2. The grant has been operating at UNT as the fiscal agent
Project NEXUS Background
The Office of
Bilingual/ESL Teacher Education Programs of the University of North Texas received a grant award from the U.S. Department of Education from 2012-to 2016 totaling $985,819
The grant has been operating at UNT as the fiscal agent
More information about the project and resources for teachers can be found at:
Updated on 9/7/2016

3. Project Goals
GOAL 1- Enhance the ELL education knowledge base of middle and high school mathematics and science in-service teachers
from the two surrounding local educational agencies (LEAs), Denton and Lewisville, through customized professional development for teachers to acquire the instructional skills and strategies to teach academic content and language development and acquisition to increase the academic achievement, graduation rates and entry into postsecondary education institutions for middle and high school ELLs.
GOAL 2 - Enhance the ELL education knowledge base of the UNT mathematics and science education faculty
from the 9-12 teacher certification programs through ongoing course content analysis and advanced professional development to integrate current evidence-based research and standards-based instruction into the certification degree-granting programs for effective instruction and assessment for ELLs.
GOAL 3 - Analyze and evaluate project data to make decisions
about project improvement
in order to impact the knowledge and skills of project participants to further ELL content mastery and narrow the achievement gap.

4. Therefore the Purpose of this SIOP Professional Development is to:
Enhance the ELL education knowledge base of middle and high school mathematics and science in-service teachers.
Increase the academic achievement of English language learners in mathematics and science and to help narrow the achievement gap as evidenced in STAAR scores.
With the Final Expectation to:

5. Project NEXUS Funding
A Title III National Professional Development Program Funded by The Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) U. S. Department of Education Awarded $985,000 over five years for the Bilingual/ESL Teacher Certification Programs of the Teacher Education and Administration Department at the University of North Texas May 1, 2012 to August, 2017

6. ISD’s Partnership Representatives
Teresa Luna-Taylor, Director, ESL and Bilingual Programs,
Denton ISD,
Sarah Guedry, Secondary ESL Coordinator,
Lewisville ISD,
Amy Washam, Sheltered Instruction Coordinator, Denton ISD.

7. PD Partnership Representatives
Dawn Osborne, Consultant, Region 10 ESC,
Jan Corona, Consultant, Region 10 ESC,

8. UNT Partnership Representatives
Dr. Rossana Boyd, Principal Investigator/Director, Project NEXUS,
Ana Figueras, Graduate Assistant,
Project NEXUS,

9. Participating Schools
Denton ISD
No. # ELL Students
2015
Lewisville ISD
Denton High School
183
Delay Middle School
529
Ryan High School
278
Huffines Middle School
121
Calhoun Middle School
156
Hedrick Middle School
199
Strickland Middle School
186
Killian Middle School
133
Myers Middle School
167
Lewisville High School
Harmon & Killough
786
McMath Middle School 98
Approximate number of ELL students
1068
1768

10. Project NEXUS WEB PORTAL
Activities for In-Service Teachers
Fall
Each fall, four days of professional development on SIOP for teaching mathematics and science to ELLs each fall for 40 teachers (20 from Denton and Lewisville ISD).
Each fall, observation of a sample of teachers using the SIOP protocol instrument.
Collection of modified lesson plans using the SIOP features.
Project NEXUS WEB PORTAL
For the past three years project staff has been identifying and uploading resources, articles, webpages related to the education of ELLs in mathematics and science. Please log on to:

11. Scholarships
WHY: To increase depth of knowledge about educating ELL students effectively to help increase their academic achievement.
HOW: The Project NEXUS will award scholarships to pay for tuition and fees up to $1114, per three credit hour course. Admission to UNT is required.

12. Assistance with ESL Certification
WHAT: Review sessions of the TExES ESL Supplemental exam will be delivered by Region 10 ESC free of charge on Saturday, November 5th and April 8th in UNT’s Wooten Hall, room 122 from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Contact if you plan to attend.
WHY: To encourage in-service teachers to become ESL certified.
HOW:
Step 1. To add ESL to yoru initial certificate, first register to take the Supplemental exam (#154) at: .
Step 2. Send test registration receipt to Ana Figueras at for the project to reimburse the cost of the test registration (around$131).
Step 3. Apply to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to have ESL added to your initial certificate.

13. UNT Math and Science Pre-Service Teachers
Spring 2013 – 2017
10 pre-service teachers each year will enroll in one of these two courses: EDBE Assessing Language and Content and EDBE Pedagogy for Teaching ESL EC-12 or 5 pre-service teachers enroll in both courses. Project pays their tuition and fees ($1114 per 3 hour course.)
Spring
20 pre-service teachers each year participate in a two-day professional development workshop.

14. Continued UNT Pre-Service Teachers Mathematics and Science
Fall
Five pre-service teachers attend state or national conferences with faculty and/or project staff.
Spring
Pre-service teachers have access to the Project NEXUS mathematics and science web resources.

15. Project Evaluation Activites
Below are some of the evaluation activities:
Formative Assessment and Evaluation
Summative Assessments and Evaluations For Tracking Outcome-Based Results
Workshop evaluation by participants using pre and post surveys.
Number and percent of project completers passing the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES) ESL exam and obtaining ESL certification.
Classroom observations of a sample of pre-service and in-service teachers using the SIOP Observation Protocol instrument.
Yearly STAAR results in mathematics and science of ELLs and non-ELL students of participating teachers, and Texas End-of-Course results in selected mathematics and science courses for ELLs and non-ELLs.
Analysis of curricula adaptations, lesson plans and syllabi of pre-service and in-service teachers incorporation of ELPS and SIOP Model features.
Data on enrollment and credits earned in coursework taken by pre-service and in-service teachers at UNT.
Project Management feedback template for use in tracking and reporting on project activities.
Number and percent of project completers placed in LEAs, teaching ELLs after completion of the project and one year after project ends.