December 3, Consultation Minutes

Instructional Consultation
December 03, 2009


Chapter 37

HFT brought to the attention of administration the violations of state law Chapter 37. Principals in several schools all over the district are refusing to enforce the mandatory removal of students with serious violations including physical abuse requiring removal. HFT will start taking these to TEA as they are more responsive than HISD ever is. CEP referrals being delayed by paperwork is not the problem. The administration stated that they had made no changes in the procedure. HFT stated that to their certain knowledge, principals are being encouraged not to refer and threatened with withholding of funds if students are referred. The financial threat came from the superintendent. The pattern is clear across the district; principals are not referring students for mandatory removal. CEP will take fully mainstreamed Special Ed students.

Excessive Paperwork

The continued demand for excessive paper work in disaggregating weekly tests for TAKS is impacting the teachers’ time to teach. This is a clear violation of state law. Where does all this paper go? The district has demanded the same data for the past two years.

Grievance Procedure

Grievance procedure has no teeth. We keep seeing the same violations; we need some real sanctions to get the attention of the principals. Administration suggested that when submitting an item for review that the region be indicated and the administration will see that the region has a representative present at the meeting.

Credit Recovery

Academic coaches, i.e. graduation coaches, students on credit recovery will take a course on line working with another person other than the teacher of record. The teacher of record will be required to sign off on the students’ grades online. The teacher of record cannot sign off on those grades unless the teacher taught the course and gave the grade her/himself. Administration stated that a teacher needs to certify that the course meets the standards required for credit in the course. That can also be a problem. What happens for a kid who cannot read on level? District is looking to buy software that reads for the student specifically intended for the Special Education student.

Teacher Assistants

TA’s used as teachers. Administration has notified regions to correct the situation. They will double check with the regions.

AP Tests and ASPIRE

There are no current plans to link AP scores to EVAAS but the linkage is being studied.

Meeting adjourned.