Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Initiative

February 2009

Why T-STEM? College Readiness Texas has lower percentages of students taking AP exams in

Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics than the nation and lower percentages of students scoring a 3 or higher.

Source: TEA presentation to TSELA (2007)

Why T-STEM? Student Performance

High school students continue to pass the Mathematics and Science sections of the high school graduation test (TAKS) at lower rates than the ELA or Social Studies sections.

91

80

95

81

40

60

80

100

ELA Math Social Studies Science

Passing Rates Grade 11 TAKS Spring 2008

Source: Texas Education Agency, AEIS (2008)

4

Why T-STEM? Economic Development & Competitiveness

Of the 20 fastest-growing occupations projected through 2010, 15 of them require substantial mathematics or science preparation.

On TIMSS 2007, U.S. 8th graders scored lower than 5 countries located in Asia in mathematics and lower than 9 countries in Asia and Europe in science.

Advanced Tech & Manufacturing

Energy

Aerospace & Defense

Biotech & Life Sciences

Information & Computer Tech

Petroleum Refining & Chemical

Products

Source: The Next Frontier (2008) TAMEST

and Highlights from TIMSS 2007 (2008)

NCES

Why T-STEM Was Created? Opportunity

Students of all income levels who take rigorous mathematics and science courses in high school are more likely to go to college.

Taking advanced math has a direct impact on future earnings. All else being equal, inequities in advanced math courses account for one-quarter of the income gap between students from low income and middle-class families ten years after graduation from high school..

Source: Mathematics Equals Opportunity (1997)US Department of Education

and Advanced Math: Closing the Equity Gap (2008) Math Works

T-STEM Academies - Transforming Teaching and Learning

T-STEM Academies - Prepare students for STEM post secondary study and careers

Develop the capacity to design and/or replicate and sustain performance-driven school models.

Transform instructional practice to model real world contexts for learning to improve student achievement for all students.

Serve as demonstration sites to inform STEM teaching and learning statewide.

T-STEM AcademiesPanhandleNew Deal ISD

Harmony Science-Lubbock

WestBurnham Wood –Da Vinci – El Paso

Harmony Science El Paso

El Paso ISD/El Paso CC

EastAldine ISD – Carver HS

YES Prep SE

Harmony School of Excellence

KIPP Houston

Harmony Science- Beaumont

Harmony Science – Houston

Longview ISD – Longview Global

Fruitvale ISD

Galveston ISD – Ball HS

Harmony School of Science

Energized for Excellence - HISD

CentralWaco ISD – AJ Moore

Texas BioSci - Temple College

Manor ISD

Rapoport - Waco

Harmony Science - Waco

Harmony Science - Austin

NorthHarmony Science-Fort Worth

Waxahachie ISD – Waxahachie Global

Dallas ISD - Conrad HS

Harmony Science –Dallas

Richardson ISD – Berkner HS

Peak Academy-Williams Prep

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD - METSA

Harmony School of Nature – Dallas

Irving Academy

Early Innovators

2006 Academies

2007 Academies

2008 Academies

SouthHarmony Science –San Antonio

North East ISD – Lee HS/Nimitz MS

Corpus Christi ISD – Innovative Academy

IDEA Academy – San Benito

IDEA Academy -Mission

La Sara ISD

Valley View ISD

School of Excellence – San Antonio

Harmony Science – Laredo

Harmony Science – Brownsville

Pharr San-Juan Alamo/South Texas College

T-STEM Academies39 Academies

22 Charter Academies 17 ISD Academies

2006-2007 7

2007-2008

22

2008-2009 38

2009-2010 45

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Annual Growth

Configurations Grades 9-12 (14) Grades 6-12 (25) Including (3) T-STEM

ECHS

Pro

jec

ted

Focus Areas

Urban areas and Texas-Mexico border

First-generation college students

Economically disadvantaged students

Do all Academies Look Alike?

Academies differ STEM specialty areas adopted Grade level configurations (9-12 or 6-12) School designation (school-within-a school or stand-alone)

All Academies follow the T-STEM Design Blueprint and reflect the model’s non-negotiables.

T-STEM Academies: Who are we serving?

Enrollment (2008-2009) 9032 (39 schools)

Economically Disadvantaged 54% receive free or reduced

meals 13/22 Academies open in

2007-2008 are designated Title I Schools

Demographics (2008-2009) 59% Hispanic 12% African American 25 % White 4% Other

Source: Texas Education Agency (2008)

Student Success Indicators

Academy Attendance Rate

96.7% vs. State Attendance Rate 95.5%

64% of Academies report

‘0’ discipline incidents 98% of students on track

to graduate in 4 years

Source: Texas Education Agency and Self-reported (2008)

Academy Success Indicators

2008 Texas State Accountability Rating Number of Academies

Academically Exemplary 11

Academically Recognized 6

Academically Acceptable 5

TOTAL 22

Source: Texas Education Agency and Self-reported (2008)

T-STEM Academy Design What do our schools look like?

Secondary schools

Mix of public charter schools,

traditional district schools

Stand alone or school-within-a-

school

Small learning communities -

100 students per grade

Serve a population with a

majority representation of high-

need students

Open enrollment, non-

selective, admission by lottery

Rigorous, STEM integrated

curriculum utilizing the design

process

High quality, contextually-

based teaching and learning

Student advisory and

extensive support systems

T-STEM Blueprint Design Benchmarks Mission-Driven Leadership

Mission and VisionLeadership and GovernanceProgram Review and EvaluationLeadership Development and

Collaboration

T-STEM Academy Culture and DesignPersonalizationCulturePostsecondary Success

Student Outreach, Access and RetentionRecruitmentOpen AccessStudent Support and Retention

Teacher Selection, Development, and RetentionHighly Qualified TeachersTeacher Support and DevelopmentTeacher Retention

Curriculum, Instruction and AssessmentRigorSTEM-focused CurriculumInstructional PracticesSTEM Education IntegrationLiteracyAssessment

Strategic AlliancesParent and/or Family ParticipationBusiness and School CommunityInstitutions of Higher EducationCommunication with Alliance Members

and Stakeholders

Academy Advancement and SustainabilityStrategic PlanningSustainability and GrowthContinuous Improvement and

Evaluation

Successful Implementation

Critical components to the successful implementation of the T-STEM Academy model Strong College-going Culture Autonomy Leadership Teachers

Implementation and Fidelity to the Model

Technical Assistance STEM Leadership Coaches T-STEM Centers Professional Development Site Visits

T-STEM Tools Blueprint Progress Continuum and Self-assessment - used to

monitor implementation and chart plan for support for schools

Student and School Performance Data

Data Performance Data

Student TAKS scores Graduation rates Results of College Readiness Assessments Student enrollment and successful completion of STEM cores courses and

AP, IB, and dual credit courses

Program Data Curriculum Instruction Strategies Student Support

Rely on self-reporting from the Academies Working with partners to find more reliable and efficient ways to

collect, manage, and use data

T-STEM Centers

PanhandleTexas Tech T-STEM Texas Tech Lubbock ISD ESC Regions 14 -18

WestEl Paso T-STEM UT El Paso 12 El Paso area school districts Region 19

South

El Centro del Futuro • Region One (partnering w/)• UT Pan Am • 13 school districts, and the • UT Dana Center

East

East Texas STEM UT Tyler TX A&M Texarkana ESC Regions 5-8 & 6 ISDs in NE Texas

Southeast Regional STEM UT Medical Branch Rice Texas State NASA ESC Regions 3-5 Houston Museum of Natural Sci 9 ISDs (including Houston, Galveston, Cypress Fairbanks)

CentralTransformation 2013 Region 13 in Austin (partnering w/) ESC Region 20 in San Antonio UT Austin College of Engineering San Antonio ISD Taylor ISD

Dana Center at UT Austin Providing support to centers and academies,

as well as other schools across Texas

NorthNorth Texas STEM Texas A&M Dallas ISD ESC Region 10

Design

Physically located in universities and ESCs

Serve the education needs of local areas

Provide expertise across the state

20

T-STEM Initiative

T-STEM Academies T-STEM Centers Leadership Network/Learning Community

http://www.thsp.org