SBOE Committee of the Full Board – June 12, 2019

The Full Board of the State Board of Education met on June 12 to take up a full agenda. Among other items, the Board heard from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and an update on significant legislation passed during the 86th legislature.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Item 1– Commissioner’s Comments

Mike Morath, TEA Commissioner

• 139 public education bills went through session.
• Texas Assessment. Com released all STAR scores today and the website can be translated into Spanish now.
• HB 3906
  • Test Anxiety
    • Students feel pressure and testing anxiety towards the STAR Test.
    • STAR test feels like a different day for the students and increases the level of anxiety they feel.
    • Authorizes TEA to break the STAR test into mini tests and administers the test during a regular school day.
    • We will give the districts the ability to decide how to distribute the tests.
    • We want to make it feel like exams students take every week.
    • It is possible in ELAR exam to split the questions by decoding and language comprehension.
  • “Teaching to the Test”
    • Throughout the year, students are given multiple choice exams to be prepared for the STAR in the spring.
    • Other states have
    • HB 3609 sets up a cap so that no more than 75% of any STAAR test can be multiple choice and takes effect in three years.
    • This makes grading the tests more expensive, but we were allotted more money to cover this.
  • Test Result are Received too Late
    • Requires TEA and SBOE to establish an electronic administration of the STAAR and will begin in September of 2021.
    • There will be an integrated formative assessment pilot program.
    • The integrated format allows us to help kids in real time.
    • The commissioner will set up large committee and sub committee with current Texas teachers to make it instructionally relevant.
  • Federal Requirements
    • In 2016, the Federal Government made it a requirement for grades 3-8 must take the writing portion.
    • New ELAR TEKS are more integrated with reading and writing.
    • Fades out standalone writing test in grades 4&7 over the next three years.
  • Substitute Assessments
    • We have had the ability to use substitute assessments since 2013-2014 in Texas.
    • In 2018, the Department of Education said to stop the substitute assessments.
    • The SAT and ACT do not conform to our standards. We would have to abandon the current EOC framework in order for the SAT and ACT to align with our standards.
    • Beginning with the 2020 accountability cycle, substitute assessments will not be allowed.
  • HB 3
    • Included a requirement for a public institution of higher education to study STAAR in 2018-2019 and will continue in 2019-2020.
    • The study reviews the assessment
      • Is written at appropriate reading level
      • Only includes content aligned with the TEKS for that or earlier grades
      • Only includes passages written at the reading level or below of the grade level for the assessment.
    • This must be concluded by December 2019.
    • Each week there will be a webinar for a section of the bill for the next 5 months.
    • This document will be available tomorrow on the TEA website.
    • Basic allotment went up over 1000$ and teachers will get a significant raise.
    • The teacher incentive allotment will be based on performance and equity up to 32,000 for a teacher per year.
    • There are new requirements for protecting the integrity of teachers who have been accused of an inappropriate
    • Full day pre-k is now mandatory for all children of 4-years.
    • Funding Increases on Average $635/ ADA.
    • There is an incentive to extend the school year and that is funded.
    • Every K-3 teacher will have to go through the reading academies for the next 3 years and all new teachers must demonstrate the proficiency of reading.
    • Districts must establish a phonics program from k-3.
    • There has been an increase in special education with an incentive.
    • For every special education student that graduates, the districts get a $2000-dollar bonus if they go on to college, get a job, or go to military.
    • Schools are reimbursed for college readiness.
    • FAFSA is now required to be filled out by all high school students.
    • Grant funding for blending learner.
    • The cost of education index is eliminated.
    • Every district will receive the same amount of funding regardless of their property wealth.
    • Tax rates are going down by 8 pennies by next year.
    • Compensatory Education
      • .225 weight for funding and the basic allotment went up 1000$ per kid.
      • Under new law it is a range of $1400-2000 per kid.
      • Based upon a spectrum of need from where the student came from,
      • The differentiation is based on the computed poverty level on the census block.
    • Teacher Incentive Allotment
      • Districts can recognize effective teachers.
      • Funding ranges from $3,000-32,000 per teacher per year.
      • Funding includes support for National Board-Certified Teachers.
      • If a teacher switches districts, the money will follow them.
      • We will see better recruitment of teachers under this law.
    • Reading Standards for K-3
      • On January 21, 2021, every teacher and principle must go through the reading academy in order to teach k-3.
      • Districts must ensure that there are highly effective teachers in k-2 and have integrated reading instruments.
      • Word Recognition x Language Comprehension = Reading Proficiency
    • Reading Academies
      • First sessions start July 8^th and are formed around the ELAR TEKS.
      • They are designed to build systemic instruction practice around reading, vocabulary, comprehension, etc.
      • New reading academies are structured differently than prior:
        • Summer sessions include a 5-day detailed session
        • Three 2-day sessions throughout the year
        • Close out session for second summer
      • Aligned coaching
        • Coaches must engage 3 times per semester.
      • 30 READ cohorts are engaging with this now, each cohort has 60 teachers.
    • Charter Transparency Website
      • The purpose is to have easier access to information on the Texas Character school portfolio.
      • There is a funding source, will start formal work in the fall, and have the beta version of the sit up by spring 2020.
    • Generation 24 Process Overview
      • We have the most rigorous process that resulted in 18% of applicants being approved.
      • There were 33 applicants and only 5 applicants were recommended for approval.
    • Elevate Collegiate, Houston Classical, Royal Public Schools, San Antonio Prep, and The Gathering Place were all approved.

Questions:

• Robinson- Do charter school principals and K-3 teachers have to go the reading academies as well?
• Ellis- On the mini assessments, are those going to be formative or summative?
  • The law spells out the mini tests that will occur at the end of the year.
  • The time frame for the mini tests and allows the schools to pick the dates in the window the state gives them.
• Ellis- My concern is that we are prescribing a scope and sequence of when the curriculum must be taught.
  • There is a concept of piloting integrative formative assessments.
  • We are thinking about creating a menu of choices so that a formative assessment in early October.
• Ellis- The control will still be up to the district on when that is taught right?
  • Correct.
• Peréz- On slide pg. 22, the charter transparency website says what amendments are proposed expansions?
  • The proposed amendment will show up on the website.
  • This improves the visibility not the law changing.
• Hardy- Can people subscribe to this?
  • We need to work within the scope of resources that we have.
• Hardy- On the bill, I have concerns about the availability for rural districts and the students who do not have computers to take the online test.
  • Paper testing will still be available, and we are required to study this extensively.
  • The legislature will have to act for this plan to continue.
  • We are going to get the ball rolling and get the research done.
  • The bill was passed with an expiration date of next session.
  • Last session, rural smaller schools were given millions of dollars for electronics and technology.
  • 2022 is the requirement to create a plan, but the legislation contemplates a 5-year plan.
• Hardy-What will they be tested on 4&7 if there is no writing?
  • In grades 3,5,6, and 8 there is reading and writing and 4&7 is only reading comprehension with integrated writing elements.
• Rowley- Regarding SB 1882 on the partnership between charters and rural districts, there are different positions of relationships. What is the level of transparency with partnering with out of state charters?
  • We have tried to create documents based on the type of partnerships the school wishes to pursue.
  • Local elected school board are still in charge and they make the transparency requirements.
• Perez-Diaz- Once partnerships occur, is there a requirement to build a management board over that relationship?
  • Yes, there needs to be a legitimate organization created.
• Perez-Diaz- The intent is that the board that serves the school is the local school board
  • These are two different legal entities. The local school board and the public entity sign the contracts with each other.
  • The 501c3 has the other half.
  • There are statutory requirements related to stakeholder gathering processes.
• Perez-Diaz- In terms of HB 3, on the reading outcomes changes. So you have extended year incentive option for school districts. What does the technical support look like?
  • We were given 1 FTE and that person will help us all over the state of Texas.
• Perez-Diaz- How is the dyslexia allotment going to be used once it is in place.
  • I don’t have an answer for you.
  • We are giving that process a lot more attention.
• Perez-Diaz- Is there going to be outreach to school districts on what they need?
  • The reading advisory board will create feedback loops with the schools.
  • It is going to take us 2 full years to implement these bills.
  • There are stellar campuses with amazing reading proficiency.
• Cortez- What can we do for the next generation to make it more available. If we are gong to have a true robust conversation, we need to give the charters more time to mobilize and give more feedback with recommended charters. I ask you to consider that as we go through the next round of charter applications. Maybe a week and a half window.
  • I will ask heather to follow up with you.
  • We try and iterate through and have continuous recommendations.
• Cortez-What can you do to get testing scores sooner?
  • There are 2 logistical challenges.
  • When the test is administered online, you can see the scores within 5 days.
  • There are also equating processes we are looking to get rid of post equating processes to students can immediately get the scores.
• Cortez- There needs to be a better way to do this. Teachers and kids leave for summer not knowing. My daughter just found out a week ago and was stressed everyday until she learned.
• Cargill- Will you go into more detail about the teacher incentive program?
  • This webinar won’t happen till late September.
  • The concept is that the decisions are based around the local board, and the eval system has to be reviewed by a third party, and if the teachers meets a level then they get recognized.
  • A master teacher is within 5% of performers.
  • Once a teacher is designated, any school that employs them will receive additional funding for at least 5 years and depends on what campus they are working in.
  • The money is distributed to the district and puts them in HR.
  • At least 90 percent of funds have to go to the teachers on campus.
  • Campuses should use that money to move a group of teachers up.
• Cargill- What about the mentoring piece?
  • Districts have to designate mentor teachers and must follow certain topics and be trained then they have to have a minimum number of hours teaching.
  • Districts would draw down funds from the allotment and we will have to figure out how much that allotment is.
  • The deep dive for that subject is late October.
• Mercer- Charter schools get only the top 5% of top students. Do you have a comment on that?
  • They filter the applications. It is not legal for charter schools, but for districts it is.
  • Charter schools are open enrollment and then place kids on a wait list if there is no more room.
• Mercer- I received post cards from the charter schools attacking that.
• Mercer- Would SB 3 have an increase in the reading proficiency.
  • The law just got singed yesterday, so I do not think we would see anything yet.
• Mercer- Is there a way of telling?
  • Not at that level.
  • We can run reports on which materials districts have ordered.
  • The proclamation 2019 materials districts will order this month.
• Mercer- My concern is 5^th grade and the consumables.
• Allen- Is there anything we can do as a committee as we undertake this bill.
  • You can be important information conduits and if you let us know the concerns that you have you can help us.
• Allen- In Houston, I hear one thing and in here I hear one thing, it is different both ways.
• Little- One district asked me if we applied for a waiver.
  • We have not surfaced the waiver on the topics but have not applied for a waiver regarding assessing the entire curriculum.
  • We probably will not file.
  • There is no desire to grant assessment flexibility practices.
• Little- Regarding Dyslexia funding, did they list any specifics on how the money is supposed to be used?
  • The eligibility for the funding is that the district has to be Implementing the requirements for the program and have a properly trained teacher.
  • It doesn’t say how they need to spend, but there are requirements in order to get the money.
• Maynard- Is there any way to get updates so we are not blindsided?
  • We can look into fixing this.

 

Item 9 Legislative Update

Hunter Thompson, TEA

• 623 bills were heard
• 32 bills went through the house committees
• 62 bills went through the senate committees
• 139 made it through final passage
• Address permeant fund structure
  • Limit cash holdings, require reporting and regular hearings
  • SB 608
    • Required joint public meeting to discuss allocation of permeant school fund.
    • There are no joint decisions required to be made.
    • Increases public citizens om the committee from 3-5 and 2 must be selected by the Governor and 6 are recommended by SBOE.
  • HB 4388
    • Establish permanent fund liquid account
      • Real estate and the amount are by the School Land Board
      • No later than 5 days after
      • Investments are managed by the SBO
    • Instructional materials
      • Instructional materials must align with 100% of the TEKS.
      • No action was taken.
    • New initiatives family education and special education
      • TEA to create a group including all of those.
    • Funding Support
      • Included .5 weight for dyslexia and a .15 weight for dual language
      • Literacy and mathematic agencies held constant
      • Teachers must attend the literacy academy by 2020-2012; k-3 teacher and the principle must go.
    • New Initiative- Teacher Retention and Salary Improvements
      • HB3 teacher incentive program with stated goals of 6 figure salary for teachers.
      • Master teacher= $12,000-$32,000
      • Exemplary teacher= $8,000-$16,000
      • Rules are set up for the mentorship program.
    • Funding Support for TEAs with LAR exceptional items- special education supports and sage and healthy school’s initiative
      • SB 500 by Nelson funds Special Education supports.
      • TEAs Safe and Healthy Schools Initiative was not funded by SB 11, HB 19 and HB 18.
      • TEA did not receive any additional school safety authority funding.
    • Long Range Plans
      • Equity and access
        • HB 3 teacher incentive program
      • Student empowerment
        • Incentive data driven
        • HB 18 by Price mental health of public-school students
        • HB 19 by Price mental health and substance use resources for certain school districts
        • HB 3906 By Huberty authorizes TEA to break STAAR test into different sections.
        • HB 3 expands high quality early learning opportunities.
      • Educator Preparation Recruitment and Retention
        • HB 3 includes a new science for teaching reading requirement.
        • Recommendation 5 provides timely guidance training mentoring and support through HB 3.
        • Recommendation 8 provides incentives for teachers to engage in internships, externships, and leadership opportunities through HB 2424 and is funded in the budget.
      • Rowley- Would it be possible to keep track of how the process is going in terms of looking at the long-range plans?
        • Hunter- There is a bill implementation tracker, but we should definitely look into doing that.
      • Bahorich- The next time we go through a process like this it would be helpful to tie into what the legislatures are doing.
      • Maynard- Periodically, there should be a review of the long-range plan to see where we are.
      • Bahorich- It would be helpful to divide and conquer.
      • Ellis- I think we should do our legislative recommendations earlier in the year, so we can work on drafting legislation with them. We have action that must be done, and we should get a tracker on the things we must act on.
      • Mercer-The fiscal note for mental health did that go somewhere else. Did they try and place that in our technology or instructional allotment?
        • Hunter-Are you asking for the location for the student safety allotment. In SB 11, its 9$ under a school safety umbrella writer.
      • Martinez-That is not something that got added to the instructional materials fund. There is one fund for the technology and instructional materials.
      • Cargill-It would be wonderful to look at the long-range plan and what was accomplished. All the goals were not intended to be done in one session and the committee on school initiatives could report how complete it is.
      • Little- We should put together a committee that shows us what we need to work on and what our legislative goals should be.
      • Bahorich- That would be a really good thing and the next chair should begin working on that.
      • Robinson- In order to implement our priorities, it would be a good thing to meet with our representatives and get 3 or 4 that we had a closer rapport with that would help us implement more.
      • Robinson- Statutory requirement to develop a long-range plan and has recommendations on how to achieve that regarding lobbying.
      • Perez- I am not seeing a dyslexia and dual language allotment and increase.
        • Dyslexia is .1, that was a typo and I will edit that on the next report.
      • Ellis- Can you clarify what you are talking about prohibition on lobbying the legislature.
        • You have a prohibition on using any funds from your accounts
        • The legislature can ask you for your opinion, but all entities subject to the legislature are prohibited to lobbying.
        • You as an individual can promote your own thoughts.
      • Ellis- How does that merge with any agency that has a governmental relations team?
        • The legislature requires all agencies for exceptional items and what funding needs to be achieved to complete goals.
      • Rowley- when should we begin compiling our recommendations or request
        • Hunter- The LAR is submitted in august prior to a legislative session and they present it in October.
        • In December, they make the budget requirements.

 

Item 2– Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 110, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading, and 19 TAC Chapter 128, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Spanish Language Arts and Reading and English as a Second Language

Public Testimony

Tracey Crease

• Taxpayer dollars are already being used for training and instructional materials.
• Curriculum maps have already been created for the next school year.
• Considering amendments would disrupt the next years school curriculum.
• We ask that you support the ELAR guides and oppose the amendments.

Beth Ekman

• Revising the TEKS right now is a bad idea at this time.
• Implementation for this fall would disrupt 2 years of plans.
• To make changes is difficult for teachers who have already completed their certifications.
• It is too late to make content changes, because teachers have already finished their lesson plans.

Questions

• Rowley- Of the ones that are fine, do you believe they can be handled in the guiding documents?
  • Jennifer- It can be dealt with in the guide however that is opening the question do we want to make changes this late.
• Rowley- I see the change of punctuation and phrasing. Are there more substantive changes that need to be dealt with?
  • Tracey- The addition of the central idea, control idea or thesis. We kept controlling idea or thesis when they got close to thesis. To give students three options will confuse them and is unnecessary.
    • Bahorich- Would you see the central idea and controlling idea be the same.
  • Tracey- It is very similar and controlling idea serves kids well.
• Perez- Is this something we need to correct in TEKS document or TEKS guides? If it is not in the TEKS document, should it be in the TEKS guide?
  • Jessica- When considering a change, we should not complicate it more.
  • Tracey- It would be good for the teachers if the verbiage discerns the difference between the thesis, controlling idea, and central idea.
• Perez- We need the consistency, then we need to make sure the agency sends out the TEKS guides.
• Ellis- The main idea topic that is proposed, does this work in all genres. What are your thoughts on adding that?
  • Tracey- The main idea is a part of the key ideas. In other places, we have other documents that say key ideas not main ideas. As we look at language arts, we are always going to have materials that say main ideas, key ideas, and central ideas. Kids will encounter all of these terms at different stages of schooling.
  • Beth- Main idea term is dated, but you will also see that in assessments as well. The text is more complex than the rigor of the TEKS.
• Hardy- I do not know what a character tag is. Who has made these decisions? Do you know?
  • Martinez- We were not able to find a source who indicated that character tags in Drama. When we could not find it, we thought we would bring it forward.
• Mercer- What is the difference between literary nonfiction vs fiction.
  • Jessica- Literary nonfiction is based on real events, but the way the author writes it includes foreshadowing.
• Mercer- Do we have a balance with literary nonfiction and fiction in the older grades?
  • Jessica- The balance is between information texts and fictional texts. We are not looking to balance.
  • Tracey- There is some balance between the two in the standards.
• Little- The CCRS look good and covered. We should just follow the process.
• Perez- School starts in less than 4 weeks for my district. That is not enough time and adds burdens to our teachers.
• Monica- The committee on instruction will need to make an adjustment tomorrow.
• Ellis- As we go through this process, I have heard that some of these changes are due to the assessment.
• Rowley- I move that the proposed revisions pertaining to the main idea throughout the TEKS document not be included in the final version and that the foreshadowing proposed revision not be included and that character tags not be included, that the central idea would not be included, that the proposed revisions regarding literary non-fiction not be included, and the CCRS revision alignments pertaining to the understanding of various perspectives not be included, and central idea in the last portion of the TEKS not be included only in regard to English.

Motion adopted

 

Discussing Amendment Adoptions

• Bahorich- There are no other recommendations to consider at this point.

 

Discussion on Spanish Language Arts and Reading

• Martinez- Based on section I-64 on chapter 128 the student expectation is slightly different.

Motion adopted to change italics and underlining for titles and emphasis. 

 

Discuss recommendations for Spanish Language Arts and Reading that aligns with English Language Arts and Reading

• Other recommendations were to add spelling to a couple of grades levels.

 

Experts discuss changes

• Strike such as examples, because there need to be closed syllables instead of open.
• Currently there is only perfect and the problem with that is the numerous tenses.
• We need to offer clarity in the different types.
• Attempting to offer more clarity for the grade levels.
• Spanish affixes need to match the English.
• Spanish dates are not written with commas.
• Some spelling was not consistent among grades.
• Perez– I move that with the exception of 4b-2a-1from the document
  Notable Recommendations for the SBOE” will consider during the second reading and the final adoption for Spanish Language Arts and Reading of chapter 128 be rejected by the committee of the full board.
• Made technical changes regarding the perfect tense and punctuation.

Motion Adopted

 

Item 3 Proposed Repeal and New 19 TAC Chapter 126, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications, Subchapter C, High School, §126.36, Digital Forensics (One Credit), Beginning with School Year 2019-2020

• There are no recommendations.
• Maynard moves to adopt Item 3.

Motion Adopted

 

Item 4 Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements, §74.12, Foundation High School Program, and §74.13, Endorsements

Testimony

Margaret Davis

• Thank you for your actions that will help our students.

Karen Phillips

• Gives a handout to the committee that discusses the difference between credit and courses.
• Discusses an example of Physics that was split into different sections.
• Bahorich- What do you need from us?
  • We need the rest of the four fine arts IB course numbers to be completed.
  • Schools are having to use a number for AP1, so the IB numbers need to be created.
• Martinez- Districts can get in trouble for giving students credit for courses they did not take. The district said it was on the advice of TIBS.
  • There was a misunderstanding for the use of the codes.
• Martinez- Districts need to stop talking about AP codes.
• Bahorich- Do you have to pass the tests to get the credit.
  • Davis- The student needs a score of 4 to pass.

Two technical edits and two language edits proposed.

Maynard moves to approve to a second reading and file an adoption for proposed amendments for Item 4.

Motion Adopted.

 

Item 5 Amendments to Proclamation 2020 of the State Board of Education Advertising for Bids on Instructional Materials

• Was already addressed and skipped.

 

Item 6 Proclamation 2021 of the State Board of Education Advertising for Bids on Instructional Materials

• Language and Technical changes proposed.
  • Recommends including the term “and Spanish” regarding instructional materials for pre-kindergarten systems.
  • Recommends changing language to maintain high standard regarding disabilities.
• This proclamation gives publishers the guidelines.

Rowley moves to adopt the motion of Item 6.

Motion for Item 5 is adopted.

 

Item 7 Approval of Nominees to Recommend to the Governor for Appointment on the Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Corpus, Mr. Valencia, and Nellie Williams Ingram are the three nominees that should be sent to the Governor.
• Davis should be able to receive another term.

Motion adopted.

 

Item 8 One-Time Procedural Action to Correct the Effective Date of the Proposed Repeal of 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with an Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits

• Rowley moves to adopt Item 8.
• Technical improvements
  • This action would move up the effective date of the repeal of Chapter 118.

Motion adopted.

 

Item 10 Update on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review

• Applications were handed out to the board.
• Scheduling a meeting with stakeholders.
• The content advisors must meet to discuss recommendations then they must meet with a portion of work group A.
• There are several bills that requires the committee to act.
• The report is present on the website.

 

Item 11 Discussion of Pending Litigation- Not discussed

Meeting Adjourned.