Proposed SBOE Rule Change Could Negatively Impact Computer Science Education in Texas

Photo used by permission from Flickr user bizjournal

If the new State Board of Education (SBOE) proposed rule change to Chapter 74, Subchapter A*, is approved in January, districts will be required to offer four of the nineteen Technology Applications courses but not required to teach any technology related courses. This has many Texas educators concerned considering the state legislature eliminated the requirement to take a technology course for graduation from high school.

The rules currently require a school district to offer four Technology Applications courses and if ten or more students indicate they want to take one of those four courses, the district must teach it. If these proposed rules are adopted, even if thirty students indicate they wanted to take the Technology Applications course, the district would not be required to teach it. This could severely impact an individual student’s ability to enter college with a basic understanding of computer science concepts and might even prevent them from pursuing a career as a computer scientist.

It is obvious that technology is the heart of our economy. It should also be obvious that teaching our students computational thinking is more than just teaching them how to create a movie or how to put together an effective PowerPoint. As our world becomes more dependent on technology our students must have a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of computer science. If a student is not introduced to these concepts in their K-12 education, they are unlikely to see computer science as a viable field for them to enter.

The SBOE is currently taking written comments on the proposed changes. It is expected that they will continue to take comments until January 24.  The changes are included in this document. The line that they are proposing to strike is highlighted in yellow. I encourage you to send an email to rules@tea.state.tx.us to express your concern about this rule change.

You may also testify at the January board meeting. They will meet on January 26th. The rules that govern public testimony can be found on the TEA website.

*Proposed SBOE Rules Changes

TA-TEKS Get an Upgrade

The Technology Applications TEKS were approved at the April and July meeting of the State Board of Education (SBOE). They were inserted into Chapter 126 of the Texas Administrative Code this week. The revision process began in the spring of 2010 when technology experts and Texas educators met in teams to review and update the TEKS to

Photo taken by Flickr User: vancouverfilmschool

meet the new demands of the 21st century. The SBOE members received formal and informal updates on the progress of the writing teams throughout the 2010-2011 school year. The board approved most of the revisions in April of 2011 but had a few questions about the Computer Science courses. The remaining courses got their final approval in July of 2011.

The new TEKS have been inserted into the Chapter 126.  These TEKS will not go into effect until the 2012-2013 school year therefore on the TEA site, the old TA-TEKS are listed above the new TA-TEKS. For clarity, below are the direct links to the new TA-TEKS:

• K-2 TA-TEKS that will be taught beginning in 2012-2013
• 3-5 TA-TEKS that will be taught beginning in 2012-2013
• 6 TA-TEKS that will be taught beginning in 2012-2013
• 7 TA-TEKS that will be taught beginning in 2012-2013
• 8 TA-TEKS that will be taught beginning in 2012-2013

• Fundamentals of Computer Science
• Computer Science I
• Computer Science II
• Computer Science III
• Digital Forensics
• Discrete Mathematics
• Game Programming and Design
• Mobile Application Development
• Robotics Programming and Design
• Digital Design and Media Production
• Digital Art and Animation
• 3-D Modeling and Animation
• Digital Communications in the 21st Century
• Digital Video and Audio Design
• Web Communications
• Web Design
• Web Game Development
• Independent Study in Technology Applications
• Independent Study in Evolving/Emerging Technologies
• Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science A
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Computer Science, Standard Level
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Computer Science, Higher Level

TEA Releases the District IMA List

TEA released a letter today that includes a link to the list with the school district’s Instructional Materials Allotment for the next two years. They are releasing 70% of the two-year allotment in 2011-2012 and will release the remaining 30% in 2012-2013. School districts can carry forward any balances into the next school year. TEA is working on an expanded IMA section on their website.  TCEA has resources available on our website as well.

IMA Resources on tcea.org

New resources that will help wade through the new Instructional Materials Allotment(IMA), are now located on the new TCEA website. You can find more information on the following topics related to the IMA:

• Uses
• Funding
• Decision Making
• IMA Process
• Frequently Asked Questions 

K-12 Databases New Pricing Structure

Susanna Garza, the Coordinator for Instructional Technology and Media for ESC 20, released information regarding the K-12 Databases on August 2.  The K-12 Databases are online resources that have been provided for Texas school schools at no cost to the local district. Due to state budget cuts, these resources will no longer be free to districts. However, the state has been able to secure the K-12 Databases at a reasonable cost for districts.  Below is the contents of her email.

The K-12 Databases program continues to exist even though state funding was eliminated.

• State-negotiated pricing for the online research resources from EBSCO and Britannica is available to all Texas K-12 public and public charter school communities on an opt-in basis.
• The Texas State Library and Archives Commission negotiated a very low per student fee with the resulting price rolled back to the 2007 district cost for the same resources.
• An order form is available at http://web.esc20.net/access

The EBSCO and Britannica packages offered under the opt-in plan are identical to what is currently offered under the state-funded program. Subscription to both resources is available only through ESC-20. A district or campus will have the option to select either or both of the resources noted below:

EBSCO K-12 Reference Package

• Access: September 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012
• Package includes: 34 databases with age-appropriate interfaces: Student Resource Center, Searchasaurus, Kids Search, EBSCO Host , Consumer Health Complete
• Cost: $0.49 per student
• Minimum: $200.00 Elementary, $260.00 Middle School, $330.00 High School

Britannica Online School Edition

• Access: December 1, 2011 – August 31, 2012
• Package includes: 10 databases with age-appropriate interfaces: Learning Zone, Britannica Elementary, Britannica Middle School, Britannica High School, Britannica Spanish Reference Center, Britannica Global Reference Center
• Cost: $ 0.37 per student
• Minimum: $335.00 per campus

Please make note of the following important points:

• Access to EBSCO will be cease on Sept. 15, 2011 unless a contingency form is received at ESC-20 prior to that date.
• Per campus minimum fees can be waived if packages are ordered at the district level; a district minimum may still apply.
• Access to EBSCO under the opt-in program is for 12 months;
• Access to Britannica Digital Learning under the opt-in program is for 9 months.
• Invoicing will begin in September unless otherwise requested.
• Logins will continue to be the same as last year unless otherwise requested.
• K-12 Databases subscribing schools will receive access to new training, outreach and integration materials.
• These materials will be available for preview in late August.

To order the state negotiated K-12 Databases, please download the order form at: http://web.esc20.net/access.

Contact information for the K-12 Databases Help Desk:

• Phone: 210-370-5623
• Fax: 210-370-5755
• Email:  k12help@esc20.net
• K-12 Web Address:  http://web.esc20.net/k12databases

SBOE Gives Approval for the Final Six Tech. Apps. Courses

A group of Texas teachers, administrators, college professors, and experts have been reviewing and revising the Technology Application TEKS since last summer.  The TA TEKS for grades K-8 and thirteen high school courses were approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) in April of this year.  They postponed the decision on six high school courses until their July board meeting due to some of the testimony regarding these courses.  The dissenter’s opposition centered around the claim that the TEKS for these courses were too specific and not flexible enough to react to changes within the computer science field.  They specifically called for the exclusion of the teaching of “object oriented programing” (OOP).

Barbara Cargill, new chair of the SBOE

The SBOE took additional testimony on Thursday, July 21, and then voted on Friday, July 22, to accept the revisions as written and submitted by the writing team. Districts will have a year to prepare teachers for the changes made in the TEKS so they will be ready to begin teaching the TEKS in 2012-2013.  All the Technology Applications TEKS are organized around six strands: creativity and innovation; communications and collaboration; research and information fluency; critical thinking, problem solving and decision making; digital citizenship; and technology operations and concepts.  Publishers will also use this year to prepare instructional materials that can be purchased by districts to use to teach these courses.

 

 

TxVSN Changes Added to SB 1

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Shapiro’s changes in the TxVSN, that she proposed in HB 1483 during the regular session and SB 30 in the special session, were added to SB 1 (special session). SB 1 deals with some fiscal matters necessary for the budget to balance, including school finance. It passed both chambers and only needs the governor’s signature to become law.

The changes in SB 1 allow students younger than 21 years of age, students between the age of 21 to 26 years of age who are entitled to benefits under the Foundation School Program under Section 42.003, to enroll in a course through the Virtual School Network. School districts will be required to adopt policies that provide districts and students with the opportunity to enroll in electronic courses provided through the state virtual school network. The TxVSN will be required to set up a method for students and parents to provide comments on courses provided through the network which will be accessible to the public.

The bill allows school districts providing a virtual course to count students enrolled in courses through the network based on average daily attendance for determining Foundation School Program entitlement.  The sending school, however, would not receive funding for the time the student is receiving instruction in the virtual course.  The funding will be based on the successful completion of the course.