Technology Applications Newsletter

Thank you for subscribing to the TEA technology applications newsletter.

This issue of the TEA technology applications newsletter includes the following:

• Technology Applications Timely Topics
• Technology Applications Side-by-Side Document
• Technology Application Engagement Sessions
• TEA STEM Toolkit
• Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA)

Technology Applications Timely Topic: Grade Level-Based Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

To support Texas technology applications educators and stakeholders, each newsletter will highlight a commonly asked question. This edition’s question is –

“We see that the revised TEKS for technology applications are written for each grade level for grades K–8. Does that mean that we need to provide instruction in the revised TEKS for technology applications in every grade level for grades K–8?”

Yes, instruction in all of the technology applications TEKS for each grade level is required to be provided as part of the required curriculum for grades K–8 (19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.2(a) and 19 TAC §74.3(a)(1)).

While the current TEKS for technology applications for grades K–5 are written in two different grade bands, the revised TEKS for technology applications for grades K–5 are written for each specific grade level. The current and revised TEKS for grades 6–8 require instruction in the standards for technology applications for each grade level.

The revised technology applications TEKS, to be implemented beginning the 2024-2025 school year, include the following:

Elementary School (Implementation School Year 2024–2025):

• 19 TAC §126.1 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Kindergarten
• 19 TAC §126.2 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Grade 1
• 19 TAC §126.3 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Grade 2
• 19 TAC §126.8 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Grade 3
• 19 TAC §126.9 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Grade 4
• 19 TAC §126.10 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Grade 5

Middle School (Implementation School Year 2024–2025):

• 19 TAC §126.17 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Grade 6
• 19 TAC §126.18 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Grade 7
• 19 TAC §126.19 TEKS for Technology Applications (Adopted 2022), Grade 8

Technology Applications Timely Topic: Verification of Competency

“We see that the list of approved educator certifications for technology applications includes a statement about ‘verification of competency.’ How are LEAs supposed to verify competency to teach technology applications?”

The list of certifications to allow an assignment in technology applications for PK–grade 5 and grades 6–8 can be found in the following subchapters Texas Administrative Code:

• 19 TAC §231.29 Technology Applications, Prekindergarten-Grade 6
• 19 TAC §231.77 Technology Applications, Grades 6-8

In both lists, the phrase “verification of competency” is left intentionally broad to provide LEAs the flexibility to locally determine the competency of an instructor. This may be done through many various methods. Neither TEA nor the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) define how LEAs should make this determination.

For additional questions related to educator certifications, please contact Educator Certification and CPE by submitting a TEA Help Desk ticket

Technology Applications Side-by-Side Document for Grades 6, 7, and 8

To assist educators and stakeholders prepare for instruction of the revised technology applications TEKS, TEA has published a side-by-side document for technology applications that demonstrates the relationship between the current TEKS for grades 6, 7, and 8 and revised TEKS for grades 6, 7, and 8 (to be implemented beginning the 2024-2025 school year).

This document can be found on the technology applications webpage listed under the section “Technology Applications TEKS To Be Implemented In 2024–2025.”

Because the technology applications TEKS for K–5 are shifting from grade bands to being written for each grade level, no side-by-side document for grades K–5 is available at this time.

Technology Applications Engagement Sessions

In March 2024, TEA’s Enrichment staff held its first round of technology applications engagement sessions. These engagement sessions are designed for campus and district administrators with the goal of highlighting important technology applications topics and commonly asked questions.

The next round of technology applications engagement sessions will include the following:

• Walkthrough of the posted technology applications side-by-side document
• Breakouts: Unpacking the TEKS
• Embedding the technology applications standards into other content areas

As part of these sessions, opportunities to discuss these topics with other meeting attendees and ask TEA staff questions will also be provided. These two session opportunities are repeated information.

The following two options are available for attending the next round of technology applications engagement sessions:

• Register for session on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Register for session on Thursday, May 9, 2024, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

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.

Thank you for your commitment to Texas students.

Weston Scholten
Enrichment Coordinator
Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division
https://helpdesk.tea.texas.gov/
(512) 463-9581