El Paso ISD Lays Off 116 Staff

By the numbers, the El Paso ISD layoffs:

• cuts $5.6 million 
• eliminates Language Proficiency Assessment clerks (I read elsewhere, at a link I can't put my hands on, the district will be automating some of their functions - ???)
• cuts 26 at-risk positions
• cuts 28 central office staff

The district may also use $9.9 million of their fund balance to deal with the dramatic loss in funding from the State to balance next year's budget.

There are over 62,000 students in EPISD, with 70% being economically disadvantaged, and 30% are Limited English Proficient. 62% of their students are at risk. 7% are from military families and 4% are immigrants.

Keller ISD Lays Off 200 in Round 1. Round 2 of Layoffs to Follow

Keller ISD, a TEA recognized district in Tarrant County, recently laid off 200 teachers and staff with more cuts coming in Round 2.

From wfaa.com:

Keller ISD Superintendent Dr. James R. Veitenheimer said 90 percent of this second phase involve people. That means many more teachers and other district employees — from custodians to the chief financial officer — will likely lose their jobs. 

Among the cuts being considered: Leadership positions, including 12 teachers, 8 counselors, 10 administrators and 41 paraprofessionals. That will save the district $7.3 million. 

The board will also discuss eliminating a big hunk of its school bus transportation. That would impact 8,900 students who currently travel on school buses to and from class.
Before the board meeting ended Monday night, administrators detailed their new plan for more teacher layoffs, including 12 positions from elementary schools, two from middle schools and 57 from high schools. 

They also announced that only 58 teachers have elected to take a $2,500 incentive being offered to those who resign voluntarily.

The district is in a wealthy suburb, so it will be interesting to see how parents react. The district is fast growing, with about 2000 new students each year. There are five high schools, six middle schools, six intermediate schools and 22 elementary schools.

Plano ISD Lays Off 344 Employees

Tuesday night's Plano ISD Board meeting resulted in these cuts, by the numbers:

• 5% of staff
• 344 total employees
• 233 teachers
• 101 elementary teachers
• support services - libraries, counseling and multilingual programs
• $26 million in total cuts
• $12 million in cuts of teachers
• $3.5 million in facility services (custodians)
• $3 million in after school programs and tutorials
• 6% of operating budget cut

Plano ISD has 70 schools, nearly 27,000 students and 6800 employees.

From Richard Matkin, associate superintendent for business services:

"We didn't understand the State's position that you can do cuts outside of the classroom. "It's the only place to go when you're looking at the kind of cuts the state is going to implement."

This would be in response to Governor Perry's commentary:

"The nonteaching core would be the first place I would look if there are going to be reductions." 

The first place I would look is for Governor Perry to accept the reality of what is going on with massive teacher and support staff layoffs all across the state. 

Fort Bend ISD School Board Candidate Forum on Thursday

What: Fort Bend Employee Federation hosts a FBISD school board candidate forum

When: Thursday, March 31, 7 PM

Where: Sugar Land Marriott Conference Center, 16090 City Walk in Sugar Land Town Square

Candidates:

West Side Position 1 - Sue Hohnbaum (incumbent), Wade Watassek

At Large Position 1 - Daniel Menendez (incumbent), Bruce Albright, Kevin Daniels, Rodrigo Carreon

East Side Position 5 - Patsy Taylor, Jonita Reynolds

School board members are elected for three year rotating terms. All voters in Fort Bend ISD vote for for all positions and all board members serve all residents of FBISD. The West and East designations for positions indicate that candidates must reside in those areas.

The election is on May 14th. Early voting begins May 2nd. Polling locations at this link.

Magnolia ISD Lays Off 115 Teachers and Staff

Magnolia ISD (in Montgomery County, next to the Woodlands) with a motto of "dedicated to being the best school district in Texas,"laid off 115 teachers and staff on Wednesday, and might not fill another 64 positions where staff is retiring or resigning. That's a total of 179 position lost. The district has two high schools, two junior highs, two 6th grade schools and eight elementary schools. It became a recognized school district for the first time in 2010.

Included in the layoffs are 55 probationary (first year) teachers, 51 support staff and nine central office staff.

Parent reaction:

"I just hate to hear that all these budget cuts are going to have to happen and we’re losing all these teachers," said parent Tara Carpenter, who has two children in Magnolia ISD schools. "It seems like they barely have enough teachers as it is and they’re going to cut them even more?" 

"Above everything education should be number one, period," added parent Stacy Gross. "I don’t agree with cutting back on education at all." 

"I’m worried about the quality of education my kids are going to get now," said Carpenter.

From the Magnolia ISD board president:

"It is a dark day in Texas, and I fear we are witnessing the systematic dismantling of public education as we've known," said Cecil Bell, school board president.

MISD employees 1700 staff.

Austin ISD School Board Votes to Lay Off 792 Staff

I watched most of the Austin ISD board meeting last night online, where they voted to lay off 792 staff, including 500 teachers and administrators. What made the cuts unusual is that the board voted to break contracts. What is typically happening around the state is that districts are letting people on probationary contracts go, in other words, mostly first year teachers and administrators. The AISD board felt it was more strategic to make cuts where they wanted, not just to new employees.

It was painful to watch the public commentary of the band teacher whose job is cut - and his wife's job in AISD is on the chopping block, and they are expecting a child. Students begged the board not to cut their German program.

The board is also taking a one time $43 million withdrawal from their fund balance, a move that many other school districts are doing, which begs the question, how are they going to balance their budgets for the 2012-2013 school year without many more layoffs and cuts in programs?

Note that there was discussion last night from the community and from board members, to consider raising property taxes to get more revenue in, which would require a public vote.

You can read more about the AISD cuts here and here.

Dallas ISD: How Many Teachers Will Be Cut?

Dallas ISD is expecting a $150 million reduction in funding from the State, and this is with the Lege tapping the Rainy Day Fund. Here's what the district is looking to cut:

• 1700 employees - 12.8% of teachers and 26% of administrators
• furlough days
• reduced salaries
• increased class sizes

700 district personnel took advantage of an offer 0f $10,000 to voluntarily resign. This included 51 special ed teachers, 41 math teachers, 50 science teachers and 18 principals. 40% of the teachers who agreed to leave had been teaching over 30 years.

The district is considering doing a second round of buyouts to teachers, and including other staff such as custodians.

There is a mid-April deadline for notifying contract employees of their employment status for the next school year, so the extent of the layoffs in DISD will be known very soon.

Dewhurst Intends to Increase Education Spending

The Dew was speaking at a legislative conference in New Braunfels on Friday, and said this:

"We can still fund education, the Foundation School Program . . . at the same appropriated level we're funding right this second, actually higher." 

Note that he said "the Foundation School Program," with no mention of all of the discretionary grant programs that have been benefiting Texas public schools, such as the pre-K program, technology grants, monies for new science labs, Student Success Initiatives, teen parenting programs, etc.

Dewhurst is hunting for $5 billion in non-tax revenue, by possibly selling state lands and making more money from investments. At the Friday conference, Democratic Senator Leticia Van de Putte called Dewhurst her "number one magician." My questions are:

Is the Lt. Governor going to implement more tax swaps and lay more fees on taxpayers, yet again tricking Republican voters into thinking they have not been taxed?

If there is a way to manipulate investments to bring in $5 billion in revenues, what have we been waiting around for? Why hasn't that already been done during Dewhurst's 8-year stent as Texas' lieutenant governor?

Round Rock ISD Lays Off 235 Teachers

There is a 45-day out law about school districts notifying employees of their employment status for the following year, so we will hear about many layoffs over the next couple of weeks. Below is Round Rock ISD's statement about their layoffs and restructuring.

Summary of RRISD's cuts:
Planning on $60 million loss in State funding
Using $25 million from district's fund balance
Cutting 235 probationary, first year teachers
Cutting 19 instructional support positions (also under probationary contracts)
Cutting 5 central office instructional support positions (also under probationary contracts)
Cutting 22 campus instructional support positions (also under probationary contracts)
Cut 100 other contract positions, but found other places for them
70 other central office staff not under contract will be laid off, and that number might increase
The number of days employees who work over 187 days will be cut

About Round Rock ISD:
45,000 students
5 high schools
10 middle schools
35 elementary schools
enrollment grows by 1200 students per year
77 languages spoken by students
9% African American
11.2% Asian
30.1% Hispanic
45.1% White
.5% Native American
.1% Pacific Islander

District release:

District begins notifying employees of job loss

Posted Date: 3/25/2011

Round Rock ISD has begun the process of notifying contracted employees of their job status for the 2011-2012 school year. Due to the state budget deficit, Round Rock ISD is preparing for a $60 million reduction in state funding. Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees are committed to using $25 million from the district’s fund balance to help lessen the impact of the 2011-2012 budget deficit.

Currently districts must notify contracted employees 45 days prior to the last day of instruction regarding their employment status for the following school year. Due to law requirements, today the district will begin the process of notifying teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses and campus administrators regarding their job loss.

“This is a very difficult time for our district and it weighs heavily on my heart to lose hundreds of excellent employees,” Superintendent Dr. Jesús. H. Chávez said. “We are optimistic that the state’s budget situation will improve and we will be able to rehire some of the employees we have to let go.”

The district will notify approximately 280 probationary employees that their contract will be recommended for termination during a called board meeting in April:

• 234 probationary classroom teachers (Includes employees who have daily contact with the same group of students, such as core-content, elective and certain special education teachers. Reductions obtained by adjusting the student-teacher ratio.)
• 19 instructional support/enrichment positions (Includes employees who enhance or support the education of students, such as interventionists, dyslexia teachers, talented and gifted teachers and teachers that support special education students.)
• 5 central office instructional support positions (Includes employees who work directly with teachers to enhance the instruction provided to students, such as instructional technology specialists and instructional coaches.)
• 22 campus support positions (Includes employees who assist in the daily operation of campuses, such as counselors, nurses and assistant principals.)

The district has been successful in finding new positions for approximately 100 other contracted employees whose positions are slated for elimination. The district has been unable to absorb the additional 280 employees whose positions are being recommended for termination. Round Rock ISD remains positive and hopes to rehire a portion of the probationary employees being notified of contract termination.

“The elimination of 280 probationary employees takes into account the worst-case budget scenario for Round Rock ISD. As additional dollars become available we will direct the dollars to positions that have a direct positive impact on our students.” said Chávez.

The district has also identified approximately 70 central office and auxiliary employees who will be laid off; however, this number may increase as the district works through the budget process. It’s important to note, that unlike other districts, Round Rock ISD does not provide contracts to central office employees and they are considered at-will. Since these employees are not under contract the district will notify them at a later date, once the information has been finalized. The central office reductions cover all levels of employees, from assistant superintendent; director; coordinator; specialist; and many other hourly support staff, while impacting all departments and programs. We remain committed to cutting a higher percentage from areas outside of the general classroom.

In other cost-saving measures the district plans to reduce the number of work days for employees who work more than 187 days, and some programs will be restructured.

NOTE: Round Rock ISD is represented by these Texas State Legislators. Call them to express your concerns about cuts in staff and programs:

State Representatives

Rep. Charles Schwertner, District 20(512) 463-0309
Email

Rep. Larry Gonzales, District 52(512) 463-0670
Email 

Rep. Mark Strama, District 50
Room E2.510, Capitol Extension, Austin, TX 78701(512) 463-0821
Email | Website

---

State Senators

Hon. Steve Ogden, District 5
(512) 828-5224
Email | Website

Hon. Kirk Watson, District 14(512) 463-0114
Email | Website

Vigil for Texas House Bill 1

I got this from Texas Impact, a statewide religious grassroots network that advocates for people to advocate with their legislators on specific issues related to social justice:

What: The Texas House begins deliberation on the budget, House Bill 1, on Friday, April Fools Day
When: Friday, April 1st, noon to midnight
Where: Texas Capitol


Don’t let politicians in Austin make an April Fool out of Texas! The House has chosen April 1st for their floor debate on the proposed state budget, but there's nothing funny about this budget. Rally at the Capitol and hold lawmakers accountable. Visit http://texasimpact.org/ for more information.

A Few Highlights from House Bill 1:
• closes schools…
• hikes college tuition…
• eliminates pre-K programs…
• leaves senior citizens homeless…
• devastates community-based services for people with disabilities…

…and ultimately will leave 335,000 Texans jobless—reversing our state’s fragile economic recovery.

Join people like you who care about the future of Texas for a vigil to preserve our state. From noon on Friday until the budget is either passed or defeated, come rally with your fellow Texans for:

• Regular updates from the floor on which Texas priorities survived the cuts
• Teach-ins explaining how the budget will wreck Texas' future
• Prayer vigil in the House Chapel, and Nightlight Vigil on the South Steps
• Musical performances by local artists
• Funeral for all the programs and services the budget would cut

It’s time to draw a line in the sand. The message is simple: Vote NO on HB 1, and get to work crafting a plan that reflects Texans’ priorities.

Debate is expected to extend well into the night.
Come early, stay late and wear black!

If you want to participate in the prayer vigil, sign up for a 20-minute time slot in the House Chapel by contacting Bee Moorhead at bee@texasimpact.org. 

Dear Texas 2021, Your Economy is in the Ditch and Your Children are Stupid

The Houston Chronicle is right.  The Texas "budget crunch must not be allowed to penalize an entire generation of young Texans." I'm glad this drumbeat has started, because this is the reality on the ground in Texas public schools - we are not just losing tens of thousands of young teachers who are getting laid off, but we are dooming an entire generation of kids to substandard public education. Once those kids go through grade level by grade level, they can't back track and make up the gaps and regain the knowledge and skills they need for college and career. Peer into your crystal ball and envision Texas in ten years with its economy drowning in ditch water and its children in last place on every educational measure.

I agree with all of this (bolding is mine):

In a single-minded drive to balance the state budget without creating additional revenue sources, the state legislative leadership appears willing to sacrifice an entire generation of middle- and lower-income Lone Star children and young adults. 

While they justify these draconian funding cuts in essential health, education and social service programs as necessary to protect future generations, in fact they are putting present political considerations ahead of the children of today, the workers and leaders of tomorrow and the very future of Texas. 

We are compelled to speak out on behalf of those too young to participate in the debates in Austin that will impact their well-being — and ours - for decades to come. We believe the majority of Texans understand the value of healthy and well educated children, and would respond to farsighted leadership that makes children's issues the real "emergency" of the current session.

But, Houston Chronicle, we have a problem. The only way to really solve the problem is to get different people in the Legislature, and your editorial board has endorsed some of the lawmakers who are responsible for the structural deficit that has led to "these draconian funding cuts."

For example, in 2008 the Chronicle endorsed Republicans John Davis (HD129) and Dwayne Bohac (HD138).  In 2010, the Chron endorsed Bohac again, as well as Ken Legler (HD144).

Legler, in particular, has distinguished himself this session by introducing a bill to require the 100,000 teachers who get laid off to pass a drug test in order to get unemployment benefits. This is what he is worried about, instead of a strong public education system that implements a rigorous and relevant curriculum that prepares students for careers or college.

What concerns me, is that we won't be able to correct the harm this Legislature will inflict on Texas children until we vote in new Texas House and Senate members in November 2012.

Five Weeks to TAKS

April TAKS testing begins five weeks from today. My eye is on the Science TAKS, which will be administered on Thursday, April 28th to 5th, 8th, 10th and 11th graders. That same week, students in various grades (3rd through 11th) will take Math, Reading and Social Studies TAKS. The accountability ratings schools get this year will last for two years, while the state devises a new accountability system to go along with the new, more rigorous STAAR testing program.  As you can imagine, schools have their total focus on TAKS right now, implementing all sort of interventions, remediations and TAKS prep to get more kids than ever before passing their TAKS tests and school accountability ratings up as high as possible.

I say total focus . . . you and I both know that teachers will be getting pink slips as reductions in force go into effect and positions are eliminated over the next month. TAKS time is always very stressful, with a lot of time put on the job, lots of data analysis, and very focused work with struggling students. We'll be doing it this year with as many as one in four teachers knowing they are about to be unemployed. We'll be doing it knowing our class loads will increase next year. We'll be doing it knowing we will have less support next year.

But, as always, kids will be our number one concern. This video pretty much sums up what that is all about:



Please support equitable and fully funded education in Texas. Our kids need all of us.

Gutting Educational Service Centers a Bad Idea

I watched the end of last Thursday's Senate Subcommittee Meeting on Public Education Funding (archived video here), and was alarmed at the committee's intent to gut funding for regional Education Service Centers. The part I watched had Senator Florence Shapiro interacting with TEA Commissioner Robert Scott, questioning the State's direct funding of the ESC's, specifically $40 million from the State's budget.

Shapiro certainly seemed to indicate that some ESC's should be shuttered, except those that generate their own revenue, such as Houston's Region 4 ESC (and as reward for their entrepreneurial activities, their State funding would go away, as well.)

The purpose and establishment of the ESC's, from the Texas Education Code:

§ 8.002. PURPOSE. Regional education service centers shall: (1) assist school districts in improving student performance in each region of the system; (2) enable school districts to operate more efficiently and economically; and (3) implement initiatives assigned by the legislature or the commissioner. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 268, § 1, eff. May 26, 1997.

§ 8.001. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The commissioner shall provide for the establishment and operation of not more than 20 regional education service centers. (b) Regional education service centers shall be located throughout the state so that each school district has the opportunity to be served by and to participate, on a voluntary basis, in a center that meets the accountability standards established by the commissioner. (c) The commissioner may decide any matter concerning the operation or administration of the regional education service centers, including: (1) the number and location of centers; (2) the regional boundaries of centers; and (3) the allocation among centers of state and federal funds administered by the agency. (d) This chapter does not: (1) limit a school district's freedom to purchase services from any regional education service center; or (2) require a school district to purchase services from a regional education service center. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 268, § 1, eff. May 26, 1997.

This certainly makes it clear that TEA Commissioner Robert Scott has control over the number of ESC's as well as the flow of money to them. ESC's are required by law to assist school districts in implementing Legislative initiatives, improving student performance and operating more efficiently.

So, what do ESC's actually do, using State monies? As one example, for rural and small school districts, they greatly supplement activities such as training teachers and administrators on curriculum, accountability and data management systems, functions that, in a large school district, are provided by central office support staff. These activities are ongoing and critical for the efficient operation of school districts and for student success. I wrote about the need for this type of support in my post, Why Schools Need More Support Staff, Not Less.

Over the weekend, I heard from educator friends in large school districts around Texas, that they have been notified that they need to be prepared for whole curriculum departments at the district level to go away, including those for core subjects - science, math, ELA and social studies. Individual schools and districts are going to need to go somewhere for curriculum support, and they are probably assuming the ESC's will provide that.

It sounds to me like some school districts are taking Governor Perry's advice to cut administrative support before cutting classroom teachers. Gutting the regional Education Service Centers, while at the same time requiring school districts to drastically cut their budgets, should raise red flags with any thinking person who has even a rudimentary understanding of how public schools function. Without support from somewhere, we are dooming teachers to many fewer resources as they implement new science curriculum (and new social studies curriculum this fall and new math curriculum next fall), get high school students ready for end of course exams, and get elementary and middle school students prepared for the new STAAR tests.

Legislators need to think this all the way through to the end point of how real students, sitting in real classrooms, are going to be successful if too many parts of the current structural support to schools is eliminated.

Why Schools Need More Support Staff, Not Less

Continually lost in the news from Austin about draconian cuts to education, is a perspective of reality on the ground. I'll provide one example of how support staff works in an actual school district. By support staff, I mean the folks who some Republicans (aka Rick Perry and team) disparage as non-teaching and non-essential. Specifically, these are the support staff at the campus and district levels, as well as at the regional Education Service Centers (who are particularly important to small and rural school districts.)

The SBOE, in all of it's partisan glory, enacted new Science TEKS that we are implementing this school year for grades K-12. The new high school Science TEKS not only have creationist language injected into them (Biology, specifically), but are considerably more rigorous. In the case of Chemistry, we are teaching a lot of material that we have not previously been required to teach. We have a perfect storm brewing with many of our high school science teachers being composite certified, meaning they passed a test that had Bio, Chem and Physics content, but may not be specialists in any one of those subjects. A chemistry teacher in a typical Texas high school might only have a minimal amount of college chemistry. Another part of the perfect storm results from the infinite wisdom and expertise of Texas legislators who decided it was a great idea to require twelve end of course exams as a condition of high school graduation. And, we are implementing the new science TEKS without new instructional materials. How that particular piece is allowable by law, I do not know.

For Chemistry, the entirety of our assessed curriculum for the Science Exit TAKS has been this (7 concepts):

 (7) Science Concepts. The student knows relationships exist between properties of matter and its components. The student is expected to
(A) investigate and identify properties of fluids including density, viscosity, and buoyancy; and
(D) relate the chemical behavior of an element including bonding, to its placement on the periodic table. 

(8) Science Concepts. The student knows that changes in matter affect everyday life. The student is expected to
(A) distinguish between physical and chemical changes in matter such as oxidation, digestion, changes in states, and stages in the rock cycle; and
(C) investigate and identify the law of conservation of mass. 

(9) Science Concepts. The student knows how solution chemistry is a part of everyday life. The student is expected to
(A) relate the structure of water to its function [as the universal solvent];
(B) relate the concentration of ions in a solution to physical and chemical properties such as pH, electrolytic behavior, and reactivity; and
(D) demonstrate how various factors influence solubility including temperature, pressure, and nature of the solute and solvent.

Under the end of course exam program, this is the tested curriculum for Chemistry (24 concepts):

STAAR Chemistry Assessment
Reporting Category 1: Matter and the Periodic Table
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the properties of matter and the periodic table.

Science concepts. The student knows the characteristics of matter and can analyze the relationships between chemical and physical changes and properties. The student is expected to
(A) differentiate between physical and chemical changes and properties; Readiness Standard  

(B) identify extensive and intensive properties;Supporting Standard 

(C) compare solids, liquids, and gases in terms of compressibility, structure, shape, and volume; and Supporting Standard(D) classify matter as pure substances or mixtures through investigation of their properties. Readiness Standard 

Science concepts. The student understands the historical development of the Periodic Table and can apply its predictive power. The student is expected to
(A)explain the use of chemical and physical properties in the historical development of the Periodic Table; Supporting Standard 

(B)use the Periodic Table to identify and explain the properties of chemical families, including alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, halogens, noble gases, and transition metals; and Readiness Standard 

(C)use the Periodic Table to identify and explain periodic trends, including atomic and ionic radii, electronegativity, and ionization energy. Readiness Standard 

Atomic Structure and Nuclear Chemistry
The student will demonstrate an understanding of atomic theory and nuclear chemistry.
Science concepts. The student knows and understands the historical development of atomic theory. The student is expected to
(A) understand the experimental design and conclusions used in the development of modern atomic theory, including Dalton’s Postulates, Thomson’s discovery of electron properties, Rutherford’s nuclear atom, and Bohr’s nuclear atom; Supporting Standard 

(B) understand the electromagnetic spectrum and the mathematical relationships between energy, frequency, and wavelength of light; Supporting Standard 

(C) calculate the wavelength, frequency, and energy of light using Planck’s constant and the speed of light; Supporting Standard 

(D) use isotopic composition to calculate average atomic mass of an element; and Supporting Standard 

(E) express the arrangement of electrons in atoms through electron configurations and Lewis valence electron dot structures. Readiness Standard 

Science concepts. The student understands the basic processes of nuclear chemistry. The student is expected to
(A) describe the characteristics of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation;
Supporting Standard 

(B) describe radioactive decay process in terms of balanced nuclear equations; and Readiness Standard 

(C) compare fission and fusion reactions.
Supporting StandardTexas Education Agency Student Assessment Division Fall 2010
Reporting Category 3: Bonding and Chemical Reactions
The student will demonstrate an understanding of how atoms form bonds and can qualify the changes that occur during chemical reactions.

Science concepts. The student knows how atoms form ionic, metallic, and covalent bonds. The student is expected to
(A) name ionic compounds containing main group or transition metals, covalent compounds, acids, and bases, using International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature rules; Readiness Standard 

(B) write the chemical formulas of common polyatomic ions, ionic compounds containing main group or transition metals, covalent compounds, acids, and bases; Readiness Standard 

(C) construct electron dot formulas to illustrate ionic and covalent bonds; Readiness Standard 

(D) describe the nature of metallic bonding and apply the theory to explain metallic properties such as thermal and electrical conductivity, malleability, and ductility; and Supporting Standard 

(E) predict molecular structure for molecules with linear, trigonal planar, or tetrahedral electron pair geometries using Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory. Supporting Standard 

Science concepts. The student can quantify the changes that occur during chemical reactions. The student is expected to
(A) define and use the concept of a mole;
Supporting Standard 

(B)use the mole concept to calculate the number of atoms, ions, or molecules in a sample of material; Readiness Standard 

(C)calculate percent composition and empirical and molecular formulas; Supporting Standard 

(D)use the law of conservation of mass to write and balance chemical equations; and Readiness Standard 

(E)perform stoichiometric calculations, including determination of mass relationships between reactants and products, calculation of limiting reagents, and percent yield. Supporting Standard

Formerly our "formula chart" that students used as reference material when taking the Science Exit TAKS was:

Note that only one formula for Chemistry was on the chart - the formula for density.

This is the "formula chart" or reference material students will use when taking their Chemistry End of Course STAAR exam, beginning next school year with incoming 9th graders (most of whom will take Chemistry in the 2012-2013 school year):

It's impossible for anyone - including state legislators - to miss that our new high school Chemistry course increases the level of rigor considerably over our previous Chemistry course. 

So, here's my central point: Teachers are in the classroom doing what they do best - teaching students. They are supported by curriculum specialists and professional development staff at central office who are toiling away already - very long days and very long weekends - finding or creating instructional materials that align with these new TEKS (since the state has not provided new textbooks or any other instructional materials that support them), creating common assessments that are implemented frequently to figure out whether the new curriculum is actually being taught and if students are learning it, and creating and implementing training for teachers on the new content (see my above point on composite certified teachers not necessarily knowing their chemistry to the depth and breadth required by the new TEKS.) This effort goes into super high gear next year, as our 9th graders start taking their end of course exams in Biology, World Geography, Algebra 1 and English 1.

I've given the example of one subject in one content area at the high school level. The same is true for all grade levels and all content areas, since all are affected by the new STAAR testing system and all grade levels are affected by the new Science TEKS. The new Social Studies TEKS get implemented next school year, with new Math TEKS to follow in all grade levels in 2012-2013.

I will add one more need we have for more support staff - large high schools typically have one testing coordinator for the entire campus, and one counselor for each grade level implementing and monitoring student progress on TAKS test, district benchmark exams, AP tests, etc. With the significantly increased testing  burden on Texas high schools beginning next year, it's going to be impossible to implement STAAR and track student progress towards graduation without more support staff.

I can only guess that Republicans in the Texas Legislature expect teachers to pick up the load on creating their own new instructional materials, figuring out how to get their own professional development on the new Science TEKS in their spare time, tracking who passed and who failed each of the twelve new high school end of course exams, and designing and implementing remedial instruction for students who fail their high stakes tests required for graduation.

Basically, all of that cannot and should not be done by teachers. We cannot do with less support staff and meet the requirements put on us by the Texas Legislature and the State Board of Education.

The folks in Austin need to focus on reality and provide solutions that ensure student success with the new, more rigorous curriculum and testing that they imposed on Texas schools.

Bad Timing for Texas Teachers

I just sat in on the end of today's House Appropriations Committee
hearing, where Chair Jim Pitts called everyone in Governor Perry's
budget office in an attempt to get someone on the record that he would
use the Rainy Day Fund.

No one answered their phone.

Pitts said the House budget bill - HB1 -would go to print tomorrow. It
will be voted out of committee at the end of next week, then go back
to print. It will go to the full House at the end of March for debate.

Note the bad timing for Texas teachers, many of whom will get pink
slips next week when they return from spring break.

Texas teachers are rallying. The situation is dire. And, the
Governor's staff won't answer their phones.

Sent from my iPhone

Concerned White Men in Suits Invade Texas Capitol

Today, thousands more Texas teachers rallied to save public education.
Today's crowd plus Saturday's Save Texas Schools rally crowd easily
totaled 15,000.

I'm on the ground at the Capitol, and the educators are competing with
hundreds of middle aged white men in suits.

I caught one of them conversing with a legislator in the Annex about
how the session is interfering with hunting season.

These men in suits are surely lobbyists. There's a bunch of them here
today, rallying to Save Special Interests.

Teachers in AFT t-shirts are here giving them a run for their money.

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School Budget Cuts: Pflugerville ISD

I ran across a potential budget cut list from Pflugerville ISD with lots of details. Click here to view the document.

Some items that caught my attention:

• Reduce budget by $1.8 million by moving high school to a block schedule and increasing class size to 30 students (cuts 36 teachers)
• Eliminate one athletic coordinator at each high school, reducing budget by $150,000
• Move middle school to a six period day and have a teacher to student ration of 1:28, eliminating 25 teachers and reducing budget by $1.25 million
• Eliminate 10 elementary school teachers and increase class size at all grades, reducing budget by $500,000
• Outsource grounds and custodial staff, for a budget reduction of $1.5 million 
• Eliminate assistant directors of human resources and special education, reducing budget by $150,00
• Eliminate one assistant superintendent position, reducing budget by $110,000
• Eliminate multiple technology positions

Possible sources of new revenue: increase average daily attendance, increase enrollment in career and technology education programs, operate an after school childcare program at elementary schools.

The full list is worth a look, to get an idea of how every school district in Texas is looking at drastically reducing their budget.