gateway at http://www.texasgateway.org/.

The ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners, Diagnostic Assessments, and professional development courses are available at no cost to all Texas public school districts. For account creation assistance, contact mathTX@esc13.net.

Universal Screener         
Fall                August 21, 2017 – October 13, 2017
Winter           January 8, 2018 – February 9, 2018
Spring           April 23, 2018 – May 18, 2018

Diagnostic Assessments      
Fall                August 28, 2017 – October 20, 2017
Winter           January 15, 2018 – February 16, 2018
Spring           April 30, 2018 – May 25, 2018

ESTAR/MSTAR Professional Development

Teachers are encouraged to complete the appropriate online professional development courses when using the ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners and Diagnostic Assessments. The following online courses are available on the Texas Math Support Center (http://texasmathsupportcenter.org/):



MATHCOUNTS

MATHCOUNTS is a national middle school coaching and competitive mathematics program that promotes mathematics achievement through a series of fun and engaging “bee” style contests.

In the 2017 competition, a team of four students from Euless, Missouri City and Austin took first prize including the top two individual scores. Congratulations to the whole team, their coach, parents/guardians, and teachers. For more information, please visit https://www.mathcounts.org/national-competition.

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HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSE SEQUENCE

High School Mathematics Course Sequence
The required course sequence in Texas Education Code §28.025(b-2) for advanced English and mathematics courses was eliminated by Senate Bill 826. The change applies beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. This change does not impact the prerequisites listed for high school mathematics courses. Prerequisites listed for courses are part of the TEKS, which are located in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).

Please note that there is a distinction between prerequisites and course sequencing requirements. A sequencing requirement is a requirement that a student cannot enroll in a course until the student has successfully completed the previous course(s). Prerequisites identify the knowledge and skills that a student must have in order to be successful in a particular course. The State Board of Education has adopted rules that clarify prerequisites in TAC §74.11(j) and (k). Those rules establish circumstances under which a student can meet prerequisites. These rules are available online at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter074/ch074b.html#74.11.

Friday, June 2, 2017

BLOOMBOARD College and Career Readiness Opportunities from TEA

TEA has partnered with BloomBoard to offer some of Texas’ first-ever micro-credentials. College and Career Readiness is one of the handful of programs that has been a focus of this work, and we are now accepting participants for this groundbreaking pilot.

The pilot program includes targeted resources, peer collaboration, and facilitated learning activities designed to support participants in earning a micro-credential of their choosing. The three crucial components of College & Career Readiness that are the anchors of this summer’s pilot work on House Bill 5 (HB5) Pathways are: Guiding Students to Select an Endorsement, Engaging Students in the Re-Evaluation an Endorsement, and Aligning Pathways to Local Employment Data.

For more information and to register by June 14th, click here.

We still have spaces available, so please pass this email along to the school counselors and educators you work with. If you have any questions, feel free to email the Program Manager, Molly Latinova (molly@bloomboard.com), for more details. The personalized learning, facilitation, and opportunity to earn micro-credentials will continue throughout the summer.

Click here to join TEA and BloomBoard in this exciting work.

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

ARE YOUR STUDENTS COLLEGE AND CAREER READY?

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board released data and information regarding students being ready for college and career. The THECB released the newest information with success of meeting the 60x30TX.

This is great data for your students to encourage the importance of being ready for their next step.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0UpMv9NN0WyemRVUTFpYmE3aHc

CONFIDENTIAL STUDENT REPORT

The state is launching a new Confidential Student Report announced by the Commissioner on April 26th. A new web site will also be launched on June 13th for a more clear understanding of student progress and communications.

http://tea.texas.gov/interiorpage_wide.aspx?id=51539614507

Friday, March 17, 2017

TEA UPDATES - New On TRACK lessons, Teacher2Teacher Videos, and Supporting Documents for High School

Resources Update – OnTRACK Lessons
Two OnTRACK lessons for grade 6 have been added to the Texas Gateway. Each is filled with instruction and interactives designed to assist students is sixth grade mathematics. Additional lessons are in development.
Applying the Order of Operations: https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/applying-order-operations

Generating Equivalent Forms of Rational Numbers: https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/generating-equivalent-forms-rational-numbers 

Resources Update – Teacher2Teacher Videos

Teacher2Teacher Videos are available on the Texas Gateway. The topics include conversions within a measurement system; solving with one-step, one-variable equations with rational coefficients; and solving equations by combining like terms. These videos include transitioning from various strategies to the standard algorithm. You can access the videos at https://www.texasgateway.org/binder/teacher2teacher-math-video-series. Additional videos are in production.


Resources Update – Supporting Information Documents for High School
Supporting Information documents for Statistics and Algebraic Reasoning have been added to the Texas Gateway at http://www.texasgateway.org/resource/mathematics-teks-supporting-information. The Supporting Information documents are arranged as they appear in the Texas Administrative Code and provide further explanation of information found in the Side-by-Side TEKS Comparison documents. The Side-by-Side TEKS Comparison documents for those courses have been moved from the Texas Gateway, to the Resources for the Revised Mathematics TEKS on the TEA website located at http://tea.texas.gov/Academics/Subject_Areas/Mathematics/Resources_for_the_Revised_Mathematics_TEKS/.


Thursday, March 2, 2017

TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SEC.28.025 (b-2)

Did you know according to Texas Education Code Sec. 28.025 (b-2):  

In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the State Board of Education shall provide for a student to comply with the curriculum requirements for an advanced English course under Subsection (b-1)(1) taken after successful completion of English I, English II, and English III, for an advanced mathematics course under Subsection (b-1)(2) taken after the successful completion of Algebra I and geometry, and for any advanced science course under Subsection (b-1)(3) by successfully completing a course in the appropriate content area that has been approved as an advanced course by board rule or that is offered as an advanced course for credit without board approval as provided by Section 28.002(g-1).



·         Should a student take English IV either before English III or concurrently with English III, the English IV course will count as an elective credit rather than an English credit.

·         Should a student take Algebra II either before geometry or concurrently with geometry the Algebra II course will count as an elective credit rather than a math credit.

·         Algebra II will still count towards the Distinguished Level of Achievement even if taken before or concurrently with geometry.

·         This change went into effect with HB 5.

·         There are currently bills which could revoke TEC 28.025 (b-2) and we are monitoring bills carefully in order to be aware of changes.



Should you have questions, do not hesitate to contact Leesa Green at lgreen@esc7.net or Sherry Morton at smorton@esc7.net 

Sunday, February 12, 2017

CALCULATOR PREPARATION for Testing

EOC AND STAAR testing is right around the corner. We want to provide the up to date information on preparing your calculators for testing

TI Nspire :
https://docs.google.com/document/d/10I_YPrxJf5uTAzcZ-qjlZGy72kMI3nQ6MmgK3Wl-mIE/edit?usp=sharing

TI 84 Clearing memory and all apps
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0UpMv9NN0WybFlfbXBMYllPMXM/view?usp=sharing

TI 84 Press to text
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0UpMv9NN0WySnFCTWVLSVh4Nnc/view?usp=sharing


Texas Instruments has the documents on their web site should you have any problems.
https://education.ti.com/en/resources/teks?category=staar-resources

Friday, January 6, 2017