Extra Credit

Texas 8th graders gain ground in national science scores

Texas eighth-graders in every major ethnic group outscored most of their peers nationally on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) science test, reports the Texas Education Agency.

The state's African-American students scored fourth in the nation in their peer group, with a scale score of 137. Hispanic students were sixth overall among their peers with a 146  score, and white students were eighth overall with a 167.

The NAEP is often called "the nation's report card" in educational circles, because a random sample of students in all states and territories take it.

Texas' aggregate score for all students together was 153, two points above the national average of 151, but Education Week pointed out that the averages are still well below the "proficient" score of 170.

_ Shirley Jinkins

 

 

STAAR end of course exams won't have to count for 15 percent of grade

Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott is deferring the requirement that new End-of-Course exams count as 15 percent of a student's final course grade, he said in a statement released Friday afternoon.

The modification of the requirement is for the 2011-2012 school year, Scott said. The end-of-course exams, known as EOCs, are part of the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) program being implemented this year.

"For this school year, the ultimate decision whether to include end-of-course exam scores as part of course grades will be determined locally by school districts and charter schools," Scott's statement said.

End-of-course exams are in these subjects: Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English II, English III, world geography, world history, and U.S. history. Students in ninth grade will be the first to begin taking these exams. Students in grade 10 and higher will continue with the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).

Read more in an article by the Texas Tribune here.

Jessamy Brown

Today kicks off prefiling for Texas Lege, education bills in the mix

And they're off! Okay, so today is a little more low key than the races, but the political battles will surely be something to watch this session as legislators work to address growing needs with a biennium shortfall ranging anywhere from $20 billion to $25 billion. (Yes, that's with a "B.")

Legislators began prefiling bills today for the 82nd session that begins in January. So far, some of the education-related bills include: Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) seeking to reemphasize her legislation last session that prohibits districts from having minimum grading policies (which some Houston area districts filed suit over and lost); Rep. Mark Shelton (R-Fort Worth) wanting to give colleges the option to limit the number of courses students can drop; and Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) pushing to give school districts more local control in funding decisions through a rollback rate bill.

-Eva-Marie Ayala