Great things are happening in Texas Public Schools -- Friends of Texas Public Schools
This month...
  • The number of Recognized and Exemplary school campuses rises by more than 50% from 2005 to 2006

  • More A's, F's for schools

  • Need a speaker?

  • Letter to DMN Editor published

  • Test your TAKS readiness

  • Videos featuring students and teachers from around the state


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    This month's featured sponsors

    Stay Involved...Stay Active September 2006
    The Courage to Teach

    Don't forget to RSVP for Friend of the Year Award Reception!

    Friends will honor Mike Boone, of Haynes and Boone, LLP, with its Second Annual Texas Public Schools Friend of the Year Award for his unwavering support of public education.

    The reception is Tuesday, October 17th, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon Avenue near Love Field, sponsored by Central Market, Coca-Cola, SHW Group, and Southwest Airlines.

    Doors open at 4:30pm for anyone interested in viewing the museum.

    Suggested minimum $25 contribution to Friends will be accepted at the door. Please email your RSVP to lmilder@charter.net.

    We hope to see you at the reception honoring Mike where last year’s recipient Charles Butt, Chairman & CEO of H-E-B, Friends cofounders Scott and Leslie Milder, and the evening’s keynote speaker Mike Moses will present the award.


     
    The number of Recognized and Exemplary school campuses rises by more than 50% from 2005 to 2006

     

    There are 3,380 Exemplary and Recognized campuses in 2006, compared to 2,213 in 2005. “One of the reasons there was a decline in the number of acceptable campuses as reported in the story below is that many moved up into the Recognized or Exemplary categories,” said Scott Milder, President, Friends of Texas Public Schools. “Out of more than 8,000 campuses statewide, only 297 are rated academically unacceptable, and 31 of those are charter schools. While it is certainly not acceptable that even one campus is in this category, the fact is the number of academically unacceptable schools represents a very small percentage of the total number of school campuses statewide.”
    More A's, F's for schools

     

    The ranks of schools earning Texas' top two performance ratings surged this year, but the number of academically unacceptable campuses also jumped – putting those schools on notice for staff shake-ups in a year.

    More North Texas schools also received high marks from the state. Of the regular campuses that were rated, more than half were labeled exemplary or recognized. The number of campuses rated unacceptable – the equivalent of a failing grade – also rose.

    In announcing annual performance ratings for all districts and campuses in the state, Texas Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley praised the dramatic improvements in which 42 percent of all schools were labeled exemplary or recognized for 2006.

    About 45 percent of campuses were rated academically acceptable – equivalent to a grade of C. Among school districts and independent charter school operators, two-thirds were rated acceptable.

    Dr. Neeley focused on schools in the top two categories, saying schools fared well in a year in which many classes were disrupted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and prairie wildfires. "It's clearly a strong sign that our schools are rising to the challenge," she said.

    Read more in the Dallas Morning News...
    Need a speaker?

     

    Friends of Texas Public Schools Cofounders Leslie and Scott Milder deliver an inspiring, uplifting and optimistic message about Texas Public Schools.

    Click here to complete a speaker request form
    Letter to DMN Editor published

     

    The following letter to the editor written by Larry Ascough was published in the Dallas Morning News. Ascough is a legendary school public relations professional who has spent over 40 years telling about the success of our public school systems.

    RE: "More A's, F's for schools." Wednesday's front page news story

    Kudos to reporters Terry Stutz, Holly Hacker and their colleagues for balanced handling of the latest Texas school performance ratings. Many other news outlets around the state headlined that the number of schools rated academically unacceptable had increased. That is accurate. But the truth is, even more schools moved up in the top two ratings-- exemplary and recognized. Your team obviously made a special effort to point out both the highs and lows, and provide some context to help readers (the impact of low-income students, the disruptions in learning caused by natural disasters this year and the largest increase ever in test passing thresholds). Texas educators, students and many supporters are working hard to enhance public school academic performance. They deserve the kind of fair and truthful coverage the Morning News provided. Just wish the headline on your website version had taken the same high road.

    Larry Ascough
    Friends of Texas Public Schools
    “The climate of opinion depends on who talks and who keeps quiet.”

    -- Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann
    The Spiral of Silence, 1984
    Test your TAKS readiness

     
    Some questions from the 11th grade science TAKS test

    When a DVD is read, laser light touches the DVD surface and is then measured at location A. What allows light to return to location A after striking the DVD surface? <br>
     

    • Conduction
    • Refraction
    • Magnification
    • Reflection

     

    Which of these best explains how mutation can be beneficial to an organism?

     

    • Phenotypic change may create an advantage over other organisms.
    • Recombined genetic material improves genotype stability.
    • Mitosis becomes a favored means of reproduction.
    • Deoxyribose sugars develop into additional nucleotides.

     

    An empty cup was tightly covered with plastic wrap, and a few grains of salt were sprinkled on top of the plastic. When a tuning fork was struck and placed slightly above the plastic wrap, the salt began to move. Which characteristic of waves does the movement of the salt best demonstrate?

     

    • Echo formation
    • Diffraction
    • Resonance
    • Specular reflection
    Videos featuring students and teachers from around the state

     

    Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD captured kindergarten students at McWhorter Elementary who started a new chapter in their lives. The annual "Boo- hoo Breakfast" helps kindergarteners and their parents make the transition.

    Watch the video

    Northside ISD's Luna Middle School fosters students' creativity through a unique African dance program.

    Watch the video

    Clear Creek ISD features a laptop initiative for technology in the classroom that is bringing students and technology closer than ever.

    Watch the video
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    Friends of Texas Public Schools
    Scott Milder, President & Chief Executive
    4000 McEwen Road North
    Dallas, Texas 75244-5083

    Phone: 972-701-0700