Advanced Academics Newsletter

Advanced Academics includes courses, programs, assessments, services and supports that provide opportunities for students to demonstrate college and career readiness and earn postsecondary credit.

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College Preparation Courses and Programs

Advanced Placement (AP)

More than 900 school districts in Texas offer one of the grade-level PSAT tests and/or the grade 11 National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT).  School leaders can use the results from these assessments to inform expansion of their advanced academics programs. Counselors can use students' performance data on these tests as evidence of their potential for success in order to encourage students to enroll in more rigorous courses.

• AP Potential is a free, web-based tool that allows schools to generate rosters of students who are likely to score a 3 or higher on a given AP® Exam based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 8/9, PSAT™ 10, or SAT®. 
• AP Potential shows moderate to strong correlations between PSAT/NMSQT® scores and AP Exam results.
• PSAT/NMSQT scores are stronger predictors of students' AP Exam scores than the more traditional factors such as high school grades and grades in same-discipline course work.
• AP Potential is designed to help district leaders increase access to AP and to ensure that no student who has the chance of succeeding in AP is overlooked. To learn how to get started visit the AP Potential page on the College Board's website. 

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Please complete and submit the 2021 IB Exam Reimbursement Application to the Texas Education Agency no later than Friday, July 30, 2021 to apply for the IB exam subsidy reimbursement for eligible students during the May 2021 administration. For questions, please contact the Division of College, Career, and Military Preparation Advanced Academics staff at advancedacademics@tea.texas.gov.

College Preparation Assessments

TSIA Reimbursements

The 2020-2021 Request for TSIA Reimbursement is now open. LEAs who want reimbursement for the administration of the TSIA/TSIA2 have until September 30, 2021 to complete a spreadsheet with required information and upload to Qualtrics. Please visit the reimbursement website for access to submission materials and links.

College Preparation Services and Supports

HB 3 & Financial Aid Requirements 

As introduced with House Bill 3 (2019) and beginning with the school year 2021-2022, all high school seniors must take one of the following actions to graduate:

• Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Complete and submit the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA)
• Submit a signed opt-out agreement 

Read more about the requirement here.

High Impact Tutoring Toolkit Available 

There is strong evidence that high impact tutoring is one of the most effective ways to increase learning gains for students. The High Impact Tutoring Toolkit is designed to help districts think through key pieces of program design and make connections to other helpful resources. While this toolkit is not exhaustive, it outlines the foundational principles and key considerations that all LEAs should consider when implementing a high impact tutoring program. Access the High Impact Tutoring Toolkit here. 

This Month's Frequently Asked Question

What certifications must a teacher have to teach a course for dual credit?

The instructor for a dual credit course is identified by the district’s college/university (IHE) partner that is granting the college credit. If a district teacher is considered for a dual credit course, the teacher’s college transcripts must be sent to the dual credit granting IHE’s human resource department for credential review and approval.  The dual credit teacher candidate must meet the same requirements as IHE faculty set by the IHE’s regional accrediting association. Explore Dual Credit FAQ (texas.gov)  for more details.

Thank you for subscribing to the Advanced Academics news bulletin and for your commitment to serving Texas students.

Contact: Kay Humes and Tracy Johnson

advancedacademics@tea.texas.gov

(512) 463-8864 or (512) 463-9762

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