The OnTRACK project, funded by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), focuses on student preparedness for college and career readiness. Customized online resources are being developed to support student success in math, science, social studies, and English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR). OnTRACK materials are aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™), and the College and Career Readiness Standards and Cross Disciplinary Standards. Over 150 TEKS-based online lessons/activities are under development for English I, II, and III. These lessons are targeted to students who are on grade level but demonstrate a need for additional rigorous instruction to become college and/or career ready. Teachers may use lessons for whole class instruction or assign lessons as additional practice. Students may access the lessons independently. Additional lessons are planned for middle school students in ELAR grades 7 and 8 in the 2012-2013 school year. Materials are available in Project Share, and additional resources will be made available as they are developed.
In partnership with TEA, the Institute for Public School Initiatives seeks to achieve three primary goals through the OnTRACK project.
- Provide middle school students with the tools needed to be successful in high school English courses.
- Help high school students exceed the minimum score required on each End-of-Course assessment in order to meet graduation requirements.
- Prepare all students to demonstrate readiness for college and career on English III.
State legislation requires the phase-out of high school TAKS assessments and replaces them with twelve End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. New EOC exams were created beginning in 2009, with the last to be implemented in 2012. College and Career Readiness Standards have been incorporated into the TEKS for math, science, social studies, and English language arts. "College readiness" is the level of preparation a student must attain in English language arts and mathematics courses to enroll and succeed, without remediation, in an entry-level general education course for credit in that same content area for a baccalaureate degree or associate degree program (House Bill 3, Section 39.024a).
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OnTRACK English I is part of the OnTRACK for College Readiness series. The lessons are designed for students to complete independently or under the direction of a teacher. Lessons have been aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) and assist with preparation for the End of Course STAAR assessment.
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OnTRACK English II is part of the OnTRACK for College Readiness series. The lessons are designed for students to complete independently or under the direction of a teacher. Lessons have been aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRS) and assist with preparation for the End of Course STAAR assessment.
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OnTRACK English III is part of the OnTRACK for College Readiness series. The lessons are designed for students to complete independently or under the direction of a teacher. Lessons have been aligned with the College and Career Readiness Standards as well as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills and assist with preparation for the End of Course STAAR assessment.
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Lessons for English Language Arts and Reading for grades 7 and 8 are planned for development in the 2012-2013 school year.
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Karen Nelson |
Director,
Academic Foundation Initiatives |
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Faith Stevens |
Project Manager,
Academic Foundation Initiatives |
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