Science Update Texas Regional Collaboratives March 4, 2008

House Bill 1 79 th Texas Legislature 3 rd Called Session SECTION Section , Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: (b-1) The State Board of Education by rule shall require that: (1) the curriculum requirements for the recommended and advanced high school programs under Subsection (a) include a requirement that students successfully complete four courses in each subject of the foundation curriculum under Section (a)(1); and (2) one or more courses offered in the required curriculum for the recommended and advanced high school programs include a research writing component.

4x4 Graduation Requirements Effective beginning with students who enter Grade 9 in 2007

Science Recommended Program Science – four credits. One credit must be a biology credit (Biology, Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, or International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology). Students must choose the remaining two credits from the following areas. Not more than one credit may be chosen from each of the areas to satisfy this requirement. (A) Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC); (B) Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry; and (C) Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics

Science Recommended Program IPC cannot be taken as the final or fourth year of science, but must be taken before the senior year of high school. The fourth year may be selected from the laboratory-based courses listed in 19 TAC Chapter 112 with the addition of Engineering and Earth and Space Science. The SBOE may designate additional courses at a later point in time.

Recommended Program IPC Phase-out A student entering Grade 9 beginning with the school year must take three science credits at least one from each category, from the following areas: (A) Biology, AP Biology, IB Biology (B) Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry; (C) Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics, or IB Physics The fourth year of science may be selected from the laboratory-based courses listed in 19 TAC Chapter 112

Recommended Program Fourth Year Science Courses   Astronomy   Aquatic Science   Environmental Systems   Earth and Space Science   AP Biology   AP Chemistry   AP Physics B   AP Physics C   AP Environmental Science   IB Biology   IB Chemistry   IB Physics   IB Environmental Systems   Scientific Research and Design   Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems   Medical Microbiology and Pathophysiology   Engineering Concurrent enrollment in college courses The SBOE has directed the TEA to write new TEKS for the courses in red

Science Distinguished Achievement Program Science—four credits. The credits must consist of a biology credit (Biology, Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, or International Baccalaureate (IB) Biology), a chemistry credit (Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry), a physics credit (Physics, AP Physics, or IB Physics), and an additional approved laboratory based science course. * Principles of Technology deleted

Science Distinguished Achievement Program After successful completion of biology, chemistry, and physics a student may select the fourth credit from the following courses: Earth and Space Science; Environmental Systems; Aquatic Science; Astronomy; Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems; AP/IB Biology; AP/IB Chemistry; AP/IB Physics; AP Environmental Science; IB Environmental Systems Scientific Research and Design; and Engineering

Science Lab Grant Program  Authorized under Sec TEC, as added by HB 2237, 80 th Legislature  TEA is currently working to adopt rules for this program  If sufficient excess funds are available in appropriations, then Commissioner can certify up to $20 million annually for this program.  TEA has determined that $20 million is available for this fiscal year.  Questions? Contact: Gary B. Marek,

Science TEKS Review The Science TEKS for each grade and course K-12 are scheduled for review 2008 Meetings: –K-8 Review Committees, January –High School Courses, January 31-Februay 2 –Earth and Space Science and Engineering, April 3-5 –CTE courses, April Note: Additional Meetings and follow-up telecommunications opportunities will be scheduled as needed.

It All Starts With the TEKS! The Science TEKS Assessed Science Curriculum: TAKS based on TEKS Instructional Materials Must Meet ALL TEKS to be Conforming

Schedule: Proposed Timeline 2008 Review of Science TEKS Summer/Fall 2009 Science TEKS Professional development Spring 2009 Call for Science Instructional Materials Implement Science TEKS November 2011 Adopt Science Instructional Materials Science Instructional Materials in schools

Science TEKS Review Process The State Board of Education (SBOE) oversees all aspects of the TEKS, including revisions … the board may not adopt rules that designate the methodology used by a teacher or the time spent by a teacher or a student on a particular task or subject. What does this mean in terms of Science TEKS review?

Status: The Science TEKS were first implemented in 1998 What has changed since 1998? –Assessments at Grades 5 and 8, 10 as per NCLB, Exit Level TAKS –The 4X4 Graduation Requirements –End-of-Course Examinations in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics –A National Focus on Science Education –Science knowledge has changed—e.g. ‘ continental drift’ Gr. 8, ‘domains’ in Biology

Work Group Responsibilities and Tasks

Copy of standards from other states Benchmarks for Science Literacy and NSES NAEP 2009 Science Frameworks Report from Vertical Teams: College Readiness Standards (CRS) for Science. RESOURCES PROVIDED

Notification of Public Review To receive notification of opportunities for public review of the Science TEKS revisions and TEKS for new science courses, go to and sign up for the “Rules’ listserv.

The Road to TEKS Revision... Our role is to assure that Texas has a world-class set of Science Education Standards!

Who to Contact: Curriculum Division Irene Pickhardt Assistant Director of Science

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