Science UpdateTexas Regional Collaboratives

March 4, 2008

House Bill 1 79th Texas Legislature 3rd Called Session

SECTION 5.02.  Section 28.025, 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 28.002(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

ScienceRecommended 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

ScienceRecommended 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 2012-2013 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

ScienceDistinguished 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

ScienceDistinguished Achievement

ProgramAfter 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

www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum

Science Lab Grant Program

Authorized under Sec. 7.062 TEC, as added by HB 2237, 80th 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, gary.marek@tea.state.tx.us

Science TEKS Review

• The Science TEKS for each grade and course K-12 are scheduled for review

• 2008 Meetings:– K-8 Review Committees, January 10-12– High School Courses, January 31-Februay 2– Earth and Space Science and Engineering, April 3-5– CTE courses, April 17-19

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 Conformin

g

Schedule: Proposed Timeline

• 2008 Review of Science TEKS• Summer/Fall 2009 Science TEKS Professional

development • Spring 2009 Call for Science Instructional Materials• 2010-11 Implement Science TEKS• November 2011 Adopt Science Instructional

Materials• 2012-13 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 www.tea.state.tx.us/list and sign up for the “Rules’ listserv.

The Road to TEKS Revision . . .

Our role is to Our role is to assure that assure that Texas has a Texas has a

world-class set world-class set of Science of Science Education Education Standards!Standards!

Who to Contact:

Curriculum Division512-463-9581

Irene PickhardtAssistant Director of Science

Irene.pickhardt@tea.state.tx.us

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