BY GRACE DICKENS, HANNAH NORTON & BEN THOMPSON
Zooming in
Going forward
The approach
According to Texas 2036, just 36% of Texas principals said their teachers “demonstrate a deep understanding” of math teaching methods. Grantham with Texas 2036 said math can be “exceptionally difficult” to teach. “You have to understand the actual mathe- matical concepts you’re teaching and also know how to teach math well,” he said. AISD leaders said they’ve responded to falling STAAR scores with “significant” investments aimed at keeping students on track—or catching them up to their peers. Those include new mate- rials, curriculum updates and added supports, such as instructional coaches for teachers and administrators. Carlin-Gonzalez with RRISD said the district is rethinking the use of time during school and adopting state-endorsed High Quality Instruc- tional Materials, which closely align with what is covered on STAAR exams, in select courses to address falling scores.
AISD:
Texas students take early reading “screeners” at the start of kindergarten, but there’s no similar requirement for math. Grantham said deficiencies may not be seen until third grade STAAR testing begins. AISD educators said they also aim to take a “holistic” view of student achievement beyond STAAR, which Finan said can serve more to categorize students than assess their best performance. Similarly, RRISD officials said the STAAR test is only one data point collected among many to measure how well students are doing in school. ”The STAAR score isn’t the only way in which we’re determining students’ needs,” Carlin-Gonzalez said. “We have multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their mastery throughout … the year.”
Revising curriculum with a focus on learning loss; adding new “in points” for students at varying levels Selecting new sustainable and “high- quality” learning materials, rather than rotating through options Using multitiered system of support, or MTSS, model to track and intervene with low-performing students Investing in instructional coaches to support more teacher training Piloting a new school schedule at two middle schools to build in time for accelerated instruction in addition to extracurriculars Implementing High Quality Instructional Materials, which are state-approved and more closely follow exam content
RRISD:
SOURCES: AUSTIN ISD, ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
27
NORTH - NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook