Texas Mathematics Teacher Fall/Winter 2021 - 11

TEA Updates
Fall/Winter 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 2021-2022 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 ESTAR/MSTAR windows for the 2021-2022 school year are as follows:
Universal Screener
August 23 - October 15, 2021
January 10 - February 11, 2022
April 18 - May 20, 2022
Diagnostic Assessments
August 30 - October 22, 2021
January 18 - February 22, 2022
April 25 - May 27, 2022
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 2021-2022 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.
T-TRADE Applications: 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. "
Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
PAEMST awards are the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government specifically for K-12 mathematics and
science teaching. The awards were established by Congress in 1983. Each president since then has recognized up to 108
exemplary teachers each year. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of The White House
Office of Science and Technology Policy. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities,
and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.
The nomination and application windows for the 2022 competition are now open for teachers who teach math or science
in grades K-6. Teachers can sign up to apply or be nominated. In Texas, eligible teachers who submit a completed
application by February 6, 2022 will earn 25 hours of CPE credit. To sign up, apply, or find information about the awards,
teachers can visit www.paemst.org. In Texas, questions can be sent to tx_paemst@tea.texas.gov.
www.tctmonline.org
Fall/Winter 2021 | 11

https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/txrcfp-texas-response-curriculum-focal-points-k-8-mathematics-revised-2013 http://www.texasmathsupportcenter.org/ https://tea.texas.gov/academics/curriculum-standards/t-trade-assessment-item-development-pilot-summer-2021 https://www.txetests.com/edc/ http://www.paemst.org https://www.tctmonline.org/

Texas Mathematics Teacher Fall/Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Texas Mathematics Teacher Fall/Winter 2021