Alief Glossary of TermsTerm Departm

entDefinition

5E Science An instructional model based on the constructivist approach to learning – students draw on their existing knowledge to synthesize and understand new information. The model includes: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate.

accommodation

Special Education

The actual teaching supports and services that the student may require to successfully demonstrate learning. Accommodations should not change expectations to the curriculum grade levels. Examples include: math charts, additional time, preferred seating, and adaptive keyboard.

Achieve Texas Career and Technical Education

An education initiative designed to prepare students for a lifetime of success. It allows students to achieve excellence by preparing them for secondary and postsecondary opportunities, career preparation and advancement, meaningful work, and active citizenship.

ACTAdvanced Academics

American College Testing. A standardized collegiate examination that is commonly used as an indicator of academic aptitude and readiness to enter college. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.

AEISAccountability

Academic Excellence Indicator System. Pulls together a wide range of information on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas every year. This information is put into the annual AEIS reports, which are available each year in the fall. The performance indicators include TAKS results, attendance rates, drop out rates, and college readiness indicators.

AIMSAdvanced Academics

The name of the Gifted and Talented magnet program for grades 2-6. Currently Alief has two elementary AIMS campuses: Outley and Boone, and all six intermediate campuses.

AIMSMath and Science

Activities that Integrate Math and Science. The model uses “doing, writing, illustrating, and thinking” to help engage students in learning math and science concepts.

AIPState

Accelerated Instruction Plan. For every student who does not meet the passing standard after the three testing opportunities, the Grade Placement

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Alief Glossary of TermsCommittee must develop an AIP. This plan shall include the accelerated instruction that the district must provide during the next school year. The plan must be designed to enable the student to perform on the appropriate grade level by the end of the next school year. The AIP must provide for interim progress reports to the student’s parent or guardian and the opportunity for parent consultation with the teacher and/or principal as needed.

ALCDistrict Alief Learning Center.

Alief UTeacher Induction

Alief U is a three year induction program requiring 35 hours of prescribed professional development each year. Year 1 induction – Alief U Undergraduate Studies. Year 2 induction – Alief U Graduate Studies. Year 3 induction – Alief U Continuing Education.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

AMIMath Accelerated Math Instruction. Accelerated Math

Instruction funding is given to school districts and charter schools on a formula basis for early math intervention. This funding is to be used to provide intensive, targeted intervention programs for students in grades K-8 at every campus who have been identified as at-risk for math difficulties. AMI funds are also for students who do not meet the passing standard on any one of the three test opportunities of the grades 5 math TAKS.

APAdvanced Academics

Advanced Placement. Advanced Placement courses are college level courses which are challenging and rigorous and allow students to pursue and receive credit for college-level work while in high school.. Students who complete AP courses are expected to sit for AP Exams. Earning designated scores on these exams allows students to earn college credit for the courses while still in high school. Alief has an open-enrollment policy for AP courses so students with high ability and a desire to take advanced level courses, but who are not identified as gifted, may participate in these courses.

APESpecial Education

Adaptive Physical Education. APE may be offered to students with gross motor delays or other disability-related difficulties that make them unable to participate productively in a regular physical education class.

APLA Elementary Language Arts

Alief Prekindergarten Literacy Survey. An ongoing process of gathering and recording information about a student’s literacy development. The assessment is given in October, January, and May.

ARD Special Education

Admission Review Dismissal. This is the name of the committee responsible for making the educational decisions for a special education student. ARD committee members include: parent, student (if appropriate), regular education teacher, special education teacher, diagnostician, and administrator.

ARI Language Arts

Accelerated Reading Instruction. Accelerated Reading Instruction funding is given to school districts and charter schools on a formula basis for early reading intervention. This funding is to be used to provide intensive, targeted intervention programs for students in grades K-8 at every

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Alief Glossary of Termscampus who have been identified as at-risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia. ARI funds are also for students who do not meet the passing standard on any one of the three test opportunities of the grades 3, 5 and 8 reading TAKS.

ASCD ebooks Library Services

ASF District Alief Support Facility. Located at 14051 Bellaire - the Alief Tax Office, Technology Services, Pupil Personnel Services, and SERS are housed here.

ATMS Assessment Alief TAKS Management System. Released TAKS tests are used to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses.

AVID Advanced Academics

Advancement Via Individual Determination. A fourth- through twelfth-grade system to prepare students in the academic middle for four-year college eligibility.  It has a proven track record in bringing out the best in students, and in closing the achievement gap.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

AYPAccountability

Adequate Yearly Progress. Under the accountability provisions in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, all public school campuses, school districts, and the state are evaluated for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Districts, campuses, and the state are required to meet AYP criteria on three measures: Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, and either Graduation Rate (for high schools and districts) or Attendance Rate (for elementary and middle/junior high schools). If a campus, district, or state that is receiving Title I, Part A funds, fails to meet AYP for two consecutive years, that campus, district, or state is subject to certain requirements such as offering supplemental education services, offering school choice, and/or taking corrective actions.

bilingual education

Bilingual/ESL

English Language Learners whose first language is Spanish are instructed through the Bilingual Education Program. 16 of the 23 elementary campuses in Alief ISD have a bilingual education program. For the 2007-2008 school year we will open elementary school number 24 which will be a bilingual campus and we will add bilingual education to an existing campus making 18 of the 24 campuses bilingual. Alief also has a bilingual education program at each of the 5 intermediate campuses.

BIP Special Education

Behavior Intervention Plan. A plan for managing student behavior. A BIP may include ways to change the environment to keep behavior from starting in the first place, provide positive reinforcement to promote good behavior, employ planned ignoring to avoid reinforcing bad behavior, and provide supports needed so that the student will not be driven to act out due to frustration or fatigue. When a behavior plan is agreed to, the school and staff are legally obligated to follow it.

BNWS Elementary Math

Backward Number Word Sequence. A regular sequence of number words backwards. For example, the BNWS from twenty to ten.

Bridge Program/Teacher

Elementary Language Arts

A district funded reading interventionist on each elementary campus. Beginning of the year assessments determine the lowest 24 students in second and/or third grade. The Bridge teacher provides explicit instruction in reading skills and strategies. Students are pulled in groups of 4-6.

CAP State Campus Action Plan.

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Alief Glossary of TermsCBE with instruction

Advanced Academics

Credit by Exam (with instruction). For credit recovery only

CBE without prior instruction

Advanced Academics

Credit by Exam (without prior instruction). Students may apply to take credit by exam without prior instruction for grade level acceleration K-8 or to obtain original course credit (not credit recovery) for secondary course work - grades 9-12. 

CCA Assessment Campus Common Assessment. Individual campuses prepare assessments for a particular grade level and/or content area to determine individual student strengths and weaknesses.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

CCAP Assessment Comprehensive Curriculum Assessment Professional Development. This comprehensive system is intended to provide educators with a single system for student instructional needs – assessments, curriculum, lesson planning tools, instructional resources, student assessment management system, and video clips of best practice classroom instruction.

CER Science Claims, Evidence, Reasoning. A format for writing explanations – a claim that answers the question, evidence from the students’ data, reasoning that involves a “rule” or scientific principle that describes why the evidence supports the claim.

CHAMPs PASS Conversation, Help, Activity, Movement, Participation. Designed by Randy Sprick, CHAMPs is a proactive and positive approach to classroom discipline.

CIS Guidance and Counseling

Communities in Schools. A dropout prevention organization connecting community resources and schools to help young people successfully learn, stay in school, and prepare for life.

CLC District Campus Learning Center. Clickers

All contents Clickers allow instructors to ask questions and gather students’ responses during a lecture. In clicker systems, each student uses a device (a "clicker") that looks like a TV remote to answer questions posed by the instructor in a specially-designed PowerPoint presentation. Summaries of student responses can be shown in real time to both instructors and students. Answers are also stored electronically for later viewing.

content coordinator

District A district level administrative position. There is a coordinator for each content area including visual/performing arts, language arts, math, advanced academics, bilingual/ESL, etc. In some cases there is an elementary and secondary coordinator such as in language arts, math, and science. And in some cases there is one coordinator K-12 such as in social studies and visual/performing arts. Content Coordinators are responsible for writing district pacing guides and assessments as well as meeting throughout the school year with specialists/department chairs in their content area.

Crest Program/Teacher

Math and Language Arts

A district funded reading and math interventionist on each intermediate campus. The Crest teacher uses beginning of the year assessment data and

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Alief Glossary of Termscum folder information to choose 24 students in 5th grade who are not meeting expectations. The reading and math interventionist meet with the students in groups of 4-6 for 45 minutes per day.

CTE Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education. This department has over 65 course offerings representing fourteen of the 16 national career clusters. CTE provides students with opportunities throughout their middle and high school career including career assessments, earning college credit while in high school, work-based learning experiences, and achieving industry certifications/qualifications all prior to graduation.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

CYS Guidance and Counseling

Community Youth Services. A team effort between Harris County Protective Services, 18 contracting school districts throughout Harris County and one law enforcement agency. The goal of this program is to prevent at-risk youth from becoming victims of child abuse, running away, and dropping out of school or from entering into delinquent behavior.

DCA Assessment District Common Assessment. Evaluates student progress towards district 9-week objectives based on pacing guides. The assessments are written by Alief Content Coordinators and Specialists.

department chair

District In secondary schools (Middle Schools, Ninth Grade Centers, and High Schools), the teacher within a department responsible for disseminating campus and district information to other members of the department.

DIP State District Improvement Plan. Discovery Center IV

Special Education

This class serves students identified as severely emotionally disturbed. The class is located at the Alief Learning Center. This placement is very restrictive and is only considered when the student’s behavior and performance indicates that the student can not be successful in a less restrictive environment. The ARD Committee must recommend this placement.

DNQ Special Education

Does Not Qualify. Indicates that a student was evaluated for special education services, but does not meet the eligibility requirements.

eChalk Desktop and Network Services

An on-line environment that supports leadership, teaching, and learning. With eChalk's safe and secure Online Learning Environment, every school and district community member has appropriate access to event calendars, homework assignments, school board meeting minutes, online discussions, resources, student grades and other information.

easyCBM Elementary Language Arts and Math

A universal screener and progress monitoring system that provides a variety of reading and math assessments.

EIC State Educational Improvement Council. The council is comprised of professional staff, community, business and parent representatives.  The EIC advises the Superintendent in establishing and reviewing the district's educational goals, objectives, and major district-wide instructional programs.

ELA Language English Language Arts.

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Alief Glossary of TermsArts

ELD Bilingual/ESL

English Language Development. A 45 minute period of time in the school day for bilingual/ESL instructors to teach the English language to students who primary language is not English.

ELD Interventionists

Bilingual/ESL

English Language Development Interventionists.

Elementary Campuses

District Alief has 23 elementary campuses with number 24 opening for the 2007-2008 school year. Twenty of the elementary campuses serve grades PK-4, three of the elementary campuses serve grades PK-5.

ELL Bilingual/ESL

English Language Learner. An umbrella term characterizing students whose second language is English - students with Limited English Proficiency (LEPs), students for whom English is a Second Language (ESLs), or Second Language Learners (SLLs).

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

ELPSBilingual/ESL

English Language Proficiency Standards. ELPS outline English language proficiency level descriptors and student expectations for English language learners (ELLs). School districts shall implement ELPS as an integral part of each subject in the required curriculum. In order for ELLs to be successful, they must acquire both social and academic language proficiency in English. Social language proficiency in English consists of the English needed for daily social interactions. Academic language proficiency consists of the English needed to think critically, understand and learn new concepts, process complex academic material, and interact and communicate in English academic settings.

EOC Assessments

Accountability

End of Course Assessments. The purpose of the end-of-course (EOC) assessments is to measure students’ academic performance in core high school courses and to become part of the graduation requirements beginning with the freshman class of 2011–2012. The EOC assessments for lower-level courses must include questions to determine readiness for advanced coursework. The assessments for higher-level courses must include a series of special purpose questions to measure college readiness and the need for developmental coursework in higher education. In addition, a student’s score on each EOC assessment will be worth 15% of the student’s final grade for that course.

ESL Bilingual/ESL

English as a Second Language. Students whose primary language is not English. ??% of the students in Alief ISD are ESL, speaking 60 different languages and dialects.

FNWS Elementary Math

Forward Number Word Sequence. A regular sequence of number words forward. For example, the FNWS by tens from twenty-four.

Focused Collaborative Planning Template

Math and Science

Currently used in middle and high school science and math, the template organizes planning for a PLC team. The team agrees upon one student expectation (SE) and one activity to

Gizmos Math and Science

Developed by ExploreLearning, Gizmos are on-line simulations that power inquiry and understanding of math and science concepts.

GPC State Grade Placement Committee. Enacted by the 76th Texas Legislature (1999), the Student Success Initiative (SSI) grade advancement requirements

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Alief Glossary of Termsapply to the grade 3 reading test, the grade 5 reading and mathematics tests, and the grade 8 reading and mathematics tests. As specified by these requirements, a student may advance to the next grade level only by passing these tests or by unanimous decision of his or her grade placement committee (GPC) that the student is likely to perform at grade level after accelerated instruction.

GT Advanced Academics

Gifted and Talented. students who perform or show the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who: exhibit high performance capability in an

intellectual or creative area; or excel in a specific academic field

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

guiding questions

All contents Questions developed to frame student inquiry and promote critical thinking. Good guiding questions: are open-ended yet focus inquiry on a specific

topic are non-judgmental require high cognitive work to answer contain emotive force and intellectual bit are succinct

IAP State Individual Accommodation Plan. Written for a student in special education or as part of a 504 plan. The IAP details specific practices and strategies for things such as: grading, homework, support services, and learning materials.

IEP Special Education

Individualized Educational Plan. Each public school child who receives special education and related services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). To create an effective IEP, parents, teachers, other school staff--and often the student--must come together to look closely at the student's unique needs. These individuals pool knowledge, experience and commitment to design an educational program that will help the student be involved in, and progress in, the general curriculum.

ILT District Instructional Leadership Team. A campus-based team of instructional experts – specialists, administrators, department heads, etc. – who work together to improve instructional programs and student achievement.

in-class support

Special Education

State and federal law requires that, to the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities be educated alongside their non-disabled peers. In-class support is one such model that teams the general education and special education teacher together. The general education teacher uses his/her expertise in specific content and general learning theory while the special education teacher uses his/her knowledge of teaching/learning process as it relates to specific individuals.

Intermediate Campuses

District Alief has 6 intermediate campuses who serve grades 5-6.

ISIP Language Arts

IStation Indicators of Progress. Used as a universal screener and measures the child’s ability in all critical areas of reading.

Istation Language Arts

Istation is a leading provider of computer-adaptive assessments and curriculum for students of ALL ability levels. Istation can be used as an

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Alief Glossary of Termsintervention tool for struggling students (RTI), as a supplement for all students and as a resource for teachers to differentiate instruction.

JJAEP State Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program. In 1995 the Texas Legislature mandated a separate educational setting to ensure safe and productive classrooms through the removal of dangerous and/or disruptive students and to address the issue of expelled youth receiving no educational services during the period of expulsion.

L4U Library Services

Library 4 Universal. A library software automation system for circulation, student searches, reports, and client management.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

LAT Bilingual/ESL

Linguistically Accommodated Test. Assesses recent immigrants who are LEP-exempt from the Texas assessment program and are enrolled in grades 3-8 or 10. The test assesses mathematics using accommodations designed to help them better understand the language on the tests.

LEP Bilingual/ESL

Limited English Proficient. Students with languages other than English on the Home Language Survey. For these students the district administers an oral language proficiency test (grades PK-6), reading norm-referenced test (grades 2-6), and language norm-referenced test (grades 2-6) to determine language proficiency in English. Students identified with limited English proficiency will be assigned an English proficiency level as per the Texas English Language Proficiency System (TELPAS). 33% of Alief ISD students are considered LEP.

LFIN Elementary Math

Learning Framework in Number. Developed for the Count Me In Too project, it provides teachers with a specific framework of students’ strategies in early number showing increasing levels of sophistication and range of exemplary tasks that can be used for assessment and teaching purposes.

LIFE Skills Special Education

Learning in Functional Environments. This class serves students identified as Mentally Retarded, Autistic or Other Health Impaired. These students need an instructional setting focusing on basic life skills and language development. The curriculum in specifically designed for students with mental retardation.

LIS Library Services

Library Information Specialist. Once known as the librarian, the term now encompasses the expertise provided in acquiring and evaluating information resources in all formats.

LOTE LOTE Languages Other Than English. References the state curriculum for students in a foreign language program.

LPAC Bilingual/ESL

Language Proficiency Assessment Committee. Using testing data and any other available student information, LPAC will determine whether the student is LEP, recommend the appropriate educational program for each LEP student, notify the parent of each LEP student about classification and recommendation (Bilingual/ESL and/or Title III Special Language Program), and facilitate the participation of LEP students in other special programs provided by the district

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Alief Glossary of TermsMath Recovery

Elementary Math

Early intervention programs for mathematical learning. Math Recovery instruction can be implemented individually, in small group, and whole classroom settings.

mentor Teacher Induction

Every first year teacher in Texas is assigned a mentor. The mentor is an experienced master teacher who guides, assists, and supports the beginning teacher in areas such as: planning, classroom management, instruction, assessment, working with parents, obtaining materials, and following district policies.

Middle School Campuses

District Alief has 6 middle school campuses. 5 of the middle schools serve grades 7-8; one middle school serves grades 6-8.

MIS District Management Information Systems. Provides the resources necessary to maintain Human Resources, Payroll, Financial and Student Data for the district.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

modification Special Education

Changes made to curriculum expectations in order to meet the needs of the student. Modifications are made when the expectations are beyond the student’s level of ability. Modifications may be minimal or very complex depending on the student performance. Modifications must be clearly acknowledged in the IEP.

netTrekker Library Services

An educational search tool containing over 300,000 of the best online resources, aligned with state standards and organized by readability and grade level. Each resource is carefully selected by educators to ensure it is safe, age-appropriate, and 100% academically relevant.

NNAT Advanced Academics

Naglieri Non-verbal Ability Test. Assesses general reasoning ability in children and adolescents. Because of the simplicity of directions and the minimal use of language required to solve the items, it is ideal for use with examinees from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. In addition, the NNAT-Individual has minimal motor requirements.

numeracy guidelines

Elementary Math

Guidelines for determining on-level using the Learning Framework in Number.

OER State Open-Ended Response. Assesses a student’s ability to generate thoughtful responses to literary and expository selections on the ELA TAKS test for grades 9-11.

OLPT Bilingual/ESL

Oral Language Proficiency Test. An assessment used to determine the students level of English proficiency. The assessment is given upon enrollment if the Home Language Survey indicates that a language other than English is spoken.

pacing guides District The Alief curriculum. Divided by grade level and content area, pacing guides outline learning objectives and resources to meet the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.

PACS Special Education

Preschoolers Acquiring Communication Skills. This program serves our students’ ages 3-5 that are identified as Speech Impaired and are identified as special education eligible. This program emphasizes the development of Receptive and Expressive Communication skills.

PASS Prevention and Safe Schools

Prevention and Safe Schools. The district has four PASS specialists who work directly with campus administrators and teachers to maintain a positive school and classroom climate.

PBMAS Performance-Based Monitoring Assessment System. An automated data system that reports

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Alief Glossary of Termsannually on the performance of school districts and charter schools in selected program areas (bilingual education/English as a second language, career and technical education, special education, and certain Title programs under the No Child Left Behind Act).

PD Professional Development

Professional Development. Alief offers a variety of training (professional development) opportunities throughout the year. Staff members can view session information on the PD website and register on-line.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

PEP Advanced Academics

Primary Enrichment Program. Students identified as gifted in grades K-2 participate in the PEP program, which is a combination of cluster grouping within the classroom and pull-out. Students are clustered in their grade level with a teacher who has obtained the required hours of gifted training and provides differentiated instruction to meet the needs of their PEP students. Content specialists pull students for special projects at least once during the spring semester.

PGP Guidance and Counseling

Personal Graduation Plan. Senate Bill 1108 requires a school principal to designate a guidance counselor, teacher, or other appropriate individual to develop and implement a personal graduation plan for each student in middle school or high school who does not perform satisfactorily on an assessment instrument or who is not likely to receive a high school diploma before the fifth school year following the student's enrollment in grade 9.

PLC All contents Professional Learning Communities. A collegial group of administrators and school staff who are united in their commitment to student learning. They share a vision, work and learn collaboratively, visit and review other classrooms, and participate in decision making (Hord, 1997b). The benefits to the staff and students include a reduced isolation of teachers, better informed and committed teachers, and academic gains for students.

portfolios Language Arts

Portfolios are collections of students' work over time. A portfolio often documents a student's best work and may include other types of process information, such as drafts of the student's work and the student's self-assessment of the work. Portfolios may be used for evaluation of a student's abilities and improvement.

power standard

All contents Distinguishing “essential” learning standards from those that are “nice to know”. Power Standards are a subset of the complete list of standards for each grade and for each subject. They represent the “safety net” of standards that each teacher needs to make sure that every student learns prior to leaving the current grade. Students who acquire this “safety net” of knowledge and skills will thus exit one grade better prepared for the next grade.

PPCD Special Education

Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities. These programs serve our students ages 3-5 who are identified as special education eligible. These

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Alief Glossary of Termsprograms emphasize acquisition of developmental skills in the areas of Communication, Cognition, Self-Help, Socialization, Fine Motor and Gross Motor. Services range from participating in a Community-based Daycare to participation in Pre-Kindergarten with In-class support to a Self-contained Specialized setting. Students must be three years of age and not Kindergarten eligible by age to be included in this class.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

PreAP Advanced Academics

Pre-Advanced Placement Courses are offered in middle and high school. The College Board recommends that a continuum of these skills be taught as a foundation leading up to the challenging and rigorous courses in the AP program. Gifted students are automatically signed up for the core PreAP content courses in middle school and are highly encouraged to continue to enroll in these courses in high school. Alief also has an open-enrollment policy for Pre-AP courses so students with high ability and a desire to take advanced level courses, but who are not identified as gifted, may also participate in these courses.

protégé Teacher Induction

A teacher in their first year of teaching who is assigned to a mentor on their campus for guidance and support.

PSAT/NMSQTAdvanced Academics

Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test™. It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs. The PSAT/NMSQT measures: critical reading skills, math problem-solving skills, and writing skills.

QUEST Advanced Academics

Students identified as gifted in grades 3-6 participate in the Quest program, which is a combination of cluster grouping within the classroom and pull-out. Students are clustered in their grade level with a teacher who has obtained the required hours of gifted training and provides differentiated instruction to meet the needs of their Quest students. Content specialists pull students a minimum of 27 hours per nine-weeks for extension activities and research projects.

REACH Special Education

Reaching Excellence and Accelerating Learning to new Heights. The class serves students who are identified by the ARD Committee to meet TEA eligibility as Autistic and exhibit significant behavior patterns. These students need a highly specialized behavior management system focused on developing appropriate interactive behaviors.

Reading Recovery

Elementary Language Arts

A highly effective short-term (12 to 20 weeks) reading intervention of one-on-one tutoring for low-achieving first graders.

Region IV ESC

State Region IV Educational Service Center. Provides Alief ISD and 53 other school districts (Region IV) with professional development training and

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Alief Glossary of Termstechnical assistance that support statewide goals for school improvement.

RTI State Response to Intervention. A multi-tiered approach to help struggling learners. Students' progress is closely monitored at each stage of intervention to determine the need for further research-based instruction and/or intervention in general education, in special education, or both. 

SAT Advanced Academics

SAT Reasoning Test. A standardized test for college entrance. It is owned, published, and developed by the College Board and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The SAT has three sections: mathematics, critical reading, and writing. Each section can earn a maximum of 800 points and a minimum of 200 points.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

SAT 10 Advanced Academics

Stanford Achievement Test, Tenth Edition. It is used to measure academic knowledge. The test includes three types of questions: multiple choice, short answer, and extended response for various subjects such as reading comprehension, mathematical problem solving, and science.

SBEC State State Board for Educator Certification. The 11 member board, who are appointed by the governor and three non-voting members, oversee all aspects of the preparation, certification and standards of conduct of public school educators.

SDC State Shared Decision-making Committee. SE State Student Expectation. The Texas Essential

Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are written as student expectations.

SERS Special Education

Special Education Resource Center.

sheltered instruction

Bilingual/ESL

An approach to teaching English Language Learners which integrates language and content instruction. The dual goals of sheltered instruction are: to provide access to mainstream, grade level content and to promote the development of English Language Proficiency.

Six Traits of Writing Assessment

Language Arts

Uses analytical rubrics for: ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, voice, conventions, and presentation to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses of student writing.

specialist District Each elementary and intermediate campus has four specialist units, covering reading, writing, social studies, math, science, and technology in some combination. Each middle school has three full-time and two half-time specialists. The three full-time specialists are for language arts, math, and technology. The two half-time specialists are social studies and science. Each ninth grade center has three specialists. Two of the specialists split language arts, social studies, math, and science. The other specialist is technology. Each high school has six specialists: 1 language arts, 1 math, 1 science, 1 social studies, and 2 technology.The specialists do not have classroom responsibilities. Their role includes: assisting the content coordinator in writing curriculum, teaching demonstration lessons for classroom teachers, assisting teachers in planning instruction, and

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Alief Glossary of Termsmonitoring student/teacher progress.

SPED Special Education

Special Education.

SRI Language Arts

Scholastic Reading Inventory. A reading comprehension assessment that uses the Lexile Framework to help monitor growth and guide instruction for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

SSI State Student Success Initiative. Enacted by the 76th Texas Legislature in 1999, the Student Success Initiative grade advancement requirements apply to the TAKS reading test at grade 3, the reading and mathematics tests at grade 5, and the reading and mathematics tests at grade 8. As specified by these requirements, a student may advance to the next grade level only by passing these tests or by unanimous decision of his or her grade placement committee that the student is likely to perform at grade level after additional instruction.

STAAR Accountability

State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. The STAAR program began in 2012 and includes assessments for:

reading and mathematics, grades 3-8 writing at grades 4 and 7 science at grades 5 and 8 social studies at grade 8 end-of-course (EOC) assessments for English

I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History

STAAR A Accountability

STAAR A, an accommodated version of STAAR©, is offered as an online assessment in the same grades and subjects as STAAR. The passing standards for STAAR A are the same as any STAAR test. STAAR A will provide embedded supports designed to help students with disabilities access the content being assessed. These embedded supports include visual aids, graphic organizers, clarifications of construct-irrelevant terms, and text-to-speech functionality. Students receiving the following services may be administered STAAR A in one or more subjects:

students with identified disabilities who are receiving Special Education services

students identified with dyslexia or a related disorder and are receiving 504 services

STAARAlternate 2

Accountability

TEA has developed the STAAR Alternate 2 assessment to meet the federal requirements mandated under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), a federal education law previously known as No Child Left Behind. TEA designed the STAAR Alternate 2 to assess students in grades 3–8 and high school who have significant cognitive disabilities and are receiving special education services.

STAAR L Accountability

STAAR L is a linguistically accommodated English version of the STAAR grades 3–8 and end-of-course (EOC) mathematics, science, and social studies

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Alief Glossary of Termsassessments. TEA provides the STAAR L for English language learners (ELLs). ELL students must meet participation requirements for a substantial degree of linguistic accommodation in these subject areas. STAAR L is an online testing program. 

STAT Student/Teacher Assistance Team. The team’s fundamental purpose is to identify and plan interventions for students who are experiencing difficulties that cannot be handled by the regular classroom teacher. Common reasons for referring a student to S.T.A.T. fall into three basic categories: academic, behavioral, social.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

STEM Math and Science

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEM is an educational program developed to prepare primary and secondary students for college and graduate study in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). In addition to subject-specific learning, STEM aims to foster inquiring minds, logical reasoning, and collaboration skills. 

STOIC Prevention and Safe Schools

From Safe and Civil Schools. Structure your classroom, Teach expectations, Observe and supervise, Correct fluently.

Structured Special Education

This class serves students identified as Emotionally Disturbed (moderate to severe). These are students who, as determined by the ARD Committee, are unable to function in less restrictive special education classes. These students need a highly structured behavior management system which emphasizes modifying inappropriate behaviors and teaching appropriate behavior and social skills.

TAC State Texas Administrative Code. A compilation of all state agency rules in Texas.

TEA State Texas Education Agency. Their mission is to provide leadership, guidance and resources to help schools meet the educational needs of all students.

TEC State Texas Education Code. Statutes, laws, and regulations dealing with education in Texas.

TEKS State Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. State developed objectives for public school curriculum. The TEKS are the basis for TAKS development.

TELPAS Bilingual/ESL

Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System. Includes RPTE (Reading Proficiency Tests in English) and TOP (Texas Observation Protocol). RPTE: measures annual growth in the English reading proficiency of second language learners, and are used along with English and Spanish TAKS™ to provide a comprehensive assessment system for limited English proficient (LEP) students. LEP students in Grades 3-12 are required to take the RPTE until they achieve a rating of advanced.TOP: provides a systematic way for teachers to holistically rate a student’s English language proficiency level in 4 domains based on observations of the student in daily classroom instruction.

Title 1 Federal The purpose of this title is to ensure that all

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Alief Glossary of TermsPrograms and Grants

children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. Alief ISD has a diverse student population: 45% Hispanic, 36% African American, 13% Asian, and 6% Caucasian. Of the almost 45,000 students, 65% are considered economically disadvantaged.

TLC Special Education

Total Learning Center. This class serves students who are identified with Severe/Multiple Disabilities. This class provides an instructional environment for those students who, because of severe developmental delays and disability conditions, need a highly individualized class which emphasizes motor skill development, communication, and sensory skill development.

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Alief Glossary of Terms

Term Department

Definition

TMSDS Math and Science

Texas Math and Science Diagnostic System. An online tool that supports instructional efforts by providing teachers with a Web-based collection of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-aligned diagnostics and resources. TEA has created this tool to support on-going formative assessment and help teachers provide the best possible education for students. 

T-TESS Human Resources

The Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) is a system designed by educators to support teachers in their professional growth. The three components of T-TESS are: goal setting and professional development plan, the evaluation cycle, and student growth measure. T-TESS has four domains and sixteen dimensions.

UTC Assessment Unit Common Assessment. Created by campus teams to assess a student’s understanding of a particular unit of study.

VMath Elementary Math

A math intervention program built upon scientifically based research principles of effective instruction for struggling students. It is designed to support and complement any core math program by providing targeted instruction and practice in essential math concepts, skills, and strategies. VMath is used in grades 3-6. On some campuses the classroom teacher uses VMath during a required 30 minute intervention time each day. On other campuses VMath is used by a campus interventionist who pulls small groups from a variety of classrooms for 30-45 minutes per day.

Voyager Passport Reading

Elementary Language Arts

A research-based reading intervention program that offers explicit instruction in the five essential elements of reading. Alief received Voyager Passport Reading from the state for grades 4-5 as part of plan to improve 5th grade TAKS reading scores. Voyager Passport Reading is used in grades 3-6. On some campuses the classroom teacher uses Voyager Reading during a required 30 minute intervention time each day. On other campuses Voyage Reading is used by a campus interventionist who pulls small groups from a variety of classrooms for 30-45 minutes per day.

ZPD All contents Zone of Proximal Development. The concept was developed by Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky. It is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help.

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