Friday, January 22, 2016

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SAT Turns the Page

The current version of the SAT makes its final appearance this weekend when hundreds of thousands of students across the land sit down for the nearly four-hour reading, writing and math test. The new revamped version debuts in March. The College Board says more than 351,000 students registered to take the Jan. 23 test, a nearly 10% increase over the number of students registered for last January's exam. Looking ahead to March, College Board says the revamped exam is more representative of what students study in high school and the skills they need to succeed in college and afterward. The test was last revised in 2005. The new makeover focuses less on arcane vocabulary words and more on real-world learning and analysis by students. There also is no longer a penalty for guessing on the redesigned exam, and the essay will be optional. The College Board has teamed up with online educator Khan Academy to offer SAT practice with the new exam — for free — to all students through diagnostic quizzes and interactive practice tests. The tests are available here.

Spotlight on Region 10 Schools

Allen ISD will be recognized next week for its commitment to professional learning on behalf of the district’s teachers and students. LearningForward Texas, the state affiliate of LearningForward (formerly NSDC/National Staff Development Council), has announced that AISD is the winner of the organization’s district award for Excellence in Professional Learning. “Your application presented a clear picture of the intent by your district to improve knowledge and skills so children can achieve,” the LearningForward Texas executive director said in announcing the award. “We are proud that your district is committed to life-long learning and to the success of teachers and students.” Lisa Casto, AISD’s director of staff development and curriculum, and Supt. Lance Hindt will receive the award Tuesday at the TASA mid-winter meeting in Austin.

Sherman ISD trustees are honoring SISD’s December employees of the month at their January board meeting. The presentation is just part of the district’s special recognition program that salutes exceptional teachers, employees and staff members each month. First, the honorees are surprised by a visit to their campuses where the personal announcement is caught on video. Then the winners are recognized by the Board of Trustees at their regularly scheduled meeting in the following month. At the end of the school year a district-wide ceremony is held to gather all the winners and thank them again for a job well-done. See the list of December winners—elementary and secondary teachers of the month, employee of the month and team of the month—and video from the surprise visits here.

Frisco High School Head Tennis Coach Brian Woods has been named the 5A State Coach of the Year by the Texas Tennis Coaches Association (TTCA). The honor recognizes coaches who build their program while instilling good sportsmanship, love of the game, respect for authority, opponents, rules and self. The FHS team tennis team finished second this past fall in regionals, just missing the state tournament. It was the highest finish for any Frisco ISD tennis team in UIL 5A Team Tennis. Coach Sam Rodriquez of FISD’s Reedy High School was named Coach of the Year in the region.

Scanning the News

Dozens of schools in at least six states have been evacuated this week after callers or emails threatened to shoot or bomb students and staff. Threats came to individual schools in Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania and were the latest in weeks of threats affecting schools in the United States. No credible threats have been found, but the steady flow of disruption and alarm has cost school districts time and money, and stirred anxiety about possible terrorist attacks. Threats have often come in the form of a computer-generated robocall, technology easily accessible through websites that offer the services for less than a penny a minute. In most cases police said they were taking "all precautions" to "ensure safety" and closed various schools before taking bomb-sniffing dogs through campuses, even though they did not believe the threat was real.

A Tennessee school district has initiated a safety check program in which uniformed officers ride school buses periodically to observe drivers. The program is one of four strategies Knox County Schools introduced at the beginning of the school year in the wake of a December 2014 bus crash that killed two students and a teacher's aide. The other strategies included the addition of two cameras on each of the school system's buses; additional training for bus drivers, particularly around distracted driving; and a review of the district's transportation department and operations by an independent consultant. The ride program inspections include checking that drivers have done their pre-trip inspections, validating driver's licenses and endorsements, engine startup, smooth braking, how they handle the bus and lane control. Officials say the ride check will tell them if all the strategies are taking effect.

A Connecticut high school student was pulled out of classes and reported to police for substituting "ISIS" for the "United States of America" during the Pledge of Allegiance. ISIS is the term often used for the Islamic State terrorist group also known as ISIL. Local police did not charge the 15-year-old Ansonia High School student but the case was turned over to the Department of Homeland Security. The boy, who wasn't identified, was assigned to an alternative program in a Board of Education annex building. An attorney representing the district said the action was taken “out of an abundance of caution.” The boy’s mother maintained her son did not breach any code of conduct nor misbehave, and that his dismissal was an irrational decision.

Items of Interest

Few adolescents and young adults are being tested for HIV, and rates haven’t risen over the years, according to a new study. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the trends are concerning. “Without HIV testing and diagnosis, adolescents and young adults cannot take advantage of HIV care and treatment that can improve their health and reduce the risk of transmission to others,” they said in the study released online this week in Pediatrics. Roughly 26% of estimated new HIV infections in 2010 affected people ages 13-24 years, according to the study. An estimated 44% of young people with HIV are not diagnosed. The CDC recommends routine HIV screening for everyone between 13 and 64 years of age. The Academy calls for routine screening to be offered to all adolescents by age 16-18 years or as part of routine testing for all sexually active adolescents. More here.

Utah students struggling with emotional or safety problems can now turn to a new smartphone app for help from crisis counselors or school staff. State political, education and health leaders unveiled the SafeUT Mobile App this week. The app is now available for iPhone and Android devices, connecting students anonymously to a licensed counselor at any hour of any day at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute. In addition, students can use the app to call, chat or submit a tip about bullying, threats, violence, gang activity, sexual harassment, drug activity, cheating and other issues. Students can also make their tips school-specific, allowing the institute to inform school counselors and resource officers if there's a problem. Officials hope the new resource will help curb what they say is the most frequent cause of death for Utah adolescents: suicide.

Texas PTA has named Lufkin State Representative Trent Ashby to its Legislative Honor Roll for his work during the 84th session of the Legislature. Texas PTA President Leslie Boggs cited Ashby for “masterfully working with leaders” in the House and Senate to increase spending for public schools by $1.5 billion per year beyond enrollment g growth. “Representative Ashby showed a keen understanding of the critical need to increase funding for our public schools and worked to persuade others to agree,” she added. Among other things, individuals selected for the Texas PTA Honor Roll must demonstrate initiative to enhance the quality of life for children and youth, improve the quality of education for all children and youth, and lend support to a current Texas PTA legislative priority.

Looking Ahead

A recent article in NEA Today is a great reminder of just how much education support professionals go above and beyond to help keep students safe. From bus drivers and maintenance employees to office staff and nurses—just to mention a few—the piece cites some of the ways staff members in those positions contribute to school security and safety. Also included are several profiles of ESPs who provide students with a much-needed safe haven. The article is a good example of how local schools might want to remind parents of the role all staff play in watching out for their kids, which at the same time would provide a great way to recognize the contributions of support staff. Check it out.

Resource Bank

It is the rare person who doesn’t sometimes use “uhs” and “ums” when speaking. And there are the “you knows” and “likes.” But Russell Working, a writer for Ragan Communications, reminds that even those recognized as gifted orators will sometimes slip into uttering such words which experts say indicate uncertainty. Fortunately, in a recent post Working shares some tips for getting rid of those filler words in your speaking. His “6 Ways to Stop Saying ‘Uh’ ‘You Know’ and Other Work Fillers” is today’s Resource Bank item.

It is the policy of Region 10 Education Service Center not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, or handicap in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Region 10 Education Service Center will take steps to ensure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational programs and services.

Region 10 Education Service Center ... 400 E. Spring Valley Rd., Richardson, Texas 75081-5101 | 972.348.1700

Location #2 ... 904 Abrams Rd, Richardson, TX 75081 | 972-348-1750