1. KEEP Parents “In The Know”
Monica Garcia
Edgewood ISD
Director of Student Support Services

2. Session Overview Graduation History overview past and present
How we keep our parents informed...What they need to know
Mail merge ideas to notify the parents in a timely manner
Packets
TAMS Brochure
Calendar of Events
District Parent Engagement Calendar
Mail merge Step by Step

3. How do we keep parents informed with all the updates?

4. TEAM WORK! Edgewood ISD Provides A World Class Education
Chief Academic Officer – Lilia Nanez
Executive Officer for Campus Administration –
Dr. Mary Miller
Executive Officer for Curriculum and Instruction- Anna Nieto
Director of Career and Technical Education –
Anne Lackner
Parent Engagement Coordinator – Melisa Bombella
District Testing Coordinator- Jim Street
Specialists

5. Assessment History TABS (1979) TEAMS(1984) TAAS(1990) TAKS(1999)
STAAR (2012)

6. New Assessment for Graduation Requirements
Assessment- End of Course
English I and II >Algebra I>Biology> U.S. History
English I and English II will be combined Reading/Writing Test (5 hours) beginning in Spring of 2014
Districts will need to evaluate students at the end of 11th grade and enroll students that are unlikely to pass an end of course exam in a college prep course.

7. HB 5

8. HB 5 Requirements
HB 5 changed the graduation programs from MHSP, RHSP, and DAP to a Foundation Program with options for:
Endorsements;
Distinguished Level of Achievement; and/or
Performance Acknowledgements.
HB 5 requirements become effective with freshmen but students enrolled in high school prior to will have the option of transitioning to this graduation program.

9. HB 5 Graduation Plan Overview
22-credit Foundation Program
17 specified credits + 5 electives
26-credit Endorsements
19 specified credits + 7 electives
26-credit Distinguished Level of Achievement
19 specified credits, including Algebra II + 7 electives
For ANY student:
Performance Acknowledgements

10. Distinguished Level of Achievement
A student may earn a distinguished level of achievement by successfully completing:
a total of four credits in mathematics, which must include Algebra II
a total of four credits in science
the remaining curriculum requirements
the curriculum requirements for at least one endorsement
A student must earn distinguished level of achievement to be eligible for top 10% automatic admission.

11. Performance Acknowledgements
A student may earn a performance acknowledgment :
for outstanding performance
in a dual credit course
in bilingualism and/or biliteracy
on an AP test or IB exam
on the PSAT, the ACT-Plan, the SAT, or the ACT
for earning a nationally or internationally recognized business or industry certification or license

12. Postsecondary Education-Implications for Counseling
Postsecondary Education – Implications for Counseling: In , elementary, middle school, or junior high school counselors must advise students and parents of the importance of postsecondary education. High school counselors must provide annual counseling, to parents and students, related to postsecondary education, including the advantages of earning an endorsement, performance acknowledgement, and distinguished level of achievement.
A student must graduate at the distinguished level of achievement to be eligible for automatic admission through the Top Ten Percent. A student who is not eligible for automatic admission may apply to any general academic teaching institution if the student completed the Foundation program or achieved a certain score on the SAT or ACT.

13. HB 5 Continued
Notes:
o All students must indicate, in writing, during their 9th grade year, an endorsement they wish to pursue. At the end of their 10th grade year, students may move to the 22-credit Foundation Plan under certain circumstances.
o All LEAs must make at least one endorsement available; if only one is available, it must be Multidisciplinary Studies.
26 credit Foundation Plan with Distinguished Level of Achievement: Eligible for Top 10% Automatic Admission to an IHE
 Requires same courses as Foundation Plan with Endorsements; however, one of the 4 mathematics credits must be Algebra II

14. Graduation History
4 x4 Graduation Plans- Students in grades 9th -12th for SY can graduate with the following:
Minimum
Recommended
Distinguished
New this year- Foundations program for 12th grade students

15. New for incoming Freshman of 2014-2015
FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM 
With Endorsements
Exceptions for 12th Grade students this year they can graduate on a foundations program.

16. Beginning in the school year, a school district must ensure that each student, entering ninth grade, indicates in writing an endorsement that the student intends to earn.
A district must permit a student to choose, at any time, to earn an endorsement other than the endorsement the student previously indicated.

17. A student may graduate under the foundation high school program without earning an endorsement if, after the student’s sophomore year:
(1) the student and the student ’s parent or person standing in parental relation are advised by a school counselor of the specific benefits of graduating from high school with one or more endorsements; and
(2) the student ’s parent or person standing in parental relation files with a school counselor written permission, on a form adopted by the agency, allowing the student to graduate under the foundation high school program without earning an endorsement

18. Foundations Graduation Requirements
English Language Arts Four credits
English I
English II
English III
Advanced English Course
Mathematics Three credits
Algebra I
Geometry
Advanced Mathematics Course
Science Three credits
Biology
IPC or Advanced Science Course
Advanced Science Course
Social Studies Three credits
U.S. History
U.S. Government (one-half credit)
Economics (one-half credit)
World Geography or World History or Combined World History/World Geography (course not developed yet)

19. What Does This Mean?
Requirements for assessments have changed within the past year.
Graduation requirements are changing with this current year and for upcoming freshman.

21. What this Means….
Incoming Freshman will be under new HB5 requirements-Foundations with endorsements
Which are the following:
26-credit Foundation Plan with Endorsement: Eligible for general admission to an IHE
Adds the following courses to the 22-credit Foundation Program:
1 additional Advanced Math (for a total of 4 Mathematics credits)
1 additional Advanced Science (for a total of 4 Science credits)
2 additional Electives (for a total of 7 elective credits)
Under this plan, students must also complete the course work required to obtain at least one of the available endorsements (coursework TBD by SBOE):
 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
 Business and Industry
 Public Services
 Arts and Humanities
 Multidisciplinary Studies
Sophomores- Seniors will be on 4x4 with the option to opt into a foundations program

22. Preparing for Endorsements
PLAN..PLAN… PLAN
Get the most current updates
We have been working closely with the CTE Director and campuses to see what we should offer.

24. Information We Should Provide To The Parents
Sometimes it is too complicated

25. What Do Parents Need to Know…….
State Assessment Implications-School Districts and Campuses
English Language Learners and Years in U.S. Schools - a student will now have to be enrolled for 60 consecutive days in order for the year to count.
Districts must have procedures in place to minimize disruptions.
Districts will need to evaluate students at the end of 11th grade and enroll students that are unlikely to pass an End of Course in a college prep course.
Teachers must be notified of State Assessment results of students they taught in that school year.
Board Policy must limit the removal of students from class for remediation or test prep, to no more than 10% of the school days on which the class is offered.
House Bill 5 indicates that accelerated instruction must be provided to all students who do not meet standard on any STAAR 3-8 or End of Course assessments. This accelerated instruction must be provided prior to the next assessment. Accelerated Instruction may require participation of the student outside the school day, however transportation must be provided by the district.
 No more than two benchmarks can be administered per corresponding state assessment.

26. How do we explain EOC to Parents ??
Make it as simple as possible
Tell them what they need to know
Tell them what they want to know…. How is it going to affect my child
Color code important information to parents

27. Bridges: How we are Working with our Students

28. Working with Current 8th Grade Students
We are using Bridges with all 8th -12th Students
All students have taken career inventories
We are posting endorsements and courses that are required for them to take the next four years

29. Student and Parent Activities
Scheduled visits to our High School Campuses
Students will be placed in a group of Students
They will visit elective classes ROTC, Athletics, debate, band, etc.
An open house is going to be held so they can bring their parents and view all CTE courses.
Endorsements offered will be promoted throughout the district. Parents and students can see what the four year plans will look like when they chose a specific endorsement.

30. Next Step Choices
Students will be scheduled to go into the lab and make their choices after they have attended both events
Counselors will discuss their selection from their interest inventory and students will proceed to enter their choices.
A four year plan will be printed to be sent home for student's to bring back signed
If students do not bring it back a parent conference will be scheduled to help chose the correct plan

31. Documents that are Helpful

34. Texas Assessment Management System TAMS

35. An Important Way to Keep Parents Up to Date is TAMS
Conduct Parent Meetings to advertise TAMS
Explain to parents they can get results as soon as they are available at the district level

36. TAMS

38. Exciting Things are Happening in Edgewood
Exciting Things are Happening in Edgewood! NEW this year Parent Engagement Coordinator

39. How do we inform parents
She facilitates and oversees district parent meetings in our district.
Ensures parents are kept up to date with important information. Such as testing and graduation requirements
She works hand in hand with Student Support Services as they assist the assessment department with notifying parents of test results.

40. First How do we keep up? Attend trainings at our service center
Meet with curriculum team
Keep up with the Texas Education Agency updates
Focus and think of advertisement to staff , students, and parents

44. Sample of Parent Presentation

45. Graduation Requirements Now and the Future
Monica Garcia
Director of Student Support Services

46. GRADE CLASSIFICATION .
After the ninth grade, students are classified according to the number of state credits earned toward graduation
Credits Earned
Classification
0-5.5
Grade 9 – Freshman
6-11.5
Grade 10 – Sophomore
Grade 11 - Junior
18+
Grade 12 - Senior

47. Current Graduation Plans
We currently have three plans
Minimum
Recommended
Distinguished

48. HB5 General Overview
HB 5 changed the graduation programs from MHSP, RHSP, and DAP to a Foundation Program with options for :
Endorsements;
Distinguished Level of Achievement ;and /or
Performance Acknowledgements
This becomes effective with freshmen but students enrolled in high school prior to will have the option of transitioning to this graduation.

49. New this Year HB5
Foundation Plan

50. House Bill 5 New Graduation Plans Foundation Plan
English Language Arts Four credits
English I
English II
English III
Advanced English Course (TBD by SBOE)
Mathematics Three credits
Algebra I
Geometry
Advanced Mathematics Course (TBD by SBOE)
Science Three credits
Biology
IPC or Advanced Science Course (TBD by SBOE)
Advanced Science Course (TBD by SBOE)
Social Studies Three credits
U.S. History
U.S. Government (one-half credit)
Economics (one-half credit)
World Geography or World History or
Combined World History/World Geography

51. Foundation Plan With Endorsements

52. TAKS- End Of Course Assessments
Math, ELA, Science, and Social Studies
EOC (5)
English I
English II
Reading and Writing combined in Spring 2014
Algebra I
U.S. History
Biology

53. Keeping Parents Informed
Texas Education Agency-TEA
Texas Assessment Management System(Pearson)-TAMS

54. TEA
House Bill 5 updates
Testing Calendar
Graduation Requirements

55. TAMS
Student Portal
Up to date STAAR scores
Unique ID code on CSRs

56. What Does This Mean Keeping up with Graduation Plans is important
Keeping up with test scores is important
Use your resources
Stay in close communication with your child’s counselor
Visit our college centers

57. 6 Easy Steps to Mail Merge

58. Create the letter you will be using.

59. Data File from Pearson
Have the file that you want to use for the mail merge available.
Remember where it is saved.

60. Set Mail Merge
Once you finish your letter you will go to the tool bar and click on
MAILINGS
START MAIL MERGE
STEP BY STEP MAIL MERGE WIZARD

61. Step 1 : SELECT DOCUMENT TYPE
Select the document type you are working on. In this case it is LETTERS. Go down to the bottom of the screen and click on Step 1 of 6 NEXT: STARTING DOCUMENT

62. Step 2 : SELECT STARTING DOCUMENT
Use the Current Document
Start from a Template
Start from Existing Document
Select USE THE CURRENT DOCUMENT.
Go down to the bottom of the screen and click on Step 2 of 6 NEXT: SELECT RECIPIENTS

63. Step 3 : SELECT RECIPIENTS:
Use an existing list
Select from Outlook Contacts
Type New List
Select USE AN EXISTING LIST.
Then click on BROWSE .
Look for the Pearson Data File that you will be using and select the file.

64. SELECT TABLE will appear. Click on the Name of the Sheet.
(Only one name will appear. )
Then click OK.
You will get a preview of the file you selected.
Click OK.
Go down to the bottom of the screen and click on Step 3 of 6 NEXT: WRITE YOUR LETTER

65. Step 4 : WRITE YOUR LETTER
Click and highlight the section that you want to mail merge.
Example:
To the Parents of: ___________
I would highlight the underline.
Then you go to the right of the screen and select MORE ITEMS.
On the Insert Merge Field selection, select the field you would like. Here, I would select Student Name.
Go through your letter inserting all the areas where you need a field.
Go down to the bottom of the screen and click on Step 4 of 6 NEXT: PREVIEW YOUR LETTERS

66. Step 5 : PREVIEW YOUR LETTERS
Here you can make sure all the recipients (student names) are correct. You may edit the list of recipients if needed.
Go down to the bottom of the screen and click on Step 5 of 6 NEXT: COMPLETE THE MERGE.

67. Step 6 : COMPLETE THE MERGE
Your Mail Merge is ready to print! You may edit individual letters here, if needed.

68. Resources Texas Education Agency Website Region 20 Website
Use A-Z Index to find specific topic
Region 20 Website
Texas Assessment Management System

69. ENJOY THE REST OF THE CONFERENCE
THANK YOU! Monica Garcia Edgewood ISD Director of Student Support Service (210)
ENJOY THE REST OF THE CONFERENCE