Advanced Academics & GT Updates

Our coordinator meeting on Oct. 16 contained important updates and plenty of opportuities to connect with advanced academics partners and leaders of advanced academics and gifted & talented from around the region and beyond. The slide deck is linked below in case you could not join us or simply want to review the content.

Region 10's advanced academics services are part of the Instructional Practices Package and align with CCMR as well as secondary core content areas to support ALL students.

OnRamps to Increase Student Opportunity

Session #2661877 Registration

Nov. 12

9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Zoom

International Baccalaureate Lunch & Learn Zooms

Session #2663771 Registration: IB 101

Nov. 12, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Session #2663773 Registration: IB Funding

Nov. 19, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Improving College & Career Readiness Through Instruction

Session #2661909 Registration

Nov. 14

9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (9:00-10:00 career / 10:00-11:00 college)

Zoom

Understanding and Interpreting SAT Suite Knowledge and Skills Report to Impact Instruction & Student Outcomes

Session #2662817 Registration

Dec. 6 - In Person at Region 10

9:00 - noon presentation from College Board

TEA Advanced Academics Office Hours

November 7, 2024, 1:00 p.m.

&

December 5, 2024, 9:00 a.m.

To apply, an eligible College Prep Course for Accountability Provider must:

• Have served students in the 2021-2022 academic year and continue to serve students actively.

• Submit a Letter of Intent via Qualtrics to TEA, including three .csv files with data on previous College Prep Course Participation (District Information for 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024).

• Complete and submit a detailed application through Qualtrics to TEA.

• Undergo a thorough quality review of the application by TEA and faculty reviewers from across the state.

• [UPDATED] As of the TEA advanced academics office hour on Nov. 7, the process for submissions has not yet opened. It is still waiting on approval from upper leadership at TEA. The plan is to have an approved list of courses before the end of March. It was communicated to TEA during the office hour that the delayed timeline was creating challenges for schools and students since course catalogs are already being finalized and student registration will begin soon.
  

This process will result in the following for a school district:

• A list of approved College Preparatory Course for Accountability providers.

• Each College Preparatory Course for Accountability provider will receive a unique Service ID for districts and campuses to use when coding their participation in an approved College Preparatory Course for Accountability:

• Unique Service ID for College Preparatory Course English Language Arts

• Unique Service ID for College Preparatory Course Mathematics

• Ongoing oversight by TEA of student outcomes through data monitoring related to approved College Preparatory Course for Accountability participation.

Region 10 was notified on Nov. 7 that Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board had published in October an FAQ about the dual credit eligibility rule changes that occurred in May. You need to communicate with your dual credit partnering institutions for specific guidance.

You can also access the rules directly:

• Rule 4.54 - Texas Success Initiative

• Rule 4.84 - Dual Credit Requirements

The Texas AP/IB exam subsidy amount for 2025 exams is $27. The TAA announcement will be published soon. The 2025 AP exam fee is $99. The College Board will provide a $37 fee reduction per AP Exam taken by an eligible student with financial need. In addition, schools are expected to forgo their $9 rebate for these students. With the Texas subsidy of $27, the resulting cost of an AP exam taken by an eligible student will be $26.

• FAQs
• Video: Introduction to Digital AP Testing
• Technology overview (and the new technical conversation guide)
• AP Coordinator Planning Guide for digital AP Exams
• Testing accommodations for digital AP Exams

Upcoming Career Kickstart Webinars:

• Oct 30 (11:00 am)
  
• Oct 30 (4:00 pm)
  

The Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) Cycle 3 consolidated grant application opened on October 14, 2024, and closes on December 13, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. CST. School Districts, and charter schools can apply for grants to implement, expand, and support AP Computer Science Principles for schools, teachers, and students. Learn more here.

Under TEC §29.916, school districts are required to permit a home-schooled student the opportunity to participate in an administration of the PSAT/NMSQT or Advanced Placement (AP) tests offered by the district. The statute also requires public notice about the registration process and the eligibility of home-schooled students to take these tests.

Region 10's gifted and talented program is a separate cooperative focused on the individual academic and emotional needs of identified GT students.

Gifted Foundations Part 1

• Oct. 29 from 8:30-3:30
• Nov. 12 from 8:30-3:30
• Dec. 9 from 8:30-3:30

Gifted Foundations Part 2

• Oct. 30 from 8:30-3:30
• Nov. 13 from 8:30-3:30
• Dec. 10 from 8:30-3:30

6-hour GT updates: These are being offered in 3-hour increments this school year. You'll need to sign up for two of the following to earn your required 6-hours!

(3 hour update) Cultivating Empathy and Resilience: Tackling Bullying of Gifted Students

• Nov. 14 from 8:30-11:30

(3 hour update) Thoughtful Learning: Using the 4 Cs to Challenge Gifted Students - Great for Secondary

• Nov. 14 from 12:30-3:30

(3 hour update) Empowering Excellence: Cultivating Self-Teaching Skills in Gifted and Talented Learners - Great for Secondary

• Dec. 13 from 8:30-11:30

(3 hour update) Screen Wisdom: Cinematherapy Lessons to Learn for Teachers

• Dec. 13 from 12:30-3:30

• Many districts are beginning their universal GT assessments for kindergarten soon. Remember identified kindergarten students must begin receiving GT services by March 1, 2025.
• GT Foundations Parts 1 & 2 are to be completed in person. Parts 3-5 are available through our My Professional Learning platform.
• Most districts provide opportunities for teachers to earn their annual GT 6-hour updates locally. In addition, R10 offers in person 3 hour options, virtual book studies, and online one-hour sessions to total the hours you need! Check out our NEW PICK-6 titles!

Twelve north Texas students have been selected as 2024 National Math Stars, receiving more than $1.2 million in free resources and support over the next decade to supercharge their learning and help them develop to their fullest potential. Thank you district GT leaders for helping us find those students and get them these amazing resources! We'll hear more from National Math Stars at our March GT Coordinator meeting!

• September 2024 (Accountability, Texas College Bridge, Digital AP, Digital SAT, GT Reminders)
• March/April 2024 (Performance Reporting, CLEP, & GT Offerings)