TCTA local leaders and FRs mark your calendars:
2008 Leadership Conference in Austin, July 10-11
Come learn the Art of Leadership at TCTA’s Leadership Conference in Austin, July 10-11. This central gathering of local affiliate officers and faculty representatives is designed with you in mind. Not only will you have an opportunity to obtain continuing professional education credits, but you can also participate in some fun activities in between. Best of all: There is no fee for TCTA local leaders and faculty representatives to attend the Leadership Conference, its opening luncheon or continuing professional education sessions covering a variety of topics, including officer training and membership, legal issues and the upcoming legislative session. The conference will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, 701 East 11th Street (formerly the Marriott at the Capitol), with a TCTA special rate of $110. Watch the TCTA website for additional information.
Get inspired and plan your summer getaway now!
Join TCTA Today!
For only $140 a year or $90 for a first-time member you get:
- the highest level of professional liability coverage (up to $7 million)
- direct access to eight experienced staff attorneys
- top ranked lobbyists advocating for you and your profession
- civil rights coverage ($2 million)
- FREE online CPE courses
- many member benefits that save you money
New members who have never been members of TCTA can join as a "First-time Active Member" for only $90. Associate members pay only $70. Join the tens of thousands of Texas educators who have made TCTA the Educated Choice®. Join Today!
Dangers of Teen Drinking: Free DVD, curriculum guide and guest speakers available
Texas PTA provides a free documentary, Party 101: Consequences, on the dangers of teen drinking. Educators can download a curriculum guide designed especially for classroom use. If you would like to plan a presentation for your school or community, please contact Texas PTA.
USDE Announces Summer 2008 Teacher-to-Teacher Workshop Schedule
The U.S. Department of Education, through its Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, has trained 20,000 teachers at 75 regional and district workshops. Prominent teachers, principals, and district officials provide training sessions and share research-based practices they have successfully applied in their classrooms and schools. Reading, math, science and history will be the content focus as well as using data, differentiating instruction, Doing What Works, and technology to support student achievement. All workshops will also provide important resources from the National Math Panel.
Houston, TX - 7/1/2008 - 7/2/2008
Sponsored by NASA, Focus: Science and Math, Grade levels: K-12
Ft. Worth, TX - 7/15/2008 - 7/16/2008
Sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration, Focus: Math and Science, Grade levels: K-12
For more information and to register for these free workshops, visit the website.
TELPAS Training Schedule Announced
Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) Holistic Rating Training Activities and Schedule for the 2008-09 School Year has been announced. Read more…
Upcoming Committee meetings to be held outside Austin
Two major committees have scheduled meetings outside of Austin in the coming weeks; these meetings are open to the public:
Select Committee on Higher & Public Education Finance
Friday, May 09, 2008, 10:30 AM
McAllen City Hall, 1300 Houston Avenue, McAllen.
Public and invited testimony will be taken on all matters pertaining to the coordination of higher and public education funding with a focus on facilities, bilingual education, and other issues unique to the Valley.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 10:00 AM
Norma S. Rodriguez Council Chamber in the Municipal Plaza Building, City Hall Complex, 103 S. Main Ave. San Antonio.
Public and invited testimony will be taken on all matters pertaining to the coordination of higher and public education funding with a focus on workforce readiness, community college collaboration and school district resources.
Friday, May 16, 10:00 AM
University of Houston Hilton Hotel, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston. Public and invited testimony will be taken on all matters pertaining to the coordination of public and higher education funding with a focus on dropout prevention, non-traditional students, and urban challenges.
Select Committee on Public School Accountability
Monday, May 12, 12:00 PM
M.O. Campbell Educational Center, Room 104, 1865 Aldine Bender Road, Houston.
The Committee will hear invited and public testimony on issues related to the Public School Accountability system. Public testimony will be limited to 3 minutes per person.
June 16th - Dallas
July 14th - Brownsville
Aug. 4th - West Texas (Lubbock, El Paso, or Midland)
Website Adds Feature to Improve Girls’ Achievement in Math and Science
The U.S. Department of Education’s “Doing What Works” website is designed to help improve the achievement of girls in math and science. USDE's Institue of Education Sciences (IES) announce a new user-friendly interface to quickly locate teaching practices that are supported by research evidence identified by IES and similar organizations. It also cites examples of possible ways this research may be used to help students reach their academic potential. Read more...
TEA identifies partners in Texas Virtual School Network
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has announced key partnerships with local education service centers and a number of other entities in the launching of the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN).
TxVSN will provide online courses through the Internet to students throughout Texas. Classes are scheduled to begin in the spring of 2009. Read more...
Fingerprinting Schedule Released for Educators, Substitutes and Aides
Between January 1, 2008 and September 11, 2011, Texas will conduct background searches on about 392,000 certified educators as well as an undetermined number of classroom substitute teachers and aides, as required by SB9 passed by the 80th Texas Legislature. See if your district is scheduled...
Proposed Revised English Language Arts and Reading TEKS - March 28, 2008 Draft
The State Board of Education filed the March 28, 2008 draft of the English language arts and reading Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills as proposed with the Texas Register for public comment. The 30-day public comment period began April 18, 2008. View the document.
Teacher pay: the highs and lows
The Texas Classroom Teachers Association testified before the House Public Education Committee, pushing for teacher compensation to more appropriately reward experience in the classroom. Researchers indicate positive effects on student performance can be tied to teacher experience, but studies also indicate a high percentage of teachers leave the classroom within the first 5 years. Many school districts are offering attractive starting salaries to address the need for teachers; however, pay for teachers with considerably more years of experience remains low in comparison. Read more...
YOU know why teachers leave the profession, but do legislators?
After April 21, a handful of key policymakers are considerably better-versed on the problems in the school system that influence teacher attrition and retention. The House Public Education Committee heard from several panels of speakers, including TCTA and other education associations, about how changes in teacher preparation programs and the public school system could help resolve our state’s long-term teacher shortage. Read more...
House legislative committees review removal of disruptive students from classrooms
The ability of teachers to remove disruptive students from the classroom is under review by two House legislative committees. The House Committee on Corrections and Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues are jointly studying an interim charge relating to student referrals to disciplinary alternative education programs (DAEPs), juvenile justice alternative education programs (JJAEPs), in-school suspension, etc., and held a lengthy meeting on Thursday, April 17, to hear from invited witnesses. Read more...
Accountability hearing illuminates conflicts in testing/rating system
The Select Committee on Public School Accountability held its third hearing on April 14, with invited testimony from stakeholders (a variety of representatives from education, business, and other interested parties). However, an unspoken theme of “Mixed Messages” was apparent throughout the day’s testimony as committee members, invited panel members and public witnesses remarked on the conflicting messages and lack of agreement among policymakers and the education community regarding our state’s testing and rating systems.
During the course of the 6-hour meeting, many of the problems inherent in the current system and in any contemplation of a revised system were brought to light, as speakers disagreed on some fundamental issues and acknowledged the complexities of others. Read more...
TRS Board Approves "Historic" Strategic Partnerships
In what was referred to by board members as an “historic” meeting, the TRS Board of Trustees approved four major financial firms as strategic partners of the retirement system. TRS has relied on its internal investment staff to manage the fund’s investment portfolio, but the Legislature approved the use of external managers for up to 30% of the fund’s assets during the 2007 legislative session. Read more...
TCTA testifies on TRS floating contribution rate concept
Two state legislative committees are considering changes to the way the Teacher Retirement System is funded, changes that could impact not only your retirement benefits but your take-home pay as an active employee. Read more...
What makes you laugh?
We recently solicited humorous anecdotes from the classroom through our e-update and are pleased to share selected highlights from the many we received. If you’d like to share your most amusing classroom experiences, please send an e-mail or give us a call at (888) 879-8282.
