1. TEA Curriculum Update CREST CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

2. Legislative Updates 84 th Texas Legislature, 2015 COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

3. HB 505 Prohibition of limitations on the number of dual credit courses or hours in which a public high school student may enroll Effective: May 23, 2015 An administrative rule may not limit: the number of dual credit courses or hours in which a student may enroll while in high school; the number of dual credit courses or hours in which a student may enroll each semester or academic year; or the grade levels at which a high school student may be eligible to enroll in a dual credit course.

4. HB 743 TEKS and certain assessment instruments for public school students Effective: Immediately pending governor’s signature Before a state assessment may be administered, the assessment must, on the basis of empirical evidence, be determined to be valid and reliable by an independent entity. A state assessment must be designed so that: ◦85 percent of students in grades three through five will be able to complete the assessment within 120 minutes ◦85 percent of students in grades six through eight will be able to complete the assessment within 180 minutes TEA must conduct a study regarding the TEKS identified by the SBOE and the state assessments. Not later than March 1, 2016, the agency must prepare and submit to the SBOE a report concerning the results of the study. ◦Not later than May 1, 2016, the SBOE must review the study and submit to the governor and each member of the legislature the agency’s report and board recommendations regarding each issue that is evaluated. ◦TEA must reimburse school districts for fees associated with the administration of college preparation assessments from funds appropriated for that purpose. ◦TEA must develop rules for auditing and monitoring performance of contracts for services to develop or administer state assessments to verify compliance with contractual obligations. The agency must also ensure that all assessment contracts include a provision that the agency or a designee may conduct periodic contract compliance reviews, without advance notice, to monitor vendor performance.

5. HB 1613 Alignment of college readiness standards and TEKS; Use of TSI to satisfy EOC Requirements Effective: Immediately pending governor’s signature Not later than January 1, 2016, the State Board of Education (SBOE) must adopt a chart by rule that clearly indicates the alignment of the college readiness standards and expectations with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). A student who takes the TSI after completion of a college preparatory mathematics or ELA course under TEC, §28.014 satisfies the requirements concerning and is exempt from the administration of the Algebra I or the English I and English II EOC assessments, as applicable.

6. HB 1992 The granting of undergraduate course credit by Advanced Placement (AP) examination at public institutions of higher education Effective: June 3, 2015 In establishing the minimum required score on an AP exam for granting course credit for a particular lower-division course, an institution of higher education (IHE) may not require a score of more than three unless the institution’s chief academic officer determines, based on evidence, that a higher score on the exam is necessary to indicate a student is sufficiently prepared to be successful in a related, more advanced course for which the lower-division course is a prerequisite. THECB, in consultation with IHEs, the board’s Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee, and other interested parties, is required to conduct a study on the performance of undergraduate students at IHEs who receive undergraduate course credit for achieving the required score on one or more AP exams.

7. SB 925 Training academies for public school teachers who provide reading instruction to students in kindergarten through grade three Effective: May 21, 2015 The commissioner must develop and make available literacy achievement academies for teachers who provide reading instruction to students at the kindergarten through third grade levels. The commissioner must adopt criteria for selecting teachers who may attend an academy and grant priority to teachers employed at a campus where 50 percent or more of the students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged. Teachers who are not employed at a campus where 50 percent or more of the students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged may attend an academy if there is available space and the district pays the cost of attendance. Teachers who attend an academy are entitled to receive a stipend.

8. SB 935 Reading excellence team pilot program Effective: May 28, 2015 The commissioner must establish a reading excellence team pilot program. A school district is eligible to participate in the pilot if the district has low student performance on an early reading instrument or the third grade reading assessment. The pilot must establish reading excellence teams composed of reading instructional specialists, and at the request of an eligible school district, provide a team to: ◦Review with the district the results of the assessment to determine campuses and classrooms for kindergarten through third grade with the greatest need of assistance; and ◦Work with teachers on campuses and in classrooms to provide training necessary to improve student reading outcomes. The commissioner must adopt rules administer the pilot and to establish qualifications and criteria for selecting reading instruction specialists.

9. SB 972 Training academies for public school teachers who provide reading comprehension instruction to students in grades four and five Effective: May 28, 2015 The commissioner must develop and make available reading-to-learn academies for teachers who provide reading comprehension instruction to students at the fourth or fifth grade level. The commissioner must adopt criteria for selecting teachers who may attend an academy and grant priority to teachers employed at a campus where 50 percent or more of the students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged. Teachers who are not employed at a campus where 50 percent or more of the students enrolled are educationally disadvantaged may attend an academy if there is available space and the district pays the cost of attendance. Teachers who attend an academy are entitled to receive a stipend.

10. State Board of Education Updates COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

11. State Board of Education Updates September 2015 Amendments to Ch. 74, §74.24, Credit by Examination, and §74.26, Award of Credit  Requires opportunities for credit by exam for students who are homeless or in substitute care at any point in the school year  Changes the scale score on CLEP exams used for credit by exam to 50  Requires the award of proportional credit for students who are homeless or in foster care Amendments to Proclamation 2017 Update on the TEKS review and revision COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

12. State Board of Education Updates November 2015 First reading and filing authorization of proposed amendments to Ch. 74, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements  Updates to Foundation High School Program rules to align with recent legislative changes  Amendments to rules to update language and make adjustments First reading and filing authorization of CCRS- TEKS alignment charts Update on the TEKS review and revision COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

15. English and Spanish Language Arts and Reading TEKS Review COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

18. English and Spanish Language Arts and Reading TEKS Review & Revision Expected Timeline September 2015First face-to-face meeting November 2015Second face-to-face meeting; committees complete draft recommendations November 2015Draft recommendations sent to SBOE and experts and posted for informal feedback January 2016Discussion item and invited testimony at SBOE meeting February 2016Third face-to-face meeting; committees complete final recommendations COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

19. Expected Timeline April 2016Public hearing and first reading and filing authorization of proposed TEKS revisions at SBOE meeting April - July 2016Public comment period July 2016Public hearing and second reading and final adoption of proposed TEKS revisions at SBOE meeting 2018-2019Implement revised TEKS for kindergarten-grade 8 2019-2020Implement revised TEKS for grades 9-12 COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. English and Spanish Language Arts and Reading TEKS Review & Revision

20. TEKS Review and Revision— Overview COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The State Board of Education (SBOE) oversees all aspects of the TEKS, including revisions. The SBOE may not adopt rules that designate the methodology used by a teacher. The SBOE may not adopt rules that designate the time spent by a teacher or a student on a particular task or subject.

21. TEKS Review and Revision— Overview COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TEKS review committees are charged with ensuring that the revised TEKS are— Streamlined Aligned across subjects/grades Essential Observable and measurable Rigorous Clear and well-written Teachable in the time allotted

22. Curriculum Updates COPYRIGHT © TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

23. Teacher Training Reimbursement (TTR) The state will fund teacher training for eligible AP/IB or pre-AP/pre-IB teachers who complete TEA- approved training. TEA provides the reimbursement in the school year after the training was completed. Applications will be made available this fall. Teachers may receive the reimbursement once every two years. For 2015-16, priority will be given to teachers of courses that will be new or revised for 2015-2016

24. Teacher Training Reimbursement (TTR) The following programs qualify for the reimbursement: A College Board endorsed pre-AP or AP institute of 24 hours or longer An IB training of at least 15 hours or longer for candidate or authorized IB schools Approved science, math, or English training provided by the National Math and Science Initiative (formerly Laying the Foundation)

25. Innovative Courses With the approval of the local board of trustees, school districts and charter schools may offer any state-approved innovative course for elective credit. Under the Foundation High School Program, innovative courses may satisfy certain requirements for STEM, business and industry, public services, and the fine arts option of the arts and humanities endorsements. A full list of innovative course offerings and expiring courses are available on the Innovative Courses webpage.Innovative Courses webpage