Early Childhood/Elementary Essential Elements Texas Style.

Overview & Synopsis

In the 1980s, the passage of two laws--Chapter 75 of the Texas Education Code (providing for a well-balanced curriculum) and Texas Senate bill 50 (mandating teacher testing prior to certification)--has led to many changes in elementary and early childhood education as well as teacher education in Texas. In teacher education programs, course content is now geared toward helping students pass the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), required since 1984, and the Examination for the Certification of Educators in Texas (ExCET), required since May, 1986. The number of areas of academic specialization for elementary education majors has also been reduced, and the amount of field experience required for all education majors has been increased. The inclusion of the essential elements from the State Board of Education Rules for Curriculum in the appropriate professional development education courses has served as further evidence of the implementation of the new standards. Students must master each essential element for each curricular area in their college coursework. This legislation will continue to generate curricular changes throughout Texas. Appendix titles include: (1) general provisions Chapter 75 of the Texas Education Code; (2) Elementary Well-Balanced Curriculum; (3) Essential Elements in English Language Arts, Grades 1-6; and (4) Two Reading Essential Elements and Descriptors by Grade Level. (SKC)