Texas Tech ISD High School Courses: Review? (Xpost)

[J&JMom]

I was wondering if anyone could provide me an idea of the workload with Texas Tech online high school courses, specifically Spanish I and Algebra I?  We are planning to send our rising eighth-grader to public high school, and our Texas school said that he would need to take classes at TTUISD as well as the Algebra I STAAR test to earn credit.  He is ready for these classes, but this will be his first time in our 4th year homeschooling we will be outsourcing.  He could simply take the CBE (test out) for Spanish, but not for Algebra as it is STAAR required and is available for recovery credit only (failed in public school). 

As an aside, he is rather miffed about taking the Algebra I class with their standard textbook.  He is quite enamored with Art of Problem Solving as we did Pre-Algebra this year. He doesn't appreciate that the school makes the rules, not us. None of us want to homeschool high school, so we have to abide by their regulations.  I did tell him that there was nothing saying he couldn't work through AoPS on his own, but, of course, that's redundant and more work in his 13-year-old eyes  :)   Now, to be fair, we could technically do AoPS and submit the work completed for a portfolio review process and pray that credit is awarded.  I just think doing the online class is easiest since it should take him just a few months to complete with his mathy mind and spend the rest of the year doing AoPS and MathCounts prep. Either way, he has to take the STAAR. 

[Corraleno]

Would they accept an accredited AoPS class? Their online classes are now fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and they are UC a-g approved as well.

[HomeAgain]

The workload is really not bad.  Each semester consists of 6-7 units/chapters.  In math, each unit has 5-6 sections of 7-10 questions each, plus a review.  My kid can easily do a section in under 45 minutes a day. Spanish requires speaking and written work to be turned in.  The workload is very doable, and doubling up on lessons is easy.  I think my kid spent a grand total of 20 days with the work for one of their math courses, waited until the end of the month and tested.

You can also maybe arrange for a CBE, either through the school or TTUISD if your son doesn't want to take algebra again. 

[Mike in SA]

You can take the CBE for Algebra, and do not have to take the STAAR.  Those rules apply only to registered PS students, and are enforced by the district you choose to enroll in.  Until that point, the CBE is open to use as you prefer, and the STAAR is optional.  Technically, the end of year tests are not required for private programs, including home schools.

 

We've done a few, and found that the courses themselves are a shade on the easy side / not very rigorous.  They are designed to meet the TEKS, and are not geared towards honors or college prep.  That's not to say that they are insufficient for college.  It's more like the bare minimum for college.

 

UT also has a comparable program, should you have difficulty with TTUISD.  Both are fully accredited.  The advantage of UT's program is that they also have the University Extension program, which offers dual credit from UT-Austin for a good array of courses.

[HomeAgain]

You can take the CBE for Algebra, and do not have to take the STAAR.  Those rules apply only to registered PS students, and are enforced by the district you choose to enroll in.  Until that point, the CBE is open to use as you prefer, and the STAAR is optional.  Technically, the end of year tests are not required for private programs, including home schools.

 

As a rising 9th grader, yes, the STAAR would need to be taken if 9th-12th is done in a public high.  If enrolled fully in TTUISD, they require the STAAR exams as well.

[J&JMom]

You can take the CBE for Algebra, and do not have to take the STAAR.  Those rules apply only to registered PS students, and are enforced by the district you choose to enroll in.  Until that point, the CBE is open to use as you prefer, and the STAAR is optional.  Technically, the end of year tests are not required for private programs, including home schools.

 

We've done a few, and found that the courses themselves are a shade on the easy side / not very rigorous.  They are designed to meet the TEKS, and are not geared towards honors or college prep.  That's not to say that they are insufficient for college.  It's more like the bare minimum for college.

 

UT also has a comparable program, should you have difficulty with TTUISD.  Both are fully accredited.  The advantage of UT's program is that they also have the University Extension program, which offers dual credit from UT-Austin for a good array of courses.

Thanks for responding.  On both UT and TT websites say that you cannot take the CBE UNLESS it is for recovery credit. They won't let you take it for acceleration as in my son's case.  Below is the verbiage from TT.  I want him to take the STAAR the same year as the coursework as that would be most expedient in terms of preparation, and he would not have to take 2 Math STAAR tests in one year. 

 

"They can be used to make up failed credits or to test out of a subject.

• The following CBEs cannot be used to replace an end-of-course exam (EOC) or for acceleration, only credit recovery:
  • Algebra I - A & B
  • Biology - A & B
  • English I - A & B
  • English II - A & B
  • U.S. History - A & B"
• Regardless - I want to ease the transition and transfer of credits to the public high school, so we will follow their recommended procedure. 

Edited June 5, 2016 by J&JMom

[J&JMom]

The workload is really not bad.  Each semester consists of 6-7 units/chapters.  In math, each unit has 5-6 sections of 7-10 questions each, plus a review.  My kid can easily do a section in under 45 minutes a day. Spanish requires speaking and written work to be turned in.  The workload is very doable, and doubling up on lessons is easy.  I think my kid spent a grand total of 20 days with the work for one of their math courses, waited until the end of the month and tested.

 

You can also maybe arrange for a CBE, either through the school or TTUISD if your son doesn't want to take algebra again. 

Thanks for responding. Glad to hear the workload isn't terrible, in fact, appears to be quite easy in comparison to AoPS :)  I am confident he can work through the course in record speed and have plenty of time to do AoPS for the rest of the year for depth.  

[J&JMom]

Would they accept an accredited AoPS class? Their online classes are now fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and they are UC a-g approved as well.

Thanks for responding. This most likely will not be an option because, while my son is good at math, the pacing is too fast. We used the WTM pacing for Pre-Algebra last year (34 weeks) and that worked.  The 16 week or the longer 22 week courses would still be too fast. 

[Mike in SA]

As a rising 9th grader, yes, the STAAR would need to be taken if 9th-12th is done in a public high.  If enrolled fully in TTUISD, they require the STAAR exams as well.

 

I think that is what I said?  It depends on whether you are enrolled in a PS district...  While you aren't, you can use the CBEs without STAAR.  We did, and have had no problems with them being accepted by the local PS after.

[HomeAgain]

Oh, also, you may want to buy the AOPS book anyway.  The textbooks used by TTUISD are paltry at best.  We used AOPS and Khan along with Alg 1 and Jacobs Geometry along with their Geom 1 course.  The 'homeschooler' textbooks were better for understanding the material since they're written directly to the student and (in our opinion) more conversationally. 

[Mike in SA]

 

Thanks for responding.  On both UT and TT websites say that you cannot take the CBE UNLESS it is for recovery credit. They won't let you take it for acceleration as in my son's case.  Below is the verbiage from TT.  I want him to take the STAAR the same year as the coursework as that would be most expedient in terms of preparation, and he would not have to take 2 Math STAAR tests in one year. 

 

"They can be used to make up failed credits or to test out of a subject.

• The following CBEs cannot be used to replace an end-of-course exam (EOC) or for acceleration, only credit recovery:
  • Algebra I - A & B
  • Biology - A & B
  • English I - A & B
  • English II - A & B
  • U.S. History - A & B"
• Regardless - I want to ease the transition and transfer of credits to the public high school, so we will follow their recommended procedure. 

 

 

That's the practice for PS supplementation.  Even then, it isn't exactly right.  We've used them successfully, with no questions.

 

IF you are already enrolled in a PS, then you should check with the school.  They may or may not accept a CBE for acceleration.

 

For public schools in Texas, those classes listed above are specifically called out for EOC requirements, within the state education code (law).  Those rules do not apply to private schools or home schools (again, specifically mentioned within the code).  We have done exactly this.  No problems, no concerns.

 

[Lanny]

@OP    Sorry, I did not see your post in this forum.  A few minutes ago, I replied to you, in the Logic Stage and Middle School forum.  

[Lanny]

As a rising 9th grader, yes, the STAAR would need to be taken if 9th-12th is done in a public high.  If enrolled fully in TTUISD, they require the STAAR exams as well.

 

Yes. My DD will take the EOC for Biology 1 in July, and the EOCs for English 1 and Algebra 1 in December.

[Lanny]

I think that is what I said?  It depends on whether you are enrolled in a PS district...  While you aren't, you can use the CBEs without STAAR.  We did, and have had no problems with them being accepted by the local PS after.

 

@Mike in SA  - Yes, if one does not want a diploma from a Texas Public High School.  If one wants a diploma for High School graduation, from a Texas Public High School (Texas Tech High School operates under those regulations, I believe), then the five (5) EOCs are part of the requirements for graduation. I don't have the Checklist handy, but I'm willing to bet that passing those 5 EOCs is part of the deal.   If the DS of the OP is going to enroll in a Texas Public High School, I assume that he will want to graduate from there, and if he does want a diploma, he will need to pass the five (5) EOCs.  

[Mike in SA]

@Mike in SA - Yes, if one does not want a diploma from a Texas Public High School. If one wants a diploma for High School graduation, from a Texas Public High School (Texas Tech High School operates under those regulations, I believe), then the five (5) EOCs are part of the requirements for graduation. I don't have the Checklist handy, but I'm willing to bet that passing those 5 EOCs is part of the deal. If the DS of the OP is going to enroll in a Texas Public High School, I assume that he will want to graduate from there, and if he does want a diploma, he will need to pass the five (5) EOCs.

Nope, not required, though it is a bit confusing. Again, we have done exactly thus, and had it reviewed legally to boot. Older DS was home schooled for algebra 1 and had it cleared. He will graduate from a public high school.

 

Many school districts will not want a CBE used to justify a home school grade, but they cannot refuse a bona fide grade received in a private setting, nor a public school grade transferred from another state, under Texas law.

 

TTUISD has (or at least had) explicit support for home school verification, when used by the parent for their own purposes.