Mathematics Newsletter

Greetings, Mathematics Newsletter Members.
Topics included in the newsletter:

• Middle School Advanced Mathematics Programs – Public comment
• Middle School Advanced Mathematics Programs – Webinar
• Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA)
• Mathematics Achievement Academies
• Engagement Opportunities
• Updated Innovative Course Application Timeline
• Texas Virtual School Network
• ESTAR/MSTAR Assessment and 2023-2024 Testing Windows

Additional information is included as a courtesy to educators:

• The Scalability, Capacity, and Learning Engagement (SCALE) project: Get Paid to Use an Evidence-Based Intervention at Your School

Middle School Advanced Mathematics Program

TEA has published a proposed rule on the new middle school advanced mathematics programs required by Senate Bill 2124 (88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023). The proposal outlines the requirements related to automatic enrollment of certain middle school students into an advanced mathematics program designed to prepare students to enroll in Algebra I in Grade 8.

To view the proposed rule and submit public comments, visit the Proposed Commissioner of Education Rules webpage. The proposed rule is listed under Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter DD, Commissioner's Rules Concerning Mathematics Instruction, §74.2101, Middle School Advanced Mathematics Program.

The public comment period for the proposal runs from February 23, 2024, to March 25, 2024.

Middle School Advanced Mathematics Programs Webinar

In support of the proposed Commissioner’s rules, TEA will be hosting a webinar on the new middle school advanced mathematics programs required by Senate Bill 2124 (88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023). The webinar is scheduled for March 28, 2024, at 2:00 pm Central. All are welcome and can sign up at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JOHpjPkASb-MT-Qm3_Uy8w. You must register in advance. If the system does not allow you to do so, select the “sign up free” link and follow the directions from there.

For additional information, please use the Curriculum Help Desk with “Middle School Advanced Math Program webinar” as the subject.

Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA)

TEA is seeking educators and subject-matter experts across Texas to serve as instructional materials reviewers for the new IMRA review process.
Selected reviewers will earn extra income while making a statewide impact. Reviewers will work in small teams to conduct quality reviews and collaborate with other educators to produce ratings and reports for assigned reading language arts, phonics, and mathematics products.

If you or your colleagues want to participate in the IMRA review process, please apply today! To learn more about the IMRA process, visit our website.

Mathematics Achievement Academies

The education service centers will be opening sessions of the Mathematics Achievement Academy. Please contact your regional education service centers to learn the specific dates and times of these sessions.

The Mathematics Achievement Academies ecosystem includes courses in grade-level content and pedagogy, problem solving and discourse, formative assessments across content strands, and leadership support. The academies increase educator knowledge by engaging in research-based, effective, and systematic instructional practices that enable students to develop problem-solving skills and a strong foundation of number sense and fluency.

For other questions, please submit a ticket to the TEA Help Desk.

Engagement Opportunities

We value our partners in the field and want to stay connected! Whether it’s through site visits, review opportunities, or focus groups, we offer various ways for you to connect with TEA and contribute to the field of education. If you are interested in participating in engagement opportunities, fill out our interest form!

Updated Innovative Course Application Timeline

To benefit both innovative course applicants and LEAs (local education agencies) who wish to implement innovative courses, the timeline for future innovative course application cycles has been updated. The updated timeline is designed to provide additional time for the following:

• Applicants to complete applications
• Applicants to receive local board approval
• Applicants to complete course pilots and analyze data
• Districts and open-enrollment charters to plan for innovative course implementation

Courses that are approved will be available for implementation beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

The 2025-2026 application cycle for innovative courses opened on February 26, 2024. The complete innovative course application timeline is available on the TEA innovative courses webpage.

Need help meeting a student’s course needs?

The Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) can help meet students’ needs through TEA-approved online courses. The TXVSN statewide course catalog provides schools and students access to high school, Advanced Placement, career and technical education, and dual credit courses for initial credit or credit recovery. The course catalog provides all the required mathematics courses needed to meet a student's graduation requirement.

The TXVSN courses are aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and taught by Texas-certified teachers trained in best practices in online instruction. Schools can use the TXVSN courses to create flexibility in a student’s schedule, allow a student to accelerate their learning, or address local teacher shortages. Students enrolled in a TXVSN course can generate funding regardless of whether the student is physically present at school while participating in the course. For more information about the courses offered through the TXVSN, please visit the TXVSN website or contact the TXVSN Help Desk.

ESTAR/MSTAR Assessment and 2023-2024 Testing Windows

The end of the year assessment window for Elementary School Students in Texas: Algebra Ready (ESTAR) and Middle-School Students in Texas: Algebra Ready (MSTAR) Universal Screener opens in January. Data from the mid-year assessment window informs teachers and MTSS teams of student progress and supports them in making decisions about student academic interventions. The data also provides campus leaders with data on Tier 1 instruction or on any algebra related mathematic initiatives on which the campus or district has embarked.

To learn more about the ESTAR and MSTAR Assessments, visit https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/estarmstar. For questions regarding accounts and general assistance, email mathtx@esc13.net.

Additional information is included as a courtesy to educators:

The Scalability, Capacity, and Learning Engagement (SCALE) project: Get Paid to Use an Evidence-Based Intervention at Your School

The Scalability, Capacity, and Learning Engagement (SCALE) project is a five-year study of Fraction Face-Off (FFO) to determine the extent to which FFO improves fraction knowledge and math outcomes for students experiencing moderate mathematics difficulty. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education and in partnership with The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Missouri, Research in Mathematics Education (RME) is conducting randomized controlled trials in grades 4-8, using FFO as a small group math intervention.

Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Austin are looking for grade 4 teachers who want to improve their students’ understanding of fractions. Teachers will use an evidence-based intervention called Fraction Face-Off! The intervention consists of 36 lessons, about 30 minutes apiece, that are implemented 2–3 times a week, supporting the improvement of students’ fraction knowledge and math outcomes.

We hope to provide this research-based tool to educators and provide support to them (either in person or virtually) to use it as a Tier 2 small-group intervention. Participation requires no payment from the district, provides financial compensation to all participating teachers, and places an evidence-based intervention in the classroom to build students’ confidence and knowledge in math.

If you are interested in learning more about how Project SCALE can benefit the teachers and students on your campus, please send an email to scalefractions@smu.edu with your name, district and/or campus, and role.

Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.

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