State Technology Requirements
Required
Technology Applications Curriculum
Technology Applications curriculum requirements are specified in 19 TAC
Chapter 74. This curriculum focuses on the teaching, learning, and integration
of digital technology skills across the curriculum. Districts must ensure
that sufficient time is provided for teachers to teach and for students
to learn the essential knowledge and skills in technology applications
for Grades K-12.
Technology
Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TA TEKS)
The Technology Applications TEKS were developed and adopted for Grades
K-12 and correlated to the LRPT. These TEKS, found in 19 TAC Chapter 126,
describe what students using technology should know. These Technology
Applications (TA) standards are important for lifelong learning in a digital
age
Technology
Applications Educator Standards
In addition to student Technology Applications standards, there are educator
Technology Applications standards and certificates for all beginning educators,
based on the Technology Applications TEKS for Grades 6-8.
Technology
Applications Certifications
Certifications are required for teachers of Secondary Technology Applications
classes. Certifications are not required for teachers of Elementary and
Middle School Technology Applications courses and concepts.
Teacher Technology Competencies
Educator
standards are required for all beginning educators and highly recommended
for current educators. These standards tie directly to the Technology Applications
student standards. According to No Child Left Behind, all
teachers must be technology literate. To ensure that all teachers are technology
literate, many districts have established Technology
Competencies Programs.
State
Technology Assessments
The Texas
Campus STaR Chart is a tool for technology planning, budgeting for
resources, and evaluation of progress in integrating technology into the
school
curriculum and infrastructure. Districts must complete the online Texas
STaR Chart Needs Assessment for each campus at least once annually.
The Texas Teacher STaR Chart is designed to help teachers, campuses, and districts determine their progress toward meeting the goals of the Long-Range Plan for Technology, as well as meeting the goals of their district. This Chart can assist in the measurement of the impact of state and local efforts to improve student learning through the use of technology as specified in No Child Left Behind, Title II, Part D. It also can identify needs for on-going professional development and raise awareness of research-based instructional goals.
The Texas Teacher STaR Chart survey results are designed to provide supporting data for the Texas Campus STaR Chart. Districts are encouraged to have all of their teachers complete the Teacher STaR Chart and use the average scores from the chart to inform the scores for their Campus STaR Chart. The STaR Chart is divided into four Key Areas: Teaching and Learning, Educator Preparation and Development, Administration and Support Services, and Infrastructure for Technology. Each Key Area is divided into Focus Areas. Within each Focus Area, indicators are provided for assessing the teacher’s Level of Progress.
Sample Performance Descriptors are provided for Teaching and Learning and Educator and Prepartion to help the teacher determine the score that best reflects his/her current Level of Progress.
