1. November 3, 2011

2. Remote Sites Joining Us Today
Welcome to:
BASTROP ISD
BURNET CISD
CHANNELVIEW ISD
COMFORT ISD
CUERO ISD
FRANKLIN ISD
GEORGETOWN ISD
HUTTO ISD
LA GRANGE ISD
LEANDER ISD
NAVARRO ISD
REGION 3
SEGUIN ISD
UT AUSTIN

3. Agenda Welcome Legal Update Curriculum Update
Instructional Planning Tool
STAAR Navigation Guide
Updates:
Texas Literacy Initiative
Accommodations
To Do List & To the Administrator Addressed

4. Candy Canes and Pencils
Presented by:
JIM WALSH

5. What Happened?
5th Circuit ruled en banc in a case about “viewpoint discrimination” based on religion in elementary schools.
The decision is part of ongoing litigation involving Plano ISD.
Latest decision: Morgan v. Swanson,
September 27, 2011

6. Remember This
The case is at an early stage of litigation. At this stage, the court must accept as true whatever the plaintiffs allege.
Factual record yet to be developed,
and will be much in dispute.
So we don’t know that it happened
as it is alleged to have happened.
Keep that in mind.

7. Qualified Immunity
This decision concerns the efforts of two elementary principals to be dismissed from the case on the basis of qualified immunity.
Plaintiffs argued that the principals
should be held personally liable for
violating the constitutional rights of
the students.

8. Jonathan and the Candy Cane
Alleged: Jonathan was not allowed to distribute goody bags that included a religious explanation for the candy cane at a class party. The goody bag included a candy cane
and a written description of its
Christian origin and symbolism.

9. Stephanie and the Passion Play
Alleged: Stephanie was not allowed to distribute to her classmates tickets to a passion play to be performed at her church.

10. Stephanie and the Jesus Pencil
Alleged: For her “half-birthday” party, Stephanie came to school with brownies and two pencils for each classmate. One pencil read “Moon.” The other said “Jesus loves me
this I know for the Bible tells me so.”
Alleged: She was not allowed to
distribute the Jesus pencils in school,
but told she could do so after school,
outside.
But……

11. Stephanie, the Principal, the Pencils All Step Outside
Alleged: The principal would not allow Stephanie to distribute the Jesus pencils outside of the school on school property, saying that it needed to be done off school
property.
Undisputed: Things escalated.

12. Constitutional?
Majority of the court held that the principals actions, as alleged, were unconstitutional in all four incidents.

13. Key Quote
“In short, what one child says to another child is within the protection of the First Amendment unless one of the narrow exceptions discussed above applies, and none does in this case. Accordingly, we hold that the First Amendment protects all students from viewpoint discrimination against private, non-disruptive, student-to-student speech.”

14. But They Were Proselytizing!
“To the extent that the principals characterize the speech as ‘proselytizing’ does not affect our holding that religious viewpoint discrimination is not permissible against private student speech, absent material and substantial disruption. There is no such thing as ‘good religious speech’ and ‘bad religious speech.’”

15. But These Were Little Kids!
“The principals contend that elementary school students are more impressionable and therefore this case involves heightened Establishment Clause concerns. But this is without merit.”

16. Liability?
Even though the principals may have violated the 1st Amendment, they will not be held personally liable.
Majority of the court held that they were entitled to “qualified immunity.”

17. Qualified Immunity
“We hold today that the principals are entitled to qualified immunity because clearly established law did not put the constitutionality of their actions beyond debate.”
“…no federal court of appeals has
ever denied qualified immunity to an
educator in this area. We decline the
plaintiffs’ request to become the first.”

18. What Does It Mean?
Religious speech from student-to-student is protected by the 1st Amendment to the same degree as any other type of speech.
This is true from pre-K to senior year
of high school.
Talk to the parents about this.

19. Why Talk to Parents?
Consider: at your “winter break” party a student distributes goody bags with overtly Christian messages.
The rabbi calls you on behalf of some
upset parents.
Or: the Methodist preacher calls you
to ask about the goody bag gifts
promoting the Church of Body
Modification.

20. Options Of course, you don’t have to have a party.
You don’t have to allow kids to give anything to other kids. You can prevent any giving….
But how realistic is that?

21. Remember This
When it is student speech, and not endorsed by the school, it is a matter of free speech, and viewpoint discrimination is not permitted.
This decision applies to students’
speech, not faculty members or
“school sponsored” speech.

22. The Case Morgan v. Swanson, ___ F3d ___ (5th Cir. 2011)
September 27, 2011

23. Contact
JIM WALSH Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos and Green, P.C. P.O. Box 2156 Austin, TX Phone: 512/ Fax: 512/ Web:

24. The information in this handout was created by Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos and Green, P.C. It is intended to be used for general information only and is not to be considered specific legal advice. If specific legal advice is sought, consult an attorney.

25. Curriculum Update MSTAR Intervention Lessons OnTrack
Dyslexia Accommodations

26. MSTAR Intervention Lessons: The Hidden Treasure
Susan Hemphill
Middle School Math Specialist
Region XIII ESC

27. MSTAR Intervention Lessons
Tier II Interventions for Mathematics
Grades 7-8 were targeted
Based on IES recommendations

29. A Quick Look on Project Share

31. Lesson Features Overview Timed Fact Practice
Engage Prior/Informal Knowledge
Preview
Demonstrate
Practice
Independent Practice
Closure
Directions for Presenter: Italics
Information for Presenter to Convey: Bold
Briefly discuss each feature:
Overview connects lessons to the Texas Response to Curriculum Focal Points and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills; summarizes the outcomes and key ideas as well as the preskills needed for success; and provides scaffolding ideas and common misconceptions associated with the content.
Timed Fact Practice includes directions and an accompanying graph for students to graph their own progress toward fact mastery.
Engage Prior/Informal Knowledge gives students an opportunity to talk about what they know and provides a platform for the new content to be connected.
Preview lets students know what is coming and establishes a purpose for learning.
Demonstrate leads students through the lesson concepts in an explicit manner with direct guidance from the teacher.
Practice outlines several activities that promote interaction with the teacher, as well as small-group collaboration and peer interaction. These activities provide teachers with opportunities to give immediate feedback and additional instruction to students who need it.
Independent Practice gives students an opportunity to show what they have learned individually. The content closely follows that of the guided practice; however, students work without assistance so that knowledge can be accurately assessed.
Closure provides an opportunity to review, tie in the new content, and make final connections about what was learned.

32. The following MSTAR Multiplication and Division Fact Intervention lessons target struggling Tier 2 students. The intervention lessons provide a concrete structure to help students learn the foundational skills necessary for success in increasingly complex mathematics curricula.  
TIER 2

34. Project Share Courses
MSTAR INTV: Facts & Patterns: Mult. & Div MSTAR INTV: Equivalent Fractions MSTAR INTV: Proportionality MSTAR INTV: Ratios and Rates

35. Texas public school educators may reproduce and use MSTAR Intervention materials, without fee, for the benefit of the students of Texas.
TIER 2

36. Contact
Susan Hemphill

37. Curriculum Council – November 2011

38. Epsilen Accounts Visit www.projectsharetexas.org
Click “I did not receive my username and password”
Type in your school address
Check your mail. (You can change your password at any time)
Not everyone logs in to Epsilen everyday. It is understandable that you might need to help them retrieve their username and password.
This is quick and easy.
Visit
Click “I did not receive my username and password”
Type in your school address
Check your mail. (You can change your password at any time)

39. What is OnTRACK http://www.ipsi.utexas.edu/OnTRACK.html

40. Points to Ponder
Student preparedness for STAAR™ End- of-Course assessments, STAAR™ middle school assessments, and college and career readiness are the focus of the OnTRACK project, which is funded by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
Student preparedness for STAAR™ End-of-Course assessments, STAAR™ middle school assessments, and college and career readiness are the focus of the OnTRACK project, which is funded by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

41. Points to Ponder Close to 600 lessons have been developed
Materials are available in Project Share, and additional resources will be made available as they are developed.
Close to 600 lessons have been developed
Materials are available in Project Share, and additional resources will be made available as they are developed.

42. Points to Ponder
OnTRACK materials for high school are organized into ten courses, one for each subject area (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, U.S. History, World History, World Geography, and English I, II, and III).
OnTRACK materials for high school are organized into ten courses, one for each subject area (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, U.S. History, World History, World Geography, and English I, II, and III).

43. Points to Ponder
OnTRACK materials for middle school will be organized by grade level, beginning with Grade 8 Mathematics, Science, ELAR, and Social Studies, followed by Grade 7 Mathematics, Science, ELAR, and Social Studies. Within each course are dozens of lessons that align with the STAAR™ requirements.
OnTRACK materials for middle school will be organized by grade level, beginning with Grade 8 Mathematics, Science, ELAR, and Social Studies, followed by Grade 7 Mathematics, Science, ELAR, and Social Studies. Within each course are dozens of lessons that align with the STAAR™ requirements.

44. Points to Ponder
Each lesson includes content written by Texas classroom teachers, opportunities for interactive learning, assessments with meaningful feedback for students, and additional resources.
Each lesson includes content written by Texas classroom teachers, opportunities for interactive learning, assessments with meaningful feedback for students, and additional resources.

45. OnTRACK Sample Lessons
To enroll, you will need to
Log in to Epsilen/Project Share
Select Courses from the menu on the left
Choose Search Courses
Search “ontrack sample” (not case sensitive)
Click the ENROLL icon for OnTRACK Sample Lessons. You might also choose to join English III Example
To help you make an informed decision about OnTRACK, we recommend you enroll yourself and your team in the OnTRACK Sample Lessons. This is a good preview of the format and rigor of the content. You can experience first-hand what OnTRACK looks and feels like.
To enroll, you will need to
Log in to Epsilen/Project Share
Select Courses from the menu on the left
Choose Search Courses
Search “ontrack sample” (not case sensitive)
Click the ENROLL icon for OnTRACK Sample Lessons. You might also choose to join English III Example

46. Interactive Applet
Pop-up answers

47. Author Created Instructional Videos

48. Assessment items aligned to STAAR reporting categories

49. Importing
The first thing that has to happen for you to be able to use OnTRACK is you need to be given the ability to COPY each course into your district corner. It is highly preferred that this is done by a Project Share site administrator.
Importing
The first thing that has to happen for you to be able to use OnTRACK is you need to be given the ability to COPY each course into your district corner. It is highly preferred that this is done by a Project Share site administrator.
At the end of this webinar you have the chance to request this ability. You can also discuss it further and contact us at a later date to let us know.

50. Districts are allowed to use OnTRACK as supplemental instructional resources.
Ideas for use:
Direct Teach Examples (Projected)
Additional Practice Assignments
Acceleration and Intervention
Grade Recovery Work
Blended with Classroom Instruction
Flipped Classroom
Options for Use
Districts are allowed to use OnTRACK as supplemental instructional resources.
Ideas for use:
Direct Teach Examples (Projected)
Additional Practice Assignments
Acceleration and Intervention
Grade Recovery Work
Blended with Classroom Instruction
Flipped Classroom

51. Questions?

52. STAAR Accommodations and Dyslexia
Judy Butler
Education Specialist, Dyslexia and 504

53. DYSLEXIA

54. OPTIONAL ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES
AND MATERIALS

55. z
504
Special Education
Dyslexia
Regular Ed.

56. COMMITTEE DECISIONS
RTI OR STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM
504
ARD

57. http://www. tea. state. tx. us/student

58. Instructional Planning Tool

59. STAAR Navigation Guide

60. Updates
Texas Literacy Initiative
Accommodations

61. Texas Literacy Initiative (TLI)
The Texas State Literacy Plan Creating College and Career Ready Texans Age 0 to Grade 12
Texas Literacy Initiative (TLI)
Region XIII ESC is supporting district efforts with the Texas Literacy Initiative grant being offered through TEA. You are receiving this communication because your LEA is eligible to apply for this grant. Please view the attached correspondence providing a brief summary of the grant.
General Background Information:
Fiscal year 2010 Consolidated Appropriation Act under the Title I Part E, Section 1502 authorizes the use of funds to support a comprehensive literacy development and education program to advance literacy skills, including preliteracy skills, reading and writing, for students from birth through grade 12, including limited-English proficient students and students with disabilities.
 HISTORY:
1996 – then-Governor George Bush launched the Texas Reading Initiative, created and funded by the Texas Legislature and implemented by the TEA. The goal was “all children will read at grade level or above by the end of third grade and will continue reading on grade level or higher throughout their school career”. The Teacher Reading Academies (TRAs) were provided beginning in 1999.
The focus on reading has been carried on throughout the administration of Governor Rick Perry. Through the Governor’s Early Start Initiatives, the Texas Center for Early Childhood Development was named in 2003, and the Texas early Education Model (TEEM) and Texas School Ready!
The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 required governors to establish a state advisory council on early childhood and care to improve the quality, availability, and coordination of services for children from age 0 to school entry.
In October 2009, Governor Perry appointed 18 members to serve on the Texas Early Learning Council (TELC), designed to bring together high-level state officials to coordinate services.
Beginning in 2008, the Texas Adolescent Literacy Academy (TALA) provided professional development for middle school teachers and administrators in Scientifically Based READING Instruction (SBRI) for adolescents.
ew standards for reading and writing instruction for grades K-12 were adopted by SBOE in 2008 and the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines were approved by the Texas Commissioner of Education. The Legislature continued the funding for the Student Success Initiative (SSI) in 2009, providing ongoing professional development for teachers, service providers, administrators, and pre-service educators on the new standards, including frameworks for vertical alignment of instruction and implementation.
TEA began funding the RtI model following the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
In 2008, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board adopted the Texas College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS). As a result of these initiatives, educators have focused on providing effective prereading and reading instruction across all age and grade levels. The activities funded by the Texas Reading Initiative, supplemented by the federal Reading Excellence Act and the Reading First program, together with the SSI and other state initiatives, fueled an increase in reading scores for Texas children, especially for students in the lowest percentile.
To further disseminate resources and research, in 2010 the TEA implemented a statewide system of professional development called Project Share, an online platform through which the Texas State Literacy Plan and resources will be delivered. The plan now encompasses age 0 to school entry and all grade levels to college.
There is still much work to be done to support Texas students and prepare them for college and future careers, including sustaining the progress of elementary students, improving the achievement of secondary students and ELLs in all age groups, and addressing the needs of our youngest citizens. Data for secondary students and ELLs in grades 4 to 8 indicate significant needs. Gaps in past initiatives are especially pronounced in the area of preliteracy and language development in the age 0 to 36 month group. The Texas State Literacy Plan includes forming partnerships with community and state agencies serving this age group; establishing outreach initiatives for parents, pediatricians, and service providers; and developing guidelines for interactions with this diverse population.

62. Texas State Literacy Plan (TSLP)
TEA webinar, Letter of Intention, Grant Application
ESC Elluminate Session
Texas Literacy Initiative Grant Application Purpose: To solicit grant applications from eligible applicants to implement programs that create partnerships between school districts and their associated early childhood education (ECE) providers to improve school readiness and success in the areas of language and literacy for disadvantaged students by implementing the Texas State Literacy Plan (TSLP).
October 31st from 1:00 – 2:00: Join an information session at the ESC or through Elluminate.
Each eligible LEA that is submitting a Notice of Intent to Apply form will receive a Needs Analysis by ESC Region XIII at no cost. Contact Erin Monge at or (512) by November 1st to have this data available by November 3rd.
November 3rd from 12:00 – 3:00: Join a grant writing support session at the ESC with representatives including the ESC Grant Director and specialists supporting the literacy continuum.
Link to the TEA Texas Literacy Initiative grant, Letter of Intent form and the TEA webinar hosted on October 12th:

63. Timeframe November 3, 2011: TLI Session at ESC Region XIII
November 3, 2011: Due date for the Notice of Intent to Apply form in the TEA Document Control Center
November 10, 2011: FAQ published on TEA website
November 17, 2011: Due date for the application
November 21, 2011 – January 13, 2012: Competitive review period
February 2012: Award Notification
March 8, 2012 – August 31, 2013: Project Implementation

64. ESC Region XIII Application Services
Assistance with Needs Assessment
Assistance with Project Design
Compliance Review and Project Budget

65. ACCOMMODATIONS
update

66. ACCOMMODATIONS
update 1 2 3 4

67. 1 2 3 4

68. different 1 2 3 4

69. Disability 1 2 3 4

70. “special needs and disabilities”
Accommodations Manual

71. a student with an identified disability who receives special education services and meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations (ARD committee decision)
a student with an identified disability who receives Section 504 services and meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations (Section 504 placement committee decision)
a student with a disabling condition who does not receive special education or Section 504 services but meets established eligibility criteria for certain accommodations (campus level team decision)

72. triangle 1 2 3 4

74. optional 1 2 3 4

76. Formerly eleven testing accommodations
Any student, based on his or her needs
Campus level team decision
Is not recorded on answer document

77. ACCOMMODATIONS
update
different
Disability
triangle
optional 1 2 3 4

78. To Do List & To the Administrator Addressed

79. Contact Us
Ed Vara Deputy Executive Director
Jennifer Drumm Senior Coordinator, Curriculum & Instruction
Updates and Information: