Thank you for subscribing to the TEA science newsletter. Today's newsletter provides information related to:
- TEKS Guide Updated with Breakouts
- Summer Science Webinars
- Texas Mobile STEM Laboratory Application Window Closes Soon
Updates Across the Agency:
- Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) Course Offerings
How helpful is the information in this newsletter?
TEKS Guide Updated with Breakouts
The student expectations in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills have a specific grammatical structure. They begin with “The student is expected to” followed by one or more verbs and phrases. Breakouts are the tool by which a student expectation is separated into each component part. Breakouts are provided in the TEKS Guide to help educators connect the instruction provided in the classroom to each component of a student expectation. To view all the components of a student expectation, use the “+” symbol to expand the sentence after each grammatical divide.
 To access the breakouts, navigate to the alignments section of any student expectation and select "Breakout" from the dropdown menu.
Summer Science Webinars
The science curriculum team is hosting two summer webinars designed to support educators’ understanding of the science TEKS. Live attendees can earn continuing professional education (CPE) hours.
June 11, 2025, 4:30–5:30 p.m. Central
TEA Presents: TEA Resources for Science
Many resources are available to support educators in implementing the new science TEKS on the TEA science webpage. Participants will receive an overview of several resources, including TEKS side-by-side documents, vertical alignment documents, recurring themes and concepts posters and question prompts, TEKS in Focus printables, and more.
Please register in advance.
July 22, 2025, 4:30–5:30 p.m. Central
Recurring Themes and Concepts for High School
In the revised science standards, students are introduced to recurring themes and concepts through a dedicated strand in grades K–8. In high school, the recurring themes and concepts are described in the introduction to the TEKS. In this session, high school educators will learn how to use recurring themes and concepts as a lens for focusing on phenomena, a tool for asking questions, and a method for communicating explanations. Participants will be provided with resources and collaboration time.
Please register in advance.
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Texas Mobile STEM Laboratory Application Window Closes Soon! |
Through a partnership between the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Learning Undefeated, the Texas Mobile STEM Lab will continue to provide STEM engagement opportunities for students during the 2025–2026 school year. Using custom-outfitted STEM learning spaces, the mobile labs offer engaging, hands-on educational experiences for kindergarten through grade 8 students and teachers. The application window closes on May 31, 2025.
All Texas public schools that offer classes for kindergarten through grades 8 are eligible to register for a free visit during the 2025–2026 school year. Apply on our STEM web page. For more information, please refer to the video or contact Michelle Sedberry.
Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) Course Offerings
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 science courses that may 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.
Student Assessment
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Special Populations
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Curriculum Standards and Student Support
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Thank you for your commitment to serving Texas students.
Curriculum Science Team: Shawna Wiebusch, Liz Baker, and Carla Bailey
Help Desk: https://helpdesk.tea.texas.gov/
Phone: 512-463-9581
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