As you are planning schedules for next year, please consider the following:
When recruiting teachers for courses in the AP Pathway (honors, PreAP, and AP) please understand the time commitment expected of these teachers will be significant in the months of June and July. We will be investing money and resources into their development over the summer which, in turn, requires their attendance and participation. A necessary part of being an AP Pathway instructor is the specialization in pedagogy and curriculum which requires additional time to master. As you recruit teachers, please help them understand that teaching these courses is a commitment to developing their skills and knowledge which will entail substantial time from them this summer.
Because of the differences in instructional expectations between Honors and on-level coursework, it may be more effective to give a teacher two Honors preps (i.e., 6th Honors and 7th Honors) rather than two preps at the same grade level (i.e. 6th on-level and 6th Honors) when possible.
As you talk with teachers about summer learning, please consider the following:
Middle School Honors teachers should attend APSI rather than the Institute for Teaching Excellence (formerly MS Pre-APSI). This will help those teachers focus on the end goal of the AP Pathway which includes an increased success rate for students on AP exams. This also lays a strong foundation as teachers prepare assessments and instruction for their students.
Teachers who teach two different Pre-AP courses (such as middle school math teachers with both Algebra 1 and Geometry) will be required to complete the Pre-AP Online Foundational Module Series for Teachers for both courses they will teach. See below for details on the Pre-AP Online Foundational Module Series for Teachers.
Teachers will be involved in paid curriculum development for Honors and Pre-AP courses over the summer. This preparation time is vital to their success as instructors and to their students' success. Please confirm their availability during these sessions:
Honors Science and Social Studies Teachers: June 7&8 | 8:30-3:30 AND July 26-29 | 8:30-3:30
The additional time for these teachers is to adapt existing curricular resources for the AP Pathways rigor.
Honors & Pre-AP ELA and Math Teachers: July 26-29 | 8:30-3:30
Springboard training will occur during August PD.
Pre-AP Science & Social Studies Teachers: July 26-29 | 8:30-3:30
Pre-AP teachers will also participate in the Online Foundational Module Series (see below).
Procedures for APSI (Honors & AP Teachers):
Seth will email Academic APs with the number of seats available to that campus for APSI by Friday 2/26.
Campus administrators identify teachers who need to attend APSI from their campus. Please remember that teachers should not attend APSI two summers in a row - TEA will not reimburse the district for those teachers.
Teachers must select their session, download and fill out this registration form, and return it to campus administration.
The campus administrator fills out this Google Form for each teacher by April 15.
The Advanced Academics office will register all teachers for APSI and the accompanying course in Strive.
The Advanced Academics office will take care of payment for APSI.
Teachers must fill out the survey by August 15th in Strive after completing APSI to receive credit.
Procedures for Pre-AP Online Foundational Module Series for Teachers (Pre-AP Teachers and Principal):
In May, Seth will ask for a list of your Pre-AP teachers for 2021-2022.
At the end of the semester, Pre-AP teachers will be sent directions on how to access the Online Foundational Modules in Pre-AP Classroom. These modules must be completed by July 25.
The Advanced Academics office will register all teachers for the Online Foundational Modules Series for Teachers in Strive.
Teachers must fill out the survey by August 15th in Strive after completing APSI to receive credit.