Transcript richard floyd power point presentation to the bisd fine arts teachers

BROWNSVILLE ISD
IN-SERVICE
PRESENTATION
August 18, 2010
Statutes and Rules
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31 Senators and 150 Representatives write the laws that
govern education (Texas Education Code) - TEC
State Board of Education writes rules school districts
follow to carry out the law (Texas Administrative Code) –
TAC
Commissioner of Education (appointed by the Governor)
also writes rules to implement certain policy as defined
by the TEC
State Board of Education is an elected body of 15
members
Success in the 81st Legislative
Session
All a direct result of TMEA/TCQAE lobbying efforts
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Restored one credit fine arts requirement in RP and
DAP graduation plans and added a fine arts
requirement to the Minimum Plan
For the first time there is a middle school fine arts
course requirement
Fine Arts is now a part of the state accountability
system in the Distinction Tier
One million dollars appropriated for professional
development in the integration of math and science
and the arts
Successful legislation to protect state purchase of
instructional materials for all Enrichment subjects
WHAT TEXAS LAW AND
STATE BOARD RULE SAY
ABOUT FINE ARTS
Fine Arts holds its most prominent placement
in law and State Board rule that it has
enjoyed in recent years. Fine arts is defined
in State Board rule as music, art, theatre and
dance.
Mission and Objectives
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Objective 4 of the Texas Education Code
(TEC) states: A well-balanced and
appropriate curriculum will be provided
to all students. Chapter 28 of the TEC
states, “Each district shall ensure that all
children in the district participate
actively in a balanced curriculum
designed to meet individual needs.”
Required Curriculum
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All the courses in the Required Curriculum,
which includes fine arts, are necessary for
a child to receive a well-balanced,
meaningful education. The word
"Required" in the TEC means that "each
school district that offers
kindergarten through grade 12 shall
offer this curriculum."
Texas Essential Knowledge &
Skills
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The State Board of Education will identify
the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
(TEKS) for all subjects of the Required
Curriculum. The TEKS define what
students should know and be able to do in
each academic subject area and each
grade level. TEKS are currently in place for
all fine arts disciplines.
Foundation Courses
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English language arts, math, science, and
social studies are called Foundation
courses because the TEC’s academic
objectives identify these courses as the
foundation of a well-balanced and
appropriate education. These subjects will
continue to be assessed on the state level.
Enrichment Courses
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Fine arts courses are a part of the Enrichment
Curriculum, a component of the Required Curriculum. By
definition, enrich means "to make richer, to add greater
value or significance." It does not mean "extra," "not
necessary," "elective," or "optional." These courses are
an integral part of the educational process and in many
cases are the courses that give meaning and substance
to a child's education and to his or her life. By law,
school districts, as a condition of accreditation,
must utilize the TEKS in delivering instruction in
all subjects of the Required Curriculum - not just
in Foundation courses.
Graduation Requirements
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Under state board rule, the Recommended
Program, the current default graduation
plan, and the Distinguished Achievement
Program require one credit of fine arts for
graduation. Fine Arts is defined as an
“academic core component” in each of
these plans.
Elementary Requirements
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State Board rule (19 Texas Administrative Code,
Chapter 74, subchapter A) now mandates that
school districts provide TEKS-based instruction
in all subjects/courses of the Required
Curriculum in grades K-5. This requirement
includes music, art and theatre at each of these
grade levels. School districts may deliver this
instruction in a variety of arrangements and
settings.
Middle School Requirements
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Every student must take one TEKS-based
fine arts course in grades 6, 7, or 8.
High School Requirements
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High schools must offer at least two of the
four state-approved fine arts subjects (art,
dance, music, theatre).
Marching band students receive Band
credit as well as PE credit (not waiver)
No Child Left Behind
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Though not a part of Texas law, the
federal legislation, No Child Left Behind,
includes fine arts as a part of the
academic core curriculum.
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Plans for
Legislative
Session
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Refile TAKS Pullout Bill
Possible move of fine arts to Foundation
Curriculum
Hold on to what we have protected in law
Begin to impact Distinction Tier Indicators
Possible addressing of class size and instruction
time in elementary fine arts classrooms
Refinement of extracurricular rules
Redistricting and 18 billion dollar budget
shortfall will impact virtually every legislative
decision.
SB1364 – TAKS Pullout Bill
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The Board of Trustees of each school district shall
adopt and strictly enforce a policy limiting the
removal of students from class for remedial
tutoring or test preparation. A district may not
remove a student from a regularly scheduled class
for remedial tutoring or test preparation if, as a
result of the removal, the student would miss
more than 10 percent of the school days on which
the class is offered, unless the student’s parent or
another person standing in parental relation to the
student provided to the district written consent for
removal from class for such purpose.
Local Advocacy
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Perhaps the most important component of
fine arts survival
Provide materials – printed and/or on
website
Inspire and train your members and
parents on how to be effective lobbyists
Organize presidents of arts booster
organizations in your district (COPS)
Why do we do what we do?
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Shoebox letters
Jascha Heifetz
Winston Churchill
Barbara Jordan
Teaching – The Most Honorable
of Professions
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Years ago, after a celebrated international
career on the stage, the word famous violinist
Jascha Heifetz became a professor of music at
UCLA. When someone asked him whey he had
left the glamour of performing to become a
teacher, Heifetz answered, “Violin playing is a
perishable art. It must be passed on; otherwise
it is lost.” Then he went on to say, “I remember
my old violin professor in Russia. He said that if
I worked hard enough someday I would be good
enough to teach.”
Barbara Jordan, Former Texas
Congressman
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The arts are not a frill. The arts are a
response to our individuality and our
nature, and help to shape our identity.
What is there that can transcend deep
difference and stubborn divisions? The
arts. They have a wonderful universality.
The arts have the potential to unify. It can
speak in many languages without a
translator. The arts do not discriminate.
The arts can lift us all up.
Robert Floyd
Executive Director, TMEA
Chair, Texas Coalition for Quality
Arts Education
[email protected]
512 452-0710, ext 101
www.tmea.org