State Board of Education February Update

 
 
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African American Studies course wins preliminary approval from SBOE

Texas is poised to become the fifth state in the country to authorize a state-level African American Studies course for high school after the State Board of Education recently approved the course on a preliminary vote. An innovative course created by the Dallas Independent School District was the starting point used to develop the state course. The state course is expected to win final board approval in April and will then become the second state-approved ethnic studies course. The board approved Ethnic Studies: Mexican American Studies in 2018.

SBOE celebrates excellent educators

The State Board of Education honored award-winning educators at its January board meeting, recognizing the state Teachers of the Year, the Superintendent of the Year, the Milken National Education Award winner, and finalists and awardees of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

Education leaders

(Clockwise) Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year Michelle Sandoval, Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year Karen Sams, Texas Superintendent of the Year Keith Bryant, and Milken National Education Award winner Susan Moreno

Six Texas teachers named finalists for PAEMST

Six Texas teachers are finalists for the 2019 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The 2019 awards recognize mathematics and science teachers in grades 7-12 whose innovative methods bring teaching to life in the classroom. The State Board of Education on Jan. 31 honored the 2019 finalists and the 2017 and 2018 national awardees from Texas. 

PAEMST is the highest recognition a mathematics or science teacher may receive for exemplary teaching in the United States. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on the behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

PAEMST awardees and finalists

2017 and 2018 PAEMST awardees and 2019 PAEMST finalists were recognized by the State Board.

SBOE applauds employers who support parents and schools

The State Board of Education announced that seven organizations have earned the 2019 Employers for Education Excellence award for their support of parents and Texas schools.

Earning gold level recognition are Toyota of Boerne; Haynes and Boone, LLP; and Southwest Airlines. Receiving silver level recognition are the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department and Accenture. The bronze award recipients are Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Thomson Reuters.

2019 Employers for Education Excellence Award Winners

2019 Employers for Education Excellence Award Winners

Summary of January SBOE actions available

A summary of actions taken by the State Board of Education at its Jan. 31 meeting is now available. The board voted on issues dealing with topics such as school board member training, career and technical education issues, instructional materials proclamations, and investments.

CTE Student Leaders

SBOE designates February as CTE Month; discusses Perkins update

The SBOE passed a resolution designating February as Career and Technical Education Month and spent time with CTE student leaders. The board also discussed proposed updates to the Perkins V state plan, which is available online for review.