August 18, 2010

BROWNSVILLE ISD IN-SERVICE

PRESENTATION

Statutes and Rules 31 Senators and 150 Representatives write the

laws that govern education (Texas Education Code) - TEC

State Board of Education writes rules school districts follow to carry out the law (Texas Administrative Code) – TAC

Commissioner of Education (appointed by the Governor) also writes rules to implement certain policy as defined by the TEC

State Board of Education is an elected body of 15 members

Success in the 81st Legislative SessionAll a direct result of TMEA/TCQAE lobbying efforts

Restored one credit fine arts requirement in RP and DAP graduation plans and added a fine arts requirement to the Minimum Plan

For the first time there is a middle school fine arts course requirement

Fine Arts is now a part of the state accountability system in the Distinction Tier

One million dollars appropriated for professional development in the integration of math and science and the arts

Successful legislation to protect state purchase of instructional materials for all Enrichment subjects

Fine Arts holds its most prominent placement in law and State Board rule that it has enjoyed in recent years. Fine

arts is defined in State Board rule as music, art, theatre and dance.

WHAT TEXAS LAW AND STATE BOARD RULE SAY ABOUT

FINE ARTS

Mission and Objectives Objective 4 of the Texas Education

Code (TEC) states: A well-balanced and appropriate curriculum will be provided to all students. Chapter 28 of the TEC states, “Each district shall ensure that all children in the district participate actively in a balanced curriculum designed to meet individual needs.”

Required Curriculum All the courses in the Required

Curriculum, which includes fine arts, are necessary for a child to receive a well-balanced, meaningful education. The word "Required" in the TEC means that "each school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12 shall offer this curriculum."

Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills

The State Board of Education will identify the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for all subjects of the Required Curriculum. The TEKS define what students should know and be able to do in each academic subject area and each grade level. TEKS are currently in place for all fine arts disciplines.

Foundation Courses English language arts, math, science,

and social studies are called Foundation courses because the TEC’s academic objectives identify these courses as the foundation of a well-balanced and appropriate education. These subjects will continue to be assessed on the state level.

Enrichment Courses Fine arts courses are a part of the Enrichment

Curriculum, a component of the Required Curriculum. By definition, enrich means "to make richer, to add greater value or significance." It does not mean "extra," "not necessary," "elective," or "optional." These courses are an integral part of the educational process and in many cases are the courses that give meaning and substance to a child's education and to his or her life. By law, school districts, as a condition of accreditation, must utilize the TEKS in delivering instruction in all subjects of the Required Curriculum - not just in Foundation courses.

Graduation Requirements Under state board rule, the

Recommended Program, the current default graduation plan, and the Distinguished Achievement Program require one credit of fine arts for graduation. Fine Arts is defined as an “academic core component” in each of these plans.

Elementary Requirements State Board rule (19 Texas Administrative

Code, Chapter 74, subchapter A) now mandates that school districts provide TEKS-based instruction in all subjects/courses of the Required Curriculum in grades K-5. This requirement includes music, art and theatre at each of these grade levels. School districts may deliver this instruction in a variety of arrangements and settings.

Middle School Requirements Every student must take one TEKS-

based fine arts course in grades 6, 7, or 8.

High School Requirements High schools must offer at least two

of the four state-approved fine arts subjects (art, dance, music, theatre).

Marching band students receive Band credit as well as PE credit (not waiver)

No Child Left Behind Though not a part of Texas law, the

federal legislation, No Child Left Behind, includes fine arts as a part of the academic core curriculum.

Plans for 82nd Legislative Session

Refile TAKS Pullout Bill Possible move of fine arts to Foundation

Curriculum Hold on to what we have protected in law Begin to impact Distinction Tier Indicators Possible addressing of class size and

instruction time in elementary fine arts classrooms

Refinement of extracurricular rules Redistricting and 18 billion dollar budget

shortfall will impact virtually every legislative decision.

SB1364 – TAKS Pullout Bill The Board of Trustees of each school district shall

adopt and strictly enforce a policy limiting the removal of students from class for remedial tutoring or test preparation. A district may not remove a student from a regularly scheduled class for remedial tutoring or test preparation if, as a result of the removal, the student would miss more than 10 percent of the school days on which the class is offered, unless the student’s parent or another person standing in parental relation to the student provided to the district written consent for removal from class for such purpose.

 Local Advocacy

Perhaps the most important component of fine arts survival

Provide materials – printed and/or on website

Inspire and train your members and parents on how to be effective lobbyists

Organize presidents of arts booster organizations in your district (COPS)

 

Why do we do what we do? Shoebox letters Jascha Heifetz Winston Churchill Barbara Jordan

Teaching – The Most Honorable of Professions

Years ago, after a celebrated international career on the stage, the word famous violinist Jascha Heifetz became a professor of music at UCLA. When someone asked him whey he had left the glamour of performing to become a teacher, Heifetz answered, “Violin playing is a perishable art. It must be passed on; otherwise it is lost.” Then he went on to say, “I remember my old violin professor in Russia. He said that if I worked hard enough someday I would be good enough to teach.”

Barbara Jordan, Former Texas Congressman

The arts are not a frill. The arts are a response to our individuality and our nature, and help to shape our identity. What is there that can transcend deep difference and stubborn divisions? The arts. They have a wonderful universality. The arts have the potential to unify. It can speak in many languages without a translator. The arts do not discriminate. The arts can lift us all up.

Robert FloydExecutive Director, TMEAChair, Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education

rfloyd@tmea.org512 452-0710, ext 101

www.tmea.org