TiffanyGram – 5-29-14

Greetings Science Educators!

I know many of you are packing up your classrooms, wishing your students well for the summer and celebrating graduations. I just wanted to say thank you as a fellow educator, parent, and citizen for the sparks you ignited and flames you fanned to inspire students this year. I know the many words of encouragement you shared with colleagues to motivate them and the many hours you spent investing in quality science education. I just wanted to say thank you for all you do!

I also wanted to provide you with an update regarding the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science and the growing OKSci Network!

Update on new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science:

The Senate Rules Committee did not hear HJR 1099, a House Joint Resolution passed by the House Rules Committee to disapprove the new science standards on May 12^th. However, last Friday, an amendment was made to HJR 1097 that that would have disapproved the rules pertaining to the science standards. The Senate then passed HJR 1097. Since HJR 1097 was amended by the Senate prior to the vote, HJR 1097 then had to go back to the House of Representatives to vote to pass or not. The House of Representatives did not hear HJR 1097 before the House adjourned on Friday, the last day of the session. This means that HJR 1097, with the science standards attached for disapproval, was NOT heard and NOT passed by both chambers.

Pursuant to 75.O.S. 308.3 (D)(4), if the omnibus joint resolution approving or disapproving agency rules fails to pass both houses of the Legislature, the Governor may declare all rules to be approved and finally adopted by publishing a deceleration in the Oklahoma Registration on or before July 17.

This means that all agency rules, including the OSDE rules pertaining to science standards, will now go to Governor Fallin to consider signing into rule. As soon as there is an update, we will share.

Transition Recommendation Plan:

With this in mind we are moving forward with plans to support educators and districts with transitioning to the new science standards.  A committee of representatives from K-12 education, higher education, career technology, and business and industry have begun developing a Recommendation Transition Plan that will serve to support teachers and districts in decisions regarding transitioning from PASS 2011 to the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. We will have the information available to districts on or before the Vision 2020 Conference this summer. Keep in mind; the assessments for science will continue to be aligned to the PASS 2011 standards until 2016-2017. 

Vision 2020 Conference: Science and STEM sessions July 15^th and 16^th

The Vision 2020 Conference is a great opportunity to gain insight into the new science standards and explore effective instructional practices for science education. This year’s conference will include presentations on:

•   Integrating the 3 Dimensions of the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science into classroom instruction.
•   Integrating the new Engineering Practices into classroom instruction
•   Integrating Literacy in Science
•   Exploring progression in learning science K-12
•   STEM Integration

What can you expect from the science/STEM presentations at Vision 2020?

•   The sessions will include model lessons that align to the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science;
•   The sessions will provide opportunities to participate in active learning experiences with peers;
•   The sessions will explore classroom assessment strategies

Special Science Education Workshops July 15^th and 16^th at Vision 2020

We are excited to announce, the 3 Dimensions of Science Education Workshops, presented by Sam Saw, the Director of Science Education at the South Dakota State Department of Education. Mr. Shaw has been working with science educators in South Dakota for two years to implement the Disciplinary Core Ideas, 8 Science and Engineering Practices, and Cross Cutting Concepts recommended in A Frameworks for K-12 Science Education and integrated into the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science, into their classroom instruction. Mr. Shaw will share simple strategies and lesson ideas for grades K-12 in the two-day workshop. The July 15^th and 16^th workshops are designed to build on one another but attendance at both are not required.

Remember, the Vision 2020 is Free to educators so sign-up today! http://www.okvision2020.ok.gov/

Textbook Adoption:

The State Textbook Committee is moving forward with science textbook adoption this year. The committee will meet through the summer and fall to determine which texts align to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science. A list will be produced in the fall with all the texts determined to be adequately aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science, by the State Textbook Committee. The textbook caravans will begin in the spring of 2015 and the monies for textbook adoption for science will be released to districts July 1, 2015. My understanding is that textbook adoption for science cannot be delayed any longer. If any of the information above changes, I will convey as soon as possible.

Assessment:

Preliminary student science score reports for Grade 5, Grade 8 and Biology EOI have been posted to the secure file-sharing site.  Districts will have 30 days to clean up student data from June 4^th to July 3^rd.  Finalized state level data will be available in August.

Contact Craig.Walker@sde.ok.gov for questions.

OKSci Network:

Through the efforts of numerous OKSci educators we have grown an OKSci network to include:

•   An OKSci Facebook page with nearly 700 members
•   An OKSci Science Department Chair Consortium (please e-mail me if you are interested in participating in this group).
•   An OKSci Informal Science Educators Consortium
•   A successful OKSci Leadership Program
•   An OKSci Higher Education Consortium
•   OKSci Tulsa Curriculum Coordinators Consortium (building off of the successful OKC Metro Science Curriculum Coordinators Consortium

There are numerous other groups forming soon that will be led by science educators in our state that will serve as professional learning groups for the needs of OKSci educators. If you see a need for a professional learning group around science education that you would like to participate in our start, please contact me, I’d be happy to assist in whatever way I can.

If you are interested in staying connected to Summer Professional Development opportunities or resources developed this summer sign-up for the science listserv with an e-mail you can access this summer or join the OKSci Facebook page.