Texas Mathematics Teacher Spring/Summer 2021 - 29

TEA Updates
Spring/Summer 2021
Jo Ann Bilderback, Director of Mathematics, Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division

Mathematics Achievement Academies - The Mathematics Academies for kindergarten - grade 3 will continue to be
available for the 2020-2021 school year. All teachers who provide classroom instruction in mathematics to students in
these grades will be eligible to attend an academy. This includes special education, bilingual, and ESL teachers. State
law requires TEA to grant priority for academy participation to teachers at campuses with 50% or more educationally
disadvantaged students. Check with your regional education service center (ESC) for available training sessions.
ESTAR/MSTAR Universal Screeners and Diagnostic Assessments - The Elementary Students in Texas: Algebra Ready
and Middle School Students in Texas: Algebra Ready (ESTAR/MSTAR) Universal Screeners are part of a formative
assessment system administered to students in grades 2-8 to support instructional decisions. The content of the screeners
is based on algebra-readiness skills as identified in the Texas Response to Curriculum Focal Points. The results can help
teachers identify if students are at-risk for algebra readiness.
The spring windows for ESTAR/MSTAR assessments are as follows:
Universal Screener
April 19 - May 14, 2021

Diagnostic Assessments
April 26 - May 21, 2021

Online training courses for the ESTAR/MSTAR assessment system are available at
http://texasmathsupportcenter.org/.
For questions concerning ESTAR/MSTAR, please contact the help desk at mathtx@esc13.net or 1-855-462-8489.
T-TRADE Assessment Development Pilot Invites Teacher Participation - The Texas Teachers Review, Assess, Develop,
and Exchange (T-TRADE) pilot is an innovative, collaborative system for teachers to develop and share high-quality
assessment items. In the 2020-2021 school year, the system will be piloted with teachers who teach grade 5 mathematics
and high school U.S. History Studies Since 1877.
* Professional Development: Teachers are provided professional development training that will increase their
understanding, proficiency, and confidence in developing high-quality, fair, and rigorous assessment items that
inform and improve instruction.
* Collaboration: Teachers collaborate to write, review, assess, and exchange high-quality assessment items aligned
to the TEKS.
* CPE Credit and Stipends: Teachers who participate in the T-TRADE pilot will earn continuing professional
education (CPE) credit and may qualify to receive a stipend.
* Practical Use: T-TRADE assessment items will be made available for teachers to download and use in their local
classroom assessments.
* Expanded Use: T-TRADE assessment items that are of the highest quality will be field tested for possible use on
state assessments.
To learn more, please visit the T-TRADE web page. Applicants are encouraged to submit a TEA Committee Educator
Application. A " Committee Preferences " section is at the end of the application; select " T-TRADE Assessment Items
Development. "

www.tctmonline.org

Spring/Summer 2021

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Texas Mathematics Teacher Spring/Summer 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Texas Mathematics Teacher Spring/Summer 2021