Periodically ATPE publicizes opportunities to provide feedback to state agencies or other entities or to participate in dissertation research being conducted by doctoral candidates in the field of education. Such opportunities are compiled on this member-only Opportunities to Share Feedback page.
State Opportunities
- Texas Education Agency (TEA): Last year, TEA began convening English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) review work groups to provide recommendations for revisions to a preliminary draft of revised ELPS. The 2023-2024 ELPS review work group recommendations for revisions to the ELPS are currently available for review and feedback on the English Language Proficiency Standards Review web page.
TEA is collecting feedback on the draft recommendations through an online survey. The ELPS Draft Recommendations Feedback Survey is available at https://bit.ly/ELPS-Survey.
Feedback from educators is an important part of the SBOE’s review and revision process for the state curriculum standards. Please share this information with anyone you know who may be interested. The work groups’ draft recommendations for revision to the ELPS are scheduled to be presented to the SBOE for first reading and filing authorization at its June 2024 meeting (June 25 – 28, 2024). - Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO): The Texas BDO is looking for insight from Texans as it prepares to develop the state’s first broadband plan. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is also touring the state to gather feedback. Those who wish to submit feedback can complete the survey below.
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Texas Resource Review (TRR) Call for Reviewers: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) encourages Texas educators and experts to apply to become a reviewer of science (grades K–12) instructional materials. The greatest need is in middle and high school (Chemistry, Physics). These resources, such as textbooks or online instructional programs, are one of the most important tools educators use in the classroom to improve student outcomes. As part of this select group, you will have the opportunity to broaden your impact and work with a talented and supportive group of peers. For your contribution to this statewide effort, you will receive both a stipend and continuing professional education (CPE) credit.
There are three available opportunities:
- Reviewer
- Lead Reviewer
- Content Expert
If you are interested in the reviewer or lead reviewer role, please use the application linked here.
About the Content Expert (CE) position ($8,000 stipend):
The CE attends all review team meetings. Their key function is as a project manager, ensuring that team dynamics and morale are strong, the team stays on task, and high-quality evidence and reports are submitted. The CE maintains a pulse on all instructional material products and communicates with the core team (Safal, co-content experts) to relay areas of strengths and weaknesses within team structures and evidence quality. The CE should have a background in science instructional coaching, mentorship, or professional development.Additionally, the CE will be responsible for reviewing quality reports aligned with the TRR science rubric. They will ensure the review team’s rationale for the score is strong, that the evidence aligns to and covers the full intent of the indicator, and that all teams address the indicator in the same manner by reading for consistency across teams and products. The content expert works directly with the team lead and/or writer to provide feedback and produce high-quality reports.
If you are interested in the content expert role, please contact Safal directly at TRR@safalpartners.com for application information.
Doctoral Research
- Research Opportunity for K–12 Campus Principals and Assistant Principals: Lakisha Ball, Ed.S., a doctoral student at Belhaven University, is seeking K-12 campus principals and assistant principals to participate in a study on the adoption of open educational resources (OER) in Texas. From Ball: “The purpose of the study is to gain insight into the decision-making processes of Texas K–12 campus leaders regarding the adoption of open educational resources (OERs). The United States spends over $60 billion annually on textbooks in K–12 public schools. Despite two decades of availability and research that validated the cost-effective alternative to traditional textbooks, OERs have remained underutilized in classrooms.
Additionally, the reasoning and motivations guiding Texas K–12 campus leaders’ OER adoption decision-making are unknown, warranting further study. This research has the potential to provide educational leaders, state and local agencies, and policymakers with more effective techniques to reduce textbook costs and provide teachers access to high-quality instructional resources.” Ball is collecting data through Aug. 2 via an 11-question survey that takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. You may contact Ball at lakishaball@students.belhaven.edu and complete the survey below. - Research Opportunity for Fourth Grade Teachers: Dan Huberty, former chair of the House Public Education Committee, is seeking input from fourth grade teachers for his research project titled "Rethinking The Standardized Testing And Accountability Process In Texas: A Qualitative Participatory Action Research Study." Selected participants will be asked to complete a virtual interview followed by a 14-question survey. Information about the study can be found here and here. If you are interested in participating in this research project, please contact Dan Huberty via email or by phone at (281) 961-3485.
- Research Opportunity for Middle School Reading Teachers: Debra Lewis, B.A., M.Ed., an Ed.D. doctoral candidate at Texas Southern University, is seeking middle school teachers who teach in inclusive classrooms to take a 10-question anonymous survey regarding self-perceptions of their own abilities to maximize classroom engagement and student learning.
Learn more about the study in this survey flyer, and review the consent for anonymous letter. If you meet the criteria, you may complete the survey below.
