1. Certification Requirements
A. Grades 9-12
- Total number of 9-12 teachers with main assignment in science: 7,720
- Total number of science teachers in grades 9-12 with an Earth science assignment: 485
- Percentage of 9-12 science teachers with an Earth science certification: 56%
- Specific licensure requirements for secondary teachers: Four options in approved ed subject area; 24 hour in a single area- 48 hours in broad field/composite area; major/minor required.
B. Grades 6-8
- Total number of teachers in grades 7-8 with a main assignment in science: N/A
- Total number of grades 7-8 science teachers in all assignments: N/A
- Percentage of middle grade science teachers certified in science: N/A
- Specific licensure requirements for middle school teachers: Four options in approved ed subject area; 24 hour in a single area- 48 hours in broad field/composite area; major/minor required.
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2. Course Requirements
A. Grades 9-12
- Number of science credits required for high school graduation: 2-minimum plan; 4-recommended plan
- Required science courses: Biology and integrated physics and chemistry-minimum plan; biology, chemistry, physics, one elective-recommended plan.
- Is an Earth science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes, an option for the 4th science credit.
- Is Earth science part of another course required for high school graduation? No
- If Earth science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements? Yes. The current course is called Geology, Meteorology, and Oceanography (GMO). A new course effective September 2010 is called Earth and Space Science (ESS).
- Is an Environmental science course included in the recommended high school science curriculum? Yes, an option for the 4th science credit.
- Is Environmental science part of another course required for high school graduation? No
- If Environmental science is taken, does it count towards graduation requirements? Yes
B. Grades 6-8
- Is Earth Science part of the middle school science curriculum (grades 6-8)? Yes.
- Is it taught as a full year curriculum or an integrated curriculum? Currently Earth science is found in an integrated approach in grades 6-8. The proposed curriculum effective September 2010 will designate 8th grade as primarily Earth science.
- At what grade level(s) is Earth science taught? 6th-8th.
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3. K-12 Enrollment
A. Percent of Grade 9 students enrolled in selected courses
|
Course |
Earth science |
Chemistry |
Biology |
Physics |
Percent |
2% |
79% |
95% |
32% |
B. Enrollment trends in Grade 9-12 Earth science
|
Year |
Percent |
Students |
1996-97 |
8% |
27,509 |
1997-98 |
9% |
31,316 |
1999-00 |
8% |
28,749 |
2003-04 |
2% |
Not Available |
C. Students in grades 7-8 enrolled in selected science courses
|
1999-2000 |
2003-2004 |
Course |
Students
(Percentage) |
Students
(Percentage) |
Earth Science |
Not Available |
Not Available |
General Science |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Physical Science |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Life Science |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Integrated or Coordinated Science |
Not Available |
Not Available
(100%) |
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4. K-12 Indicators
|
State |
National |
| Average Freshman Graduation Rate |
72.5% |
73.2% |
| College Enrollment Rate |
55.4% |
68.6% |
| AP Participation Rate |
27.5% |
25% |
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5. Science Standards
- Standards Publication: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
- Year in which science standards were adopted: 2010.
- Are state standards determined at the district level? No
- When will the state standards be revised? N/A
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6. Testing and Assessment
A. State Science Tests
|
Test |
Grade Levels Tested: |
Earth Science Component on the Test? |
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. |
5, 8, 10, 11 (exit level); tests in 10 and 11 will be eliminated in 2012 when EOC is fully implemented) |
Yes, in grades 5 and 8 |
EOC: End-of-Course Assessments |
Biology, Chemistry, Physics (voluntary until 2012) |
No |
B. State High School Exit Exam
- Name of Exam: Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills
- Type of Test: Criterion-refrenced
- Does the exam have a science component? Yes
- At what grade do students first take the exam? 11
- Is passing the exam a requirement for a diploma? Yes
- Does the exam have an Earth science component? No.
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7. Textbook Adoptions
- Does the state select or recommend textbooks? State selects textbooks and creates a “conforming” list of books that meet the state standards.
- Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Various. See here for more information.
- Environmental science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the high school level: Various. See here for more information.
- Earth science textbook(s)/program(s) used in the state at the middle school level: Earth science concepts are integrated into the middle school science textbook series.
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8. State Contact Person
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