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Texas Science Standards Receive a "C" Grade from the Fordham Institute
TEXAS SCIENCE STANDARDS RECEIVE A "C" GRADE FROM THE FORDHAM INSTITUTE | |
According to the Austin American Statesman, Texas received a failing grade for its science standards in 2005. This year, standards received a "C," which is average among other states. At the Houston Chron, arguments for the score being weak and positive are both presented. What do you think about the C score? Is it average or unacceptable? Let us know by commenting on Facebook or adding your opinion in the comments on www.statweb.org! Read more about the grading at My San Antonio. | |
NEW STUDY FOCUSES ON SCIENCE TEACHER SHORTAGE AND RETENTION | |
The Sid W. Richardson Foundation Forum has just released a report this week entitled 51 Math and Science Teachers in Texas: Motivating, Preparing, Supporting, and Retaining Math and Science Teachers in Texas High Schools. The report is a result of 5 years of interviews and meetings with a select group of math and science high school teachers located in four of the fastest-growing sectors of Texas. It chronicles the teachers' negative and positive experiences over 5 years of teaching. This report is available for PDF Download Here. | |
SUBMIT TEACHING ARTICLES FOR THE FEBRUARY STATELLITE NEWSLETTER! | |
There's still time to submit your best teaching tips, tricks, or lesson plans for the February STATellite. Just as teachers learn from each other at CAST, we'd like to offer a way for us to learn from each other throughout the new year. | |
Urgent: Adoption of New Science Instructional Materials - Action Needed
Do you want new science instructional materials?
Do you need up-to-date science content to teach students?
STAT (Science Teachers Association of Texas) President-Elect Sharon Kamas will be present at the upcoming The State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting on January 26th. See more details here.
During this meeting, the future adoption of instructional materials will be discussed. STAT has been fighting to get Science instructional materials at the top of the SBOE's adoption cycle. Some of our textbooks are between 8-14 years old: the time for action is now!
The new Science TEKS need to be supported by new instructional materials. If STAAR is based on our new Science TEKS, then we need new instructional materials to match these new Science TEKS.
Please take a moment and send an email to your State Board of Education member:
Find your SBOE representative by entering your home address here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
Send an email addressed to your SBOE member to: SBOEsupport@tea.state.tx.us
Thank you for taking the time to help advance science education in Texas!
STAT Takes a Stand at the Capitol This Month
President Ross Ann Hill and President Elect Sharon Kamas
to Represent STAT at SBOE and House Public Education Committee Meetings
STAT (Science Teachers Association of Texas) President-Elect Sharon Kamas will be present at the upcoming SBOE meeting on January 26th. See more details here.
Both Kamas and President Ross Ann Hill will also represent STAT at the upcoming House of Representatives Public Education Committee meeting on January 23rd. The implementation of the new state assessment system (STAAR), and its "impact on students, instruction, teachers, and graduation or promotion rates" will be discussed. View more details here. They are also scheduled to meet with the Chief of Staff of Senator Kel Seliger, who has just been appointed by the Lt. Governor to the Math and Science Advisory Board.
If you have any recommendations on the above topics, or would like to attend the meeting, please contact president@statweb.org, or presidentelect@statweb.org.
Email your SBOE representative: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
The December STATellite is Now Available!
Check out the post-CAST edition of the STATellite for special promos for CAST 2012, teaching tips, CAST photos, and more!
Check out the Scientists of the Future Jamboree at Stunt Ranch!
Submitted by STAT on Tue, 12/13/2011 - 10:21First Annual Scientists of the Future Jamboree
A fund raising event for The America’s Future Scientist Fund
Date: Sunday January 22, 2012 – 3pm-8pm
Where: The event will be held at the Stunt Ranch & Fire Lake Event Center
13317 Fitzhugh Road Austin, TX 78736
Join 1000 friends and family for the most exciting science education event of the year. You’ll experience hands on science of the movies and witness amazing stunt demonstrations by renowned movie stunt expert Steve Wolf and his team of professional stuntmen, zip line rides, The Austin Planetarium, Dr. Cold, rope obstacle course, food and the first human android keynote in the history of man – “Zeno” developed by Hanson Robotics, this kid-friendly event will ignite the love of science in adults and children and raise money to provide supplemental curriculum to elementary and middle school teachers!
Members of STAT receive a 25% discount on tickets, using the code: 2pct5
CAST 2011 Pics and SBOE Victory!
Check out pics from CAST 2011!
(Click the picture to be taken to the slide-show.)
If you have photos you would like to share, email them to
stat@bizaustin.rr.com, and we'll put them in our album!
While we were at CAST...
STAT President-Elect Sharon Kamas was at the Capitol on November 17 to weigh-in on the issue of providing Texas classrooms with new textbooks. See Sharon's testimony here.
Shortly after the November 17 meeting, we recieved word that science materials are in the top spot on the SBOE's Adoption Cycle! This is indeed a victory for science teachers across Texas. View the Proposed Adoption Cycle of the SBOE here.
As the school year winds down, we'd like to wish you a very relaxing winter break.
We're excited to see what 2012 will bring your association.
Happy Holidays!
What to Know Before You Go! (to CAST 2011)
Submitted by STAT on Tue, 11/15/2011 - 09:00Below you will find important details about badge pickup, tote bag pickup, parking, transportation, and more.
Please read this information carefully!
Click here for a general CAST Schedule.
- If you received your name badge in the mail make sure to bring it with you!
- It will also help if you print and bring your conference agenda. Just go the CAST registration site, put in your name, email address and then your confirmation number. Please note: You must use the same name and email address you used to register. Your agenda will make it faster for you to get into your registered sessions such as short courses, field trips and socials. If you are part of a group, you must use the group administrator's name, email, and confirmation number to login.
- If you have a smart phone, download the CAST App! Our new App will help you get prepared for your conference by keeping all information at your fingertips. You can also receive text alerts for important events, and much more! Remember: Fill out your profile info to be entered to win a free registration for CAST 2012!
- Please pack comfortable clothes including tennis shoes. The Dallas Convention Center is quite large, so bring your walking shoes.
- Attire for the conference is casual.If you are attending field trips, bring a set of clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Also, do not forget to pack sweaters or a light jacket. Even with warm weather, the meeting rooms can be quite chilly.
- Bring pens and paper. Also be prepared to take away items from over 400 vendors. You will receive a giant tote bag this year, but some teachers might find that they need extra bags for more goodies.
- Snacks. The Dallas Convention Center center will have multiple concession stands open and available. There is a food court located behind registration that will be open at 7am each day. Outside food is not allowed in the building. However, you might want to pack a few light snacks for your hotel room.
- Registration, workshops, and short courses will all be held at the Dallas Convention Center Downtown. Field trips are off-site, but transportation will be provided.
- Transportation between the host hotels (the Sheraton and the Marriott) and the convention center is provided. For a full list of pickup places and times, please click here. If your hotel is not on the list of CAST host hotels, you will need to find alternate transportation to the Convention Center.
- Parking: Several parking locations are available near the Convention Center. Please click here to view the options available.
- Pick up your name badge. If you didn’t register before October 14th, then you will need to pick up your name badge and conference materials. You will pick these up at the Dallas Convention Center Exhibit Hall C, Level 2. If you registered before October 14th but did not receive your badge in the mail, please go the Exhibit Hall C to one of the “Badge Printing” stations to have one printed. Exhibit Hall C is open: Wednesday 4-9 p.m., Thursday 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday 7 a.m.-10 a.m.
- Pick up your tote bag. If you received your name badge in the mail, all you need to do is pick up your tote bag on-site. The location and times for tote bag pickup are the same as the name badge printing stations above. You must have your name badge to pick up your tote bag.
Attending Workshops:
- Workshops are included for all full conference attendees. Due to the logistics of offering so many free workshops, we are unable to allow attendees to reserve spaces. Therefore, workshops attendance is on a first come, first served basis. Arrive early!
- There are over 600 workshops occurring over the course of the conference so use the printed program and your CAST App wisely to help you get from session to session.*You must have a name badge in order to get into the workshops. Please also note that every room needs to be cleared after every session so that the next presenter may set up for the next workshop.
- Jam sessions are 45 minute-long workshops for larger audiences, including presenters like the Texas Education Agency and the Discovery Channel.
- Jam sessions will begin 15 minutes after each round of regular workshops begin. So in case one of your workshops is full, you will have time to plan on attending a Jam session!
- You may add additional paid sessions (short courses, luncheons, and field trips) before the conference. You can do this at home before you leave or you can add short courses or field trips at on-site registration.
- All paid sessions will close online the day before they take place.
- Transportation for field trips is provided. Buses pick up at curbside Lobby D, Level 1 of the Dallas Convention Center. Please arrive no later than 20 minutes before the departure time listed on the program to avoid delays.
- Each event will have a presider holding up signs for the departing trips. Find your sign and stand with your group. The group presider will lead you to the buses.
- It will help if you have your conference personal agenda printed to show proof of your registration.
- Field trips will leave on time—do not arrive late for your departure.
- All sessions at CAST offer TEA approved continuing education credit. In the back of your program, there is a form to fill out which sessions you attended to count your hours.
- If you have offered to volunteer please check in at the Volunteer Booth in Exhibit Hall C. If you have extra time in your schedule and would like to contribute to CAST, please stop in and donate your time to keep CAST moving smoothly! Sign up to volunteer here!
Thank you for your attention, and have a safe trip to Dallas!
Speaker of the House Joe Straus releases Interim Charges for House Committees
Yesterday, October 20, Joe Straus announced the Interim Charges for the Texas State House of Representatives Committees. In addition to the charges assigned to each committee, he requested all committees find ways to increase transparency, accountability, and efficiency within the state government, and to make recommendations for significantly improving the state’s manufacturing capability. Charges relevant to science educators are below, but for a complete list of all charges, click here.
House Committee on Public Education:
You're too good to wait in line!
Submitted by STAT on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 11:11Don't wait in line at CAST! Wouldn't you rather get your tote bag and hit the sessions instead?
Sign up by October 14th to have your name badge mailed to you and receive the CAST Advanced Registration Discount.
Register Now to get the Advanced Registration Discount price of $145 per registrant!
Treat yourself at CAST...
Attend the Friday Night Social:
Late Night at the Museum:
The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier:
From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk
Friday, November 18th
STAT Special Discount Tickets: Only $15!
Register Now!
Ignore what your district will pay for and sign up on your own for the Friday night social!
Just go to this website, buy as many tickets as you like using your credit card, and pick them up on-site at CAST! We're trying to make it easier on you to make the most of your time in Dallas, and we hope this helps.
Take a VIP Tour of the Dallas Cowboys Stadium!
Submitted by STAT on Fri, 09/30/2011 - 15:16Special Offer for CAST Attendees:
Dallas Cowboys Stadium VIP Tour: Only $35.00!
Tours run Friday, November 18, from 9:30AM-1:30PM, and pick up at
the Dallas Convention Center.
Click Here to Download the Tour Order Form
