Mathematics Newsletter

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Below you will find information related to the following topics.

• Texas Home Learning Webinars

• The T-TRADE Assessment Development Pilot Invites Teacher Participation

• TEA Innovative Courses Update

Texas Home Learning Webinars

Texas Home Learning (THL) 3.0 is a comprehensive initiative to support school systems, teachers, parents, and students during the public health crisis and beyond with high-quality instructional materials, technology solutions, and professional development resources.

TEA is pleased to announce the following upcoming webinars for THL. These webinars are offered as optional resources for any Texas educator interested in using the available THL instructional materials.

The T-Trade Assessment Development Pilot Invites Teacher Participation

The Texas Teachers Review, Assess, Develop, and Exchange (T-TRADE) pilot is an innovative, collaborative system for teachers to develop and share high-quality assessment items. In the 2020-2021 school year, the system is being piloted with teachers of two courses: Grade 5 mathematics and high school United States History Studies Since 1877.

Benefits of the T-TRADE System

• Professional Development: Teachers are provided professional development training that will increase their understanding, proficiency, and confidence in developing high-quality, fair, and rigorous assessment items that inform and improve instruction.
• Collaboration: Teachers collaborate to write, review, assess, and exchange high-quality assessment items aligned to the TEKS.
• CPE Credit and Stipends: Teachers who participate in the T-TRADE pilot will earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit and may qualify to receive a stipend.
• Practical Use: T-TRADE assessment items will be made available for teachers to download and use in their local classroom assessments.
• Expanded Use: T-TRADE assessment items that are of the highest quality will be field tested for possible use on state assessments.

To learn more, please visit the T-TRADE web page.

T-TRADE Applications: Applicants are encouraged to submit a TEA Committee Educator Application. A "Committee Preferences" section is at the end of the application; select "T-TRADE Assessment Items Development."

TEA Innovative Courses Update

New Innovative Courses

The Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division has published updates to the Innovative Courses webpage for the current 2020–2021 school year. Updates include—

• a revised list of all currently approved courses;
• new course options in fine arts and social studies; and
• newly approved career and technical education (CTE) courses to address Programs of Study.

Complete course descriptions that include content standards, recommended resources, and educator certification requirements are available to download from the content area pages. As a reminder, school districts must have the approval of their local board of trustees to offer approved innovative courses, and innovative courses are eligible to meet state elective credit only and may not be used to fulfill any other specific graduation requirement.

Innovative Course Approval Process

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is now accepting applications for innovative courses for the 2021–2022 school year. The course application and procedures may be accessed via the Innovative Courses webpage.

Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Section 74.27, allows school districts to offer innovative courses to enable students to master knowledge, skills, and competencies not included in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Each innovative course must be academically rigorous and address the needs of students across the state. Innovative courses must be approved by either the State Board of Education (SBOE) or the commissioner of education. State-approved innovative courses may satisfy state elective credit toward graduation. The approval of the local board of trustees is required in order for school districts and charter schools to offer state-approved innovative courses with.

TEA will review applications in the order in which they are received and make recommendations for approval. The application timeline for innovative courses will be as follows:

• Applicants will have the opportunity to submit preliminary work to the agency for feedback by December 1, 2020.
• Applications for the renewal of existing courses must be received by December 18, 2020. Please refer to the expiring courses list.
• Applications for new innovative courses must be received by January 19, 2021.

Applicants are encouraged to submit innovative course applications as early in the application window as possible.

Courses that require SBOE approval will be considered by the board at the January 2021 or April 2021 meeting. All applicants will receive a final determination no later than May 1, 2021.

Expiring Innovative Courses

The list of innovative courses expiring at the end of the 2020–2021 school year is available on the Innovative Courses webpage. Should TEA not receive an application to renew, the agency may expire the course at the end of the current school year.

Questions related to current innovative courses, expiring innovative courses, or the course application and approval process may be directed to Kelsey Kling, Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division, by phone at (512) 463-9581 or by email at innovative.courses@tea.texas.gov.

Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.

Mathematics Team
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
curriculum@tea.texas.gov
(512) 463-9581

The Texas Education Agency will improve outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.