What do I really need to know to pass this exam? STEP 1:Know School Law **You will not be required to remember TEC#’s- Just remember meaning of the law** TEC 21.404- Planning and Preparation Time- Each classroom teacher is entitled to at least 450 minutes within each two-week period for instructional preparation, including parent-teacher conferences, evaluating work, and planning. A planning period under this section may not be less than 45 minutes within the instructional day. TEC 21.405- Duty Free Lunch- Each teacher is entitled to at least a 30-minute lunch period free from all duties connected to the supervision of students TEC 22.051- Immunity from Liability- this section does not apply to the use or maintenance of any motor vehicle. –There will be a question on what is the only immunity teachers are exempt from.- Bus. TEC 26.004- Access to student records- a parent is entitled to student records including non- custodial parents. There will be a question on whether a divorced parent can attend ARD. Yes!!! TEC 33.081- Extra-Curricular Activities- a student will be suspended from participation if grade is lower than a 70. TEC 37.004 -Placement of students with Disabilities- a student with a disability may be removed to an AEP for up to 10 days but districts must continue to provide services defined in each student’s IEP. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973- Prohibits schools from discriminating against students who have disabilities. Provides for equal access and opportunity. 14th Amendment- Ensures due process; legal procedures and safeguards; rights of parents to examine school records; requirement that parents have prior notification of changes; parental consent for evaluation and/or placement. - Two questions on this- Student rights 4th Amendment- Right to unreasonable searches- this will be there. 1st Amendment- Freedom of Speech Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964- Protects people from discrimination based on color, race, or national origin. Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964- prohibits discriminatory practices, including sexual harassment in the workplace. Suspension- 3 days maximum rule- Procedural Due Process- Person must be provided an opportunity to be heard Sexual Harassment- School will be held liable in any case involving harassment particularly if they were aware of the problem. -CPS must be notified if involves teacher Federal Copyright Law- Ok to copy for classroom use, -“fair use only” but not as a substitute for copying works as a substitute for purchase. STEP 2:Know Acronyms AEP- Alternative Education Program AEIS- Academic Excellence Indicator System ARD-Admission, review, and Dismissal Committee BIP-Behavior Intervention Plan CA-Chronological Age DEC-District Effectiveness and Compliance ESL-English as a Second Language FERPA- Family Education Rights and Privacy Act-Buckley Amendment-Right to record IDEA-Individual with disabilities Education Act, Part B IEP- Individual education Plan ITP- Individual Transition Plan (16 yrs. & older) ISS- In School Suspension LD- Learning Disability LEP- Limited English proficient LPAC- Language Proficiency Assessment Committee LRE- Least Restrictive Environment MR-Mental Retardation OCR- Office of Civil Rights OHI- Other Health Impairment PIAT- Peabody Individual Achievement Test PRC- Placement Review Committee SBDM- Site Based Decision Making Committee TINA- Teacher in Need of Assistance TLI-Growth from year to year for a student. TLI score can be used to assess learning progress within a subject area across grades. Texas Percentile Ranking- Comparing your campus with state average STEP: 3 Important  for Exam   Remember that the scenarios however are much longer. Be sure to carefully circle and or underline important information. Many scenarios will begin by stating that this is an experienced teacher, first year principal, and high school or campus elementary campus, so watch questions carefully. Each scenario may have 5 to 8 questions associated with it. These scenarios are all related to issues covering areas such as Sp. Ed, Regular Ed., CATE, ... Review the roles of SBDM thoroughly. AEIS: two sets of AEIS questions: One will be elementary and one for high school. KEY- remember that if it asks for you to find elementary data only look for elementary data, not secondary. If scenario begins with elementary, think elementary and look a t answers immediately. Notice that some answers sound great but don’t address elementary. Eliminate those immediately. Look for discrepancies in scores between subgroups Look for retention rates among minority students Look for staffing questions-males/females Look for budget funding carefully Look for operational expenditures especially when comparing to campus groups and state averages. Always leave those questions that begin with I, II, III & IV, for last because they will consume most of your time. Once you do work on them, eliminate wrong answers first. Look at the longest answer first. It is usually long to justify as correct. Hence if it is long and you need to guess, most likely that will be the correct answer. Eliminate possible wrong answers. Look for key words in the stem (question) and responses (answers). Look for TAAS key words & objectives on test type questions. Always think Higher Level. Always look at answers first. ALWAYS!!!!!!! Think of Buzzwords if confused on questions.                                           STEP 4. KNOW SBDM SBDM –Important notes Campus-Level Site Based Decision Making Committee- Composition and Membership Composition: 1. Principal 2.Classroom Teachers shall be nominated and elected by classroom teachers and assigned to that campus 3.The remaining employee members shall be non-teaching professional employees. 4.At least 2 parents, 2 business representatives, and 2 community members. 5.A district level representative may serve on each campus committee. Definitions: 1.Parent-A person who stands in a parental relationship to a student. 2.Business representative- A person whose business is represented by a school district. 3. Community Representative-A person who resides in the local community and campus.                       Site Based Decision Making Committee Purpose: The SBDM committee’s primary responsibility is to provide important input to the principal in regards to goal setting, staffing patterns, curriculum, budgeting, and school organizations. Another goal of the committee is to provide leadership in the development of the campus plan. The ultimate goal of the SBDM is to provide and improve student achievement at all cost and to increase district and state achievement goals. Collaborative Decision Making Process: The process allows for individuals in the instructional organization to share information, discuss ideas, and provide input to the principal for final decision making. The process Who is involved: Principal, teacher, Parent, Business representative, and Community representative. Priority: Student Achievement and learner centered. Important to have an Agenda- There will be 2 questions on having an agenda. SBDM will always focus on Collaboration among all stakeholders, have a vision, monitor, evaluate, and see success through. Regarding Budgets: Always make accurate projections, regarding personnel, facilities, curriculum and staff in-service. Remember accountability. This will be on the exam. Always think SBDM as learner centered, student achievement at all cost. SBDM must always address: Planning, curriculum, budgets, staff development, and staffing projections.