Legislative Watch

1. Legislative Watch A presentation for the Texas Association of Supervisors of Mathematics By Dale Hunt February 19, 2010

2. Texas Legislation to watch Four regarding changing curriculum requirements for graduation programs Three regarding incentive programs for teaching in districts with shortages of math teachers One regarding an algebra readiness grant One regarding prepaid tuition as an incentive for disadvantaged students scoring commended One regarding the use of alternate assessments to measure student and district performance

3. Regarding changing curriculum requirements for graduation programs HB 2327 (Veasey) Allows districts to apply to SBOE for an alternate course to satisfy math or science requirements. HB 1216 (F. Brown) Creates graduation plan options for: Science & Math(4 Math & Science), Career & Tech(3 Math & Science), Humanities(3 Math & Science). HB 1102 (Vo) Creates graduation plan options for: Foundation Curriculum (4x4) or Career & Tech Curriculum (3 Math & Science). Includes option to substitute a C&T course for the 4th math or science. HB 2471 (Keffer) or SB 1955 (Hegar) Allows only the Recommended Program to include options for: Science & Math(4 Math & Science) or an �Opportunities� option(3 Math & Science). Includes option to substitute C&T course for the 4th math or science. None of these made it past stage 1 of 7

4. Regarding incentive programs for teaching in districts with shortages of math teachers HB 2773 (Eissler) or SB 816 (Patrick) Creates a conditional scholarship for students who accept a job in a district designated to have a shortage of math or science teachers. SB816 requires 4 years of employment. HB 2773 requires an additional 4 years that may be in another district. HB 2928 (D. Howard) Almost identical to SB816, but adds a GPA requirement of 3.0. HB 3463 (T. Smith) Creates a student loan repayment program for students who accept a job in a district with a shortage of math or science teacher. Requires 7 years of employment. None of these made it past stage 1 of 7

5. Regarding an algebra readiness grant SB 1576 (Shapiro) Establishes a grant for school districts to implement an algebra instruction program, including intervention plans for students who fail TAKS in grades 5 through 7. Designed to target students who will be taking the Algebra EOC. Made it through stage 4 of 7. Will have to be reintroduced. Rider 42 of SSI appropriated $50M for TEA to implement some of these plans. If introduced, new legislation would address the gaps that TEA does not implement through Rider 42.

6. Regarding prepaid tuition as an incentive for disadvantaged students scoring commended SB 2025 (Watson) Creates a list of Economically Disadvantaged students who perform Commended on the 7th Grade Math, Reading and Writing. Opens an account with the Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board and purchases 10 Type III tuition units for these students. Purchases additional tuition for continued performance. Made it through stage 3 of 7

7. Regarding the use of alternate assessments to measure student and district performance HB 3050 (Anchia) Charges TEA with selecting 6 school districts to pilot a project, where �alternate assessments� (short-answer, essay, performance, oral presentation, demonstration, experiment, exhibition) will be used, rather than TAKS multiple-choice tests. Student and district performance would be studies and reported to the governor to determine if the project should be expanded. Did not make it past stage 1 of 7

8. Federal Legislation to watch One regarding a tax credit incentive program for STEM teachers One regarding a STEM committee and a STEM office within the Department of Education One regarding the addition of science assessments and establishing math and science standards One regarding the elimination of yearly academic assessments

9. Regarding a tax credit incentive program for STEM teachers HR705 (Ehlers) and S2754 (Gillibrand) Amends the IRS code to allow tax credits up to $1000 for undergraduate tuition. HR705 referred to the House Ways & Means Committee S2754 referred to the Senate Finance Committee

10. Regarding a STEM committee and a STEM office within the Department of Education HR2710 (Honda) Requires the President to establish a STEM committee within the National Science & Technology Council, and establish an Office of STEM in the Department of Education. Other requirements include reviews of STEM education every 5 years and additional STEM grants. Has been referred to 6 committees, currently in the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

11. Regarding the addition of science assessments and establishing math and science standards HR2790 (Ehlers) and S1231 (Dodd) Adds science to the mandatory assessments in grades 4, 8 and 12. Also tasks the National Assessment Governing Board with creating standards in math and science K-12, reflecting knowledge needed to enter college or the global workforce. Offers grants to states who adopt such standards. HR2790 referred to the House Education and Labor Committee S1231 referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

12. Regarding the elimination of yearly academic assessments HR3384 (Baca) Eliminates the requirement that states conduct yearly student academic assessments in math, reading or language arts, and science, used in determining whether states or school districts are making adequate yearly progress (AYP). House Education and Labor committee referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

13. Important Dates February 22, 2010 111th U.S. Congress 2nd Session reconvenes November 8, 2010 Pre-filing of bills for the 82nd session of the Texas Legislature January 11, 2011 82nd Texas Legislature opens session May 30, 2011 82nd Texas Legislature closes regular session June 19, 2011 Last day for Governor to sign or veto bills from the regular session

14. Contact Information Dale Hunt Mathematics & Social Studies Coordinator Granbury ISD dale.hunt@granburyisd.org 817 � 408 - 4144