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February 2023 Update from the Texas Legislature

by Matt Russell February 23, 2023

written by Matt Russell

The 88th Texas Legislature is in full swing and the Governor and Lt. Governor have each released their priorities for the legislative session, which include plenty of education related issues. Governor Abbott announced seven emergency items, one of which includes school safety. Additionally, Lt. Governor Patrick’s released his priority legislation, which includes items such as teacher pay, school safety, and more. The Speaker of the House and Lt. Governor have also announced their chambers’ respective committee assignments so members can begin their work vetting legislation.

Click to view committee assignments.

Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) will serve as the Chair of the Senate Education Committee and Representative Brad Buckley (R-Salado) will serve as Chair of the House Committee on Public Education.

Who Represents Me?

House Bill 1 (HB 1) and Senate Bill 1 (SB 1)

In the biennial state budget of HB 1 and SB 1, the base bills of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees fully fund public education and include two priority items for TCEA: 1) the IMTA (Instructional Material and Technology Allotment) and 2) cybersecurity funding. The bills include $1,050 billion for the IMTA and $55 million for TEA to provide cybersecurity services for school districts. TCEA will be advocating for an increase in both of these amounts.

Computer Science Pipeline Initiative

In addition to what is already included in the base budgets, CS4TX, a consortium of tech companies as well as computer science (CS) based nonprofits are asking for an appropriation for the new Computer Science Pipeline Initiative. This initiative would recruit new educators to the field of computer science through professional development and bring Texas public schools into compliance with the Texas Administrative Code that requires (CS) education in all high schools.

Other Legislation TCEA Is Following

Senators and Representatives have already started filling legislation that TCEA is following including:

SB 717 relating to school district cybersecurity
HB 1569 relating to the creation of a Computer Science Advisory Council
HB 1291 relating to coding for video games
HB 2106 relating to virtual student and family engagement plans
SB 928 relating to student data privacy
HB 2386 relating to supplemental virtual instruction

Many bills have yet to be filed and are still being drafted by the Texas Legislative Council. Several of these include expanding broadband and recommendations from the Texas Virtual School Commission among others. Stay tuned for monthly updates from TCEA as the 88th Texas Legislature continues!

February 23, 2023 0 comment

Technology Was a Hot Topic at April’s SBOE Meeting

by Jennifer Bergland April 11, 2022

written by Jennifer Bergland

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) met the week of April 5-8. At this meeting, the board heard from the Commissioner of Education. It also dealt with several issues that pertain to technology policy that affect Texas schools.

Commissioner Update

At each meeting, the Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, updates the board on items pertaining to Texas schools. He usually provides the board with pertinent updates and then answers questions posed to him by individual board members. At the April meeting, he provided them with a summary of the TEA’s 2021 Annual Report. The report focuses on key areas of achievement based on the Agency’s Strategic Priorities:

Recruit, Support, and Retain Teachers and Principals
Build a Foundation of Reading and Math
Connect High School to Career and College
Improve Low Performing Schools

Morath began by reviewing the historical performance data. As most people already are aware, COVID had a negative impact on student academic performance. One noteworthy observation is that, in the past, the commissioner tied the negative academic performance to virtual learning. In my opinion, in this review, he properly attributed the learning loss to the COVID pandemic. Although virtual learning is a part of that calculus, it is a false assumption to blame the academic struggles our students exhibited during the pandemic entirely on virtual learning. A myriad of factors contributed to our student’s learning loss, and each one needs to be addressed.

Morath also discussed the Teacher Vacancy Task Force, which was launched on March 10. He provided the board with the data the task force will use to frame their discussions.

I found the commissioner’s presentation and the questions that some of the board members asked after his presentation to be very enlightening. The board members’ questions seemed to reflect the issues facing teachers and the board’s constituents.

Technology Applications and Computer Science Standards Revised

*Photo created by **Patrick Amoy** on Unsplash*

The board had two agenda items related to the proposed revisions to K-8 Technology Applications TEKS and four high school computer science courses. They considered and voted to accept the proposed changes to the K-8 Technology standards on first reading. This triggers a period for public comment. When this time is published in the Texas Register, TCEA will communicate where and how individuals can provide their input through the TCEA Community and our social media accounts. This public comment period is the last chance practitioners have to provide feedback before the board votes to approve the standards in June.

The board also considered and voted to approve the proposed changes to Fundamentals of Computer Science, Computer Science I, Computer Science II, Computer Science III, Foundations of Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics, and Cybersecurity Capstone on first reading. A public comment period will also be announced in the Texas Register. TCEA will communicate this via our communication channels as well.

The Long-Range Plan for Technology Is Getting an Update

TEA is in the process of reviewing and updating the Long Range Plan for Technology. They provided the board with an update on their progress. The plan was approved by the SBOE in 2018. And state law requires it to be updated at least every five years. TEA has chosen to begin that process now because of two issues.

Device Refresh Cycles

Due to the COVID pandemic, most Texas school districts have provided each student with a device they can take home. For years, having a device for every student has been in the Long Range Plan for Technology. However, before the pandemic, it seemed almost unobtainable. COVID suddenly made this a reality due to the need for school districts to provide instruction virtually. TEA wants to update the plan to include guidance on methods for refreshing these devices. TEA and school districts have discovered that a device receives significant wear and tear when transported between home and school every day. To maintain the 1:1 device-to-student implementation, districts will need to make plans for a device refresh cycle.

Cybersecurity and Ransomware

The other issue TEA wants to update in the LRPT is the issue of cybersecurity and ransomware. School districts have increasingly become a target for cyber and ransom attacks. Therefore, it’s important for the state’s plan for technology to address this vital safety concern.

Some of the SBOE members had additional questions about at-home wi-fi access and protecting students from objectionable content. TEA indicated these issues are being addressed through other initiatives, but, more than likely, they will also be included in the LRPT.

Internet Safety Policy

There has been an increased interest in ensuring that students do not access pornographic content via the Internet. Chairman Keven Ellis announced that he plans to include an agenda item at the June SBOE meeting. This item would add a requirement to the Texas Education Code (Chapter 66.105) for districts to certify they have an Internet safety policy. This would be included in the required certification districts make to access their Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment.

He referenced the federal code that requires districts to have an Internet safety policy before accessing and using E-rate discounts. Chairman Ellis said that TEA staff indicated that 85% of Texas school districts utilize the E-rate discounts and, thus, currently certify they have such a policy. He wants to include such a requirement in the Texas Education Code. This would ensure that 100% of school districts are mandated to have and enforce an Internet safety policy.

In Conclusion

As you can see, technology policy was one of the major topics of discussion at this month’s SBOE meeting. TCEA is committed to monitoring these items as they make their way through the process. We will let you know when and how you can let your board member know what you think about these issues.

April 11, 2022 0 comment

Cybersecurity Digital Literacy

Three Easy Strategies for Computer Security

by Andrew Roush November 30, 2020

written by Andrew Roush

November is a big month for computer security. The 30th happens to be National Computer Security Day, a nice reminder for students to reflect on their “digital hygiene” and assess what might be going well and where improvements could be made. If not reminded, students may forget that they should back up their electronic devices, run antivirus programs, and watch out for any suspicious websites they may come across regularly. This is especially important if they are using loaned or borrowed equipment for extended periods of time from their schools.

Some students may feel confused when it comes to protecting their laptops and devices, but there are some easy strategies educators can implement, whether teaching in person or virtually, to help their learners feel empowered and safe online. There are plenty of computer security tools available that offer a variety of benefits and fit most budgets, so it is important to assess what exactly your students’ needs are within the classroom environment to make the best decision for you.

Download a Password Manager

Generally speaking, the more services that are offered online means the more online accounts one has to make in order to use those services. More online accounts means there are more passwords to remember, and most people default to using different variations of the same password because it is easier to remember. Although convenient, this poses a security risk. If there was ever a data breach, your password could be used by a hacker to log into your other accounts and steal sensitive information.

On the other hand, some people are good at creating unique passwords, but are bad at remembering them. A common way this is dealt with is either by writing each unique account down on paper or on a note-taking app on a frequently-used device. Paper is the preferred method here, as an electronic copy of all your private information could easily be deleted or corrupted, but paper can just as easily be thrown out or discarded by accident as well.

To prevent either scenario from happening, there are programs called password managers that you can download which store your information in one easy place on your laptop or computer. This is a great tool for students because they may forget what they set their passwords to, and a password manager can easily find and populate your account information into login screens.

Install a Firewall

Securing your digital accounts is a great step in the right direction for digital hygiene. Next, you might want to take a look at your computer’s network security. Most computers offer some type of malware protection as an add-on when it is first purchased, but it is a good idea to check your computer to see if you have protection or if it may be expired.

If you discover that most of the classroom computers don’t have adequate protection, consider investing in a next-gen firewall program. Firewall technology can detect potential threats in web traffic before they reach your system, which is definitely an advantage if you’re teaching full classes, virtually or in person. The added security of advanced systems may not be the first thing administrators would want to consider spending their budgets on, but it will surely be worth the money saved on potential cyberattacks as schools continue to navigate learning from home. Alternatively, there are a few cheap or free options for securing data.

Purchase a Webcam Covering

One of the easiest ways to make an immediate impact to your personal security on your device is to buy a cover for your webcam. In the current Zoom Era, video conference meetings are the so-called new normal, and it might be worth having manual control over who can and cannot see you.

Although you can turn your front-facing camera off in your settings, it might be worth it to place a physical covering over the camera when you are done with meetings for the day. It can give parents peace of mind knowing that their families aren’t being watched if they are at risk of a cyberthreat, and it also adds another layer of protection against potentially awkward Zoom mishaps.

The end of November marks the beginning of the festive holiday season which is going to be celebrated very differently this year than years before. Families will be relying on their tech devices working properly now more than ever to help spread the merry spirit, and viruses are going to be the last thing on everyone’s minds. To help the holidays run a bit more smoothly this year, consider using one or two of these strategies and tools to help keep everyone’s spirits bright.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

November 30, 2020 1 comment

CTO/CIO Cybersecurity Digital Literacy

Addressing Data Privacy in a Time of Online Learning

by Rachel Jane, Guest Author October 23, 2020

written by Rachel Jane, Guest Author

With October designated as cybersecurity awareness month, there’s a great deal to focus on. Indeed, the argument can be made that the conditions we’re living through in 2020 have brought cybersecurity to the forefront of people’s attention more than ever before. With more people working, teaching, and learning remotely, we are simply relying more on technology — and navigating all of the risks that come with that reliance.

This set of circumstances can open up all sorts of interesting and important conversations. In this one though, we’re going to look specifically at some ways to address and protect data privacy in an online learning environment. For teachers, school administrators, parents, and students alike, it’s important to keep data privacy in mind. And the following tips and ideas can help with that effort.

Take Advantage of Encrypted Ed Tech

The term “encrypted ed tech” would have sounded obscure, to say the least, just a year ago. Now, however, it’s something more school systems are looking into as a means of making sure that the vast troves of data changing hands in remote learning environments are protected. Naturally, it’s already expected that teachers, students, and administrators will take basic security precautions when handing this data — device passwords, good judgment, and so on. But encryption can add another layer of data security.

The idea of endpoint encryption for data protection is simply that information changing hands — between students and teachers, teachers and administrators, and so on — is encrypted within ed tech programs. This all but eliminates the possibility of data being intercepted or improperly exposed in the course of its transfer and storage, thus protecting the privacy of all involved.

Use Well-Made Devices

Much of the focus in ed tech and remote learning concerns software tools, but plenty of teachers and students are also working with devices more frequently — from laptops and tablets to mobile phones, and even smart speakers and voice assistants. By and large, these devices don’t pose many privacy risks people aren’t aware of. They can be protected against through passwords, encryption, secure network usage, and standard precautions. But more dependence on devices also means that the devices themselves have to be well made and secure.

Ultimately, more goes into the security of modern devices than most of us take the time to recognize. It begins with the internal printed circuit board, which is basically the instrument through which electric signals are passed. Once upon a time, these were relatively standardized, but today, the thickness of a printed circuit board and the style of its design can help to make it more secure and durable, even if it’s facilitating complex connections. By a somewhat similar token, a robust and modern battery is also a necessity. A weak or unreliable battery can easily overheat or die out quickly where modern device usage is concerned. And in fact, the same goes for an internal processing chip.

These internal electrical and mechanical concerns have more to do with security than privacy. Inadequate parts can make it all the more likely that a device in heavy, day-to-day use will break down or malfunction in such a way as to compromise student or teacher data. For that reason, even though they can be more expensive, well-made, and reputable devices are best whenever it’s possible to obtain and use them.

Adopt Cloud Storage

This is something a lot of schools and school systems have already done or looked into, and fortunately, in 2020, the idea of cloud storage is fairly ordinary. But it is still something that should be considered with specific regard to data privacy in online learning situations. Cloud networks are designed in some cases to be both more accessible and more secure than local storage, making them excellent choices for the storage of class-related data. Additionally, cloud storage can be backed up on a regular basis so that even a perfectly innocent system or device failure won’t result in the loss of saved data.

Specifics can change according to a schooling situation, but generally now would be a wise time to set up cloud environments that teachers, parents, and students can all access, so that all relevant data can be kept in a reliable digital location (ideally with tiers of access or separate folders for different purposes).

Be Transparent About New Tools and Processes

The final point is that it’s also important for all involved to be open, transparent, and communicative about new tools and processes that are being implemented to assist with remote learning.

Between communication programs, storage options, digital learning tools, and devices, there can be a lot for people to get used to as they adjust to remote learning. This is all well and good, but it also poses a challenge. Anyone using an unfamiliar system or tool without full knowledge of how to use it can make himself vulnerable to data breaches unwittingly. Thus, it’s important that when new tools and processes come up, there is open and thorough dialogue about how to use them, and how to do so in a way that protects privacy.

Photo via Pexels

October 23, 2020 0 comment

Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: Digital Citizenship, Rural Schools, and More

by Andrew Roush January 17, 2020

written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of periodic ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

Digging Into Digital Citizenship

Today’s students will grow up in a world full of technology. Knowing how to safely navigate that world requires good digital citizenship, and schools and districts around the country are making it a major focus.

Massachusetts curriculum and instruction director Matthew X. Joseph shares his “R.E.A.D.Y.” strategy for nurturing responsible digital citizens. [District Administration]
Want students to have ownership of their cybersecurity and digital footprint? Try giving them experience — and even certifications — as IT support. [EdTech]

Connecting with Rural Schools

Rural school districts often share a particular set of challenges, not least of which is keeping schools connected. Connecting rural communities with broadband access can have an impact in the classroom and well beyond it.

Think your school is remote? Try administering a district on an island off the coast of Alaska. Here’s how one administrator does it. [Education Week]
High-speed internet isn’t just useful to instruction — it’s vital to the kinds of careers students will take on after they graduate, even in remote areas. [Broadband Communities]

Face to Face

Safety is a top priority in every school. Now, some are turning to facial recognition technology to keep kids safe, but critics warn it may lead to violations of privacy.

Earlier this month, Lockport City School District in upstate New York activated AEGIS, a facial recognition system, but some students and civil rights activists are wary. [edscoop]
Vox’s Recode takes a deep dive into the history, uses, and concerns over student facial recognition. [recode]

… And Finally

Many students may puzzle over their physics textbook, convinced that the day they understand the subject will be the day pigs fly. And in one case, it just might be. [WGME Portland]

January 17, 2020 0 comment

Educational Trends

Ed Tech News Roundup: Esports, Newfangled Libraries, and More

by Andrew Roush September 20, 2019

written by Andrew Roush

Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of biweekly ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy — and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.

Staying Safe Online and IRL

Digital citizenship and personal safety online are a vital part of everyone’s life, and a topic of growing concern in education. As the focus grows, schools and districts are working to imbed good digital practices into their curricula.

Schools have begun monitoring student behavior online in an effort to prevent bullying and violence, both physical and digital. But questions of safety vs. privacy, especially for students, are being raised. [NPR]
The U.S. Department of Education announced this month that, beginning in 2020, they will grant two Presidential Cybersecurity Education Awards, one to an elementary teacher and one to a secondary teacher, for educators who “best instill skills, knowledge, and passion with respect to cybersecurity and cybersecurity-related subjects.” [ExecutiveGov]

Game On

Esports is another growing trend, and even as educators begin to consider the effects and educational potential of competitive video gaming, new resources are being rolled out.

The High School Esports League (HSEL) has released a free, “turnkey” esports curriculum, with the support of Microsoft, called “Gaming Concepts.” [THE Journal]
Nintendo’s Super Smash Brothers titles are esports mainstays. Now, the Japanese gaming giant has partnered with Digital Schoolhouse to provide UK students with Nintendo’s Switch devices for gaming and devise-based learning. [Pocket-lint]

Not-So-Quiet in the Library

The role of school libraries has changed drastically in previous decades, and as technology continues to adapt, adjust, and innovate, librarians are doing the same.

In Oregon, the number of licensed librarians in schools has dropped nearly 80% while the number of students per librarian has jumped more than 500%. Schools and districts are hurrying to catch up, even as the role of teacher-librarians expands. [The Register-Guard]
In a wide-ranging Q & A, a library department supervisor and president of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association weighs in on the role of the modern school librarian. [Lancaster Online]

…And Finally

The students at North Farmington High School in Michigan didn’t grumble when they had to take their student ID pictures this year; instead, they got creative. Check out how these high schoolers recreated their favorite pop culture characters. [Newsweek]

Photo: fran hogan

September 20, 2019 0 comment

Advocacy Coding/Computer Science CTO/CIO Cybersecurity Digital Literacy Professional Learning STEM/STEAM Technology Applications

86th Texas Legislature Wrap-Up

by Jennifer Bergland June 5, 2019

written by Jennifer Bergland

All good things must come to an end, but only someone who loves politics would consider the legislative process a good thing. I’m one of those people. I love every minute of it, even the ones that go past midnight! Looking back over the past four months, I am happy to report that TCEA was able to move our vision of education forward through legislation and have some promising opportunities to help shape the future of Texas schools. I have created a 2019 Bill Analysis document that include the specifics about the bills that will impact digital education, but below is a quick summary of the more important bills.

Computer Science and Coding

Legislature We had some huge wins in the area of computer science and computational thinking this session. Our six-year goal of providing weighted funding for the 9-12 Technology Application courses has finally been achieved. In HB 3, the school finance legislation, the weighted funding for CTE was changed from grades nine through twelve to grades seven through twelve. In addition, the bill specified that CTE courses and programs include Technology Application courses. This means that Technology Application courses from grades seven through twelve will receive the same weighted funding as CTE courses, which is 1.35 (instead of the normal 1). HB 963 requires the SBOE to consolidate the 9-12 Technology Application courses with similar courses found in the CTE curriculum. The goal is to eliminate duplicates and identify the purpose of each of the courses. Finally, HB 2984 requires the SBOE to update the K-8 Technology Application standards to ensure that they include coding, computer programming, computational thinking, and cybersecurity. It also establishes a committee to create a strategic plan for K-12 CS education to increase computer science instruction and participation in public schools.

Broadband

Legislature There are two pieces of legislation that are going to impact educational broadband. The first is HB 1960 which creates a Governor’s Broadband Council that will advise the governor on issues related to broadband access to unserved areas. This is progress, but not as much as we hoped for. There are few, if any, areas of Texas that are unserved. The original bill included underserved areas, but heavy lobbying by the large telecommunication companies eliminated that language from the bill. However, we consider this progress because we finally have some entity at the state level that will look at the state’s needs for broadband from a strategic perspective. For too long, all state entities have tried to provide affordable, scalable broadband for their own purposes when it would be much more cost efficient to survey the needs across agencies and entities and design a plan to meet all the needs. HB 1960 at least establishes a council that could do this in the future, if given the authority.

The second bill that may help with broadband is HB 3906. This is an assessment bill that requires online testing by 2022-2023. The bill requires TEA to evaluate the availability of Internet access for each school district and identify changes to state law or policy that are necessary to improve the availability of Internet access. This may open a door for more aggressive action in parts of the state that are “served” but are underserved.

Digital Learning

HB 3 established a Blended Learning Grant program and then funded it at $6 million a year. TEA’s Math Innovation Zones are how the agency is fulfilling this requirement. It is good to know that the agency has funding to continue these types of grants.

Legislature

I have already mentioned that HB 3906 requires TEA and the SBOE to implement online testing by 2022-2023. Before this can happen TEA and the SBOE must devise an implementation plan that is approved by the legislature. The planning for this type of implementation will require heavy district input, which will largely come from their technology departments. This has the potential to finally focus some much needed light on what the state must do in order ensure that all students have access to technology, not just for assessment, but for learning throughout the year. In order for students to be successful on an online assessment, they must first be technically proficient and familiar with the type of device they will be using when taking the assessment. This translates to more access to digital tools for all students.

Funding

HB 1 is the budget bill for the 2020-2021 biennium. Listed below are some of the appropriations that were made that will impact digital education:

Technology and Instructional Materials Allotment – $1,101,430,204
OER curation – $20,000,000
Blended learning teacher training – $2,000,000
Blended learning grants – $12,000,000
TxVSN administration – $800,000

HB 396 allows districts to use their TIMA on software that will help manage instructional resources, including the usage and effectiveness of digital materials. HB 4611 stipulates that 50% of the funds that the Texas General Land Office sends to the legislature for education must be appropriated to the TIMA. If this had been in place this biennium, there would have been $3 million more placed in the TIMA. In addition, the budget stipulates that the SBOE should restrict instructional material proclamations to 75% of the TIMA and should consider school district’s technology needs when determining the size of the percentage of the Permanent School Fund sent to the legislature. 50% of this distribution goes into the TIMA. In translation, this means the SBOE should be sending the legislature enough money from the PSF to fund both the instructional material needs of school districts and also their technology needs.

Cybersecurity

SB 820 requires each school district to establish a cybersecurity policy that determines the cybersecurity risks to the district and a plan to mitigate those risks. The district will also be required to designate a cybersecurity officer who will oversee the policy. In addition, the district will be required to report to TEA any cyber attack that breaches the system security and notify the parents of the students whose information has been compromised.

Professional Development

There are several opportunities in the bills mentioned above that will provide professional development in digital learning. The Blended Learning Grants are largely designed to provide professional development for educators in blended learning, not to mention the funding provided to UTeach to continue to provide this type of training to Texas teachers. Also, this is a good chance to remind districts that the TIMA may be used to provide professional development on the use of technology. In addition to these bills, the legislature passed HB 2424 that requires the SBEC to establish rules to create microcredentials in fields of study related to an educator certification class. This was one of TCEA’s legislative priorities, so we are excited to see this bill pass.

What’s Next

The legislative session has come to an end, but the hardest work is ahead of us. Enacting legislation is the first step in changing things. Now we begin the process of working with the different agencies and entities to ensure they are enacted well. Stay tuned for more blogs about many of these legislative initiatives and how you can provide input.

Credits

Photo of the computer code taken by Sai Kiran Anagani on Unsplash. Photo of cables taken by Jordan Harrison on Unsplash. Photo of teacher interacting with students taken by Mimi Thian on Unsplash Photo of teachers taken by Kylie Haulk on Unsplash.

June 5, 2019 0 comment

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