TEA News
Pornographic Website Warning
The TEA issued an advisory (June 19) warning ISDs and charters to carefully scrutinize their websites and printed materials to remove references to what was once a legitimate URL (web address) to the “no longer operable” TEA-associated career and technical education “Achieve Texas” program.
Somebody apparently bought the expired domain name — and the URL now points to a pornographic website.
An analysis by TEN reflects the registered owner of the domain is listed as being from Moscow (Russia).
SBOE Rules
The TEA has posted the final versions of seven rules approved by the State Board of Education (SBOE) in April.
The postings include the final TEKS for the new African American ethnic studies course that the SBOE approved after making numerous last-minute changes.
Teacher Mentoring Allotment Rules
The education commissioner adopted (effective June 28) final TEA rules implementing the optional Beginning Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program authorized by 2019’s HB3 that replaces an older program that has been inactive due to a lack of funding.
Several changes were made based on public comments, including by clarifying that a beginning teacher to be mentored under the program must have less than two years of experience in the subject or grade level to which the teacher is assigned.
Although ISDs and charters can participate, charter beginning teachers and their experienced teacher mentors (unlike their counterpart teachers in ISDs), don’t have to be certified because there is no requirement for charter teachers to be certified. The program is set to start during the upcoming 2020-21 school year.
The legislature for the current biennium (ending Aug. 31, 2021) appropriated $3 million for the new beginning teacher mentorship allotments in anticipation of providing $1,800 per beginning teacher mentored, which can be used on mentor: 1) stipends, 2) scheduled release time and 3) training.
If applications for the program exceed the $3 million appropriated, the TEA will give priority to funding districts and charters based on a ranking system that considers several factors, including the percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with bonus points given to districts/charters in rural areas.
The TEA has posted an Excel spreadsheet showing how each district/charter ranks on the priority rating scale.
Funding amounts for future years are not guaranteed.
The TEA maintains a Mentor Teacher Allotment webpage that contains frequently updated info about the program.
Educator Recognition
The TEA is accepting recommendations (until July 24) from campus and ISD/charter leaders to nominate distinguished classroom teachers, specialists and/or principals — who must have a minimum of five years experience in education — to be included in the Distinguished Educator Recognition Pool.
The selected educators may be considered for special statewide recognition.
Read the TEA's announcement here.