I hope you all have had a good week so far and have relaxing plans for the upcoming weekend.
A few updates for this week:
Earlier this week I sent out a proposed response to HB 4545 Administrative Rules. I've included a copy of that information below.
We had a fantastic webinar with Greg Conte yesterday. Dr. Verstuyft led a robust discussion about broadband expansion across Texas. A copy of that recording is listed below.
Please stay tuned for Doodle Poll for our Spring Convening which we will hold in April.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Julia
House Bill 4545 Administrative Rules
Several weeks ago TEA released proposed administrative rules for House Bill 4545.
TEA's approach to the new rules was to repeal the old subchapter on accelerated instruction and grade placement committees and replace it with a new chapter detailing the requirements of HB 4545.
To help understand how the old chapters and new chapter do and do not overlap, I've put together a comparison chart of the old chapter 101 BB and the new proposed chapter 104. You can find that document here.
I recommend that BCEC submit comments about the new proposed chapter 104 to state the following:
HB 4545 continues to present schools with arduous requirements during one of the most difficult times in public education
While the simplistic nature of the new chapter 104 is appreciated during a time when schools are doing their best to implement the new HB 4545 requirements, some of the guidance given in the 34 page Frequently Asked Questions document posted on TEA's COVID-19 webpage should be included in the administrative rules as well. Including:
The ability for schools to use alternative assessments that are aligned to the TEKS for students who missed the end of the year STAAR. While this may have been an exception for 2020-2021 school year, student absences will continue to occur and with limited retesting abilities schools will need alternative options (Question number 3, page 2).
Guidance on "just in time supports" that schools should offer to students especially in regards to science and social studies topics that are not offered in sequential order such as 8th grade science to high school biology (Question number 15, page 5 and Question number 57, page 21).
Especially the option of a student's family to waive certain requirements of the accelerated instruction in light of the potential for the required tutoring to happen before or after school hours (Question 17, page 6) should be included in the new set of administrative rules over HB 4545.
Please share with your accountability teams to ensure this is aligned with their concerns and share any and all feedback to me by Friday February 18th.
Recording of Webinar with Greg Conte
Thank you, again, to Dr. Verstuyft for leading a robust discussion with Greg Conte about Broadband expansion across the state.
