Science Update

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Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in
Science and Mathematics Teaching Thirteenth
Annual Meeting June 27-29, 2007 Hilton Austin
Airport Hotel Austin, Texas
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Science Update
This presentation is available online
at www.theTRC.org

• Discussion Items
• Curriculum Update
• TEKS Revision
• Graduation Requirements
• Assessment Update
• SB 1031
• Statewide Science TAKS Results
• Resources
• Contact Info

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Science TEKS Review Process

• The State Board of Education (SBOE) oversees all
  aspects of the TEKS, including refinements/revisio
  ns
• Spring/Summer 2007
• The science review process will begin this fall
  following the same process that occurred with the
  mathematics and ELA/R TEKS.
• SBOE members will nominate educators to serve on
  work group committees.

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Science TEKS Projected Timeline

• September/October 2007
• SBOE work group members will convene in Austin to
  review content of science TEKS
• Fall 2008
• Recommendations by the work group will be posted
  in an online survey format.
• Feedback from the field will be solicited via
  listservs for public input, conference
  presentations, professional organization
  newsletters, education service center
  representatives, etc.

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SBOE Nominated Work Groups

• Work group members to convene to make content
  recommendations for refinement alignment
• Grades K-5 work group members to meet in Austin
• Grades 6-12 work group members will meet in
  Austin
• Grades K-12 work group vertical alignment meeting
  via TETN conferences

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Proposed SBOE timeline for revision process
Science TEKS

• Fall 2007 workgroups will convene in Austin
• Spring 2008 National content expert review
• Fall 2008 Science TEKS revisions adopted
• 2008 2009 professional development
• 2009 2010 revised TEKS implementation

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Old and New RHSP- Science

• Old 3 credits,
• one of which must be Biology (and /or AP/IB)
• two of which are selected from
• IPC
• Chemistry, IB or AP Chemistry
• Physics, AP or IB Physics, or Principles of
  Technology I

• New 4 credits,
• One of which must be Biology (and /or AP/IB
  Biology)
• Three of which are selected from a list of
  options that will include IPC until SY 2011-2012

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DAP- Old and New

• Old
• 3 credits of science. One credit must be a
  biology credit (Biology, Advanced Placement (AP)
  Biology, or International Baccalaureate (IB)
  Biology). Students must choose the remaining two
  credits from the following areas. Not more than
  one credit may be chosen from each of the areas
  to satisfy this requirement. Students on the
  Recommended High School Program are encouraged to
  take courses in biology, chemistry, and physics
  to complete the science requirements.
• Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC)
• Chemistry, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry and
• Physics, Principles of Technology I, AP Physics,
  or IB Physics.

• New
• 4 credits of science, which must consist of a
  biology credit (Biology, Advanced Placement (AP)
  Biology, or International Baccalaureate (IB)
  Biology), a chemistry credit (Chemistry, AP
  Chemistry, or IB Chemistry), a physics credit
  (Physics, AP Physics, or IB Physics), and an
  additional approved laboratory-based science
  course . (Note the deletion of Principles of
  Technology here). After successful completion of
  a biology course, a chemistry course, and a
  physics course, a student may select the fourth
  required credit from any of the following
  lab-based courses

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What does the phase-out of IPC mean?

• IPC will no longer satisfy the science
  requirements in the RHSP after school year
  2011-2012
• Students on the RHSP and DAP could continue to
  take the course for state elective credit
• As of now, it remains an option for students on
  the Minimum Plan
• IPC will no longer satisfy the science
  requirements in the DAP, effective SY 2007-2008
  no phase-out
• At this time, no EOC is being developed for IPC

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New RHSP- Science

• When IPC is phased out, all students must select
• One credit from Biology, AP or IB Biology
• Two credits from
• Chemistry, IB or AP Chemistry
• Physics, AP or IB Physics, or Principles of
  Technology I
• A fourth credit from the following list

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RHSP- Science, 4th yr

• Newly named SBOE courses with a prerequisite of
  Biology, Chemistry and Physics
• Earth and Space Science which will replace GMO
• Engineering
• The SBOE has directed the TEA to write new TEKS
  for these courses. The TEKS writing process for
  these courses will begin this fall.

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RHSP- Science, 4th yr

• Fourth Year Science Credit Courses
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Astronomy
• Aquatic Science
• Environmental Systems

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RHSP- Science, 4th yr

• Also fourth year credit courses include
• Advanced Placement Biology
• Advanced Placement Chemistry
• Advanced Placement Physics
• Advanced Placement Environmental Science
• Dual Credit college science courses

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RHSP- Science, 4th yr

• Also, fourth year science credit courses will
  include
• International Baccalaureate Biology
• International Baccalaureate Chemistry
• International Baccalaureate Physics
• International Baccalaureate Environmental Systems
  

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RHSP- Science, 4th yr

• The following health science technology
  education courses
• Scientific Research and Design
• Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems
• Medical Microbiology and Pathophysiology
• The following technology education/industrial
  technology education courses
• Principles of Technology

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Should IPC be taught in Grade 8?

• This is a local decision, however,
• Most experts agree that this may negatively
  impact Grade 8 Science TAKS scores and the earth
  science objective in particular.
•  
• 6-8th grade TEKS include foundational concepts
  presented in various contexts to assure literacy
  of those concepts.
• Thus, compressing the science TEKS into two years
  is not recommended. 

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Policy Implications High School

• Grades 9-12 minimum of 40 of instructional
  time spent on lab and field investigations
• Safety in the labs should be paramount
• Crowding of students in science is dangerous!
• Science safety training is crucial.
• Plan for more students taking more science.

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The Burning Question Whats the Best Course
Sequence for Science?

• For all graduation plans, students are encouraged
  to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics by the
  State Board of Education.
• Students who take the Biology, Chemistry, and
  Physics sequence perform better on SAT and ACT
  college entrance tests according to college
  entrance data.
• Students who take the Biology, Chemistry, and
  Physics sequence are better prepared for college
  work.
• Some schools are considering the Physics First
  approach.
• Many schools are considering the conceptual
  approach to teaching of Physics andChemistry

Chris Comer
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Conceptual Resources

• The state of Texas has adopted textbooks and
  instructional materials for conceptual approaches
  to chemistry and physics and many schools have
  adopted these materials.
• Conceptual Chemistry adopted instructional
  materials1. Chemistry in the Community by
  Bedford, Freeman Worth2. Chemistry Concepts
  and Applications by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill3.
  Chemistry Applied and Descriptive by J.M. LeBel
  Enterprises

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Conceptual Resources

• Conceptual Physics adopted instructional
  materials1. Conceptual Physics by Prentice
  Hall2. Physics Systems and Applications by
  J.M. LeBel Enterprises
• Some schools also use3. Cambridge Physics
  Outlet (CPO) ScienceAdopted for Physics.

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SB 1031EOC Assessments
Phase-out high school TAKS and replace it with
EOC assessments in Algebra I, Algebra II, and
Geometry English I, English II, and English
III Biology, Chemistry, and Physics U.S. History,
World History, and World Geography Freshman
class of 2011-2012 is first group to have EOC as
graduation requirement To graduate, students
must attain Cumulative score 70n n number of
EOC assessments taken in each subject
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SB 1031EOC Assessments

• Students must score at least 60 in order for it
  to count towards their cumulative score
• Students scoring below 60 shall retake the
  assessment each time it is administered
• Students scoring below 70 will receive
  accelerated instruction
• Any other student may retake an EOC assessment
  for any reason.

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SB 1031EOC Assessments

• A students score on an EOC assessment shall be
  worth 15 of the students final grade for that
  course
• A school district is not required to use the
  students score on subsequent administrations to
  determine the students final grade for that
  course
• A student is not required to retake a course as a
  condition of retaking an EOC assessment

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SB 1031General Information

• Allows the agency to release assessment questions
  every third year
• Requires all assessments (grades 3-12) to be
  developed in a manner that allows a measure of
  annual student improvement
• Requires a vertical scale in grades 3-8 for
  mathematics and reading starting with the
  2008-2009 school year
• Prohibits schools from spending more than 10 of
  the instructional year administering
  district-required tests

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SB 1031General Information

• Establishes a committee to review the
  accountability system and make recommendations to
  the legislature
• Requires the agency to conduct a survey and
  prepare a report to determine the ability of
  school districts to administer assessment
  instruments by computer
• Requires assessment instruments, starting in
  2007-2008, to be administered at least two weeks
  later than the date on which they were
  administered in 2006-2007

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All Students 2006 (Percent)
TAKS Items Correct by Objectives
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Demographic Summary
2006 Grade 5 (Percent Items Correct)
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Demographic Summary
2006 TAKS Grade 8 (Percent Items Correct)
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Demographic Summary
2006 TAKS Grade 10 (Percent Items Correct)
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Demographic Summary
TAKS Grade 11 (Percent Items Correct)
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Tips for Students and Teachers

• Hands on experiences are important
• The fifth grade science test covers TEKS from
  third and fourth grade. Instruction must cover
  the TEKS (especially the ones specified in the
  Information Booklet)
• Pay attention to units
• Using math skills in science
• Carefully reading the details of the item

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Physical Science Note

• 8th grade students did much better on Motion,
  Forces, and Energy than Structures and Properties
  of Matter
• Least variation in Asian Scores (7)
• Most variation in White Scores (15)
• Other groups had score variations of 12 or 13,
  including males, females, African Americans and
  Hispanics

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Life Science Note

• In 11th grade all student groups had average
  percent items correct about 10 points higher for
  Interdependence of Organisms and the Environment
  than for Organization of Living Systems

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http//k12testing.tx.ncspearson.com/AssessmentResu
lts/
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Committee Participation

• Committee member selection based upon
  demographics
• Recommendation forms available at
  http//www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/deve
  lop/recform.pdf

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Texas Science Diagnostic System (TSDS)
www.accesstsds.com

• Web-Based Diagnostic Assessment Tool Free to All
  Texas Public Charter Schools
• TAKS-based question banks grades elem-HS reviewed
  by TEA, teachers, experts
• Can be used to diagnose student Skills, Finding
  Knowledge Points of Departure, for tests,
  quizzes, and/or homework

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Science List Serve
www.tea.state.tx.us/list/
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Who To Contact
Curriculum Chris Castillo-Comer Director of
Science Chris.Comer_at_tea.state.tx.us Irene
Pickhardt Assistant Director Irene.Pickhardt_at_tea.
state.tx.us 512-463-9556
Assessment Cyndi Louden Science Assessment
Manager cyndi.louden_at_tea.state.tx.us
512-463-9556