Category Archives: #BISDShines

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Birdville ISD is Pleased to Announce Our New Mobile App!

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Birdville ISD is pleased to announce our new mobile app designed specifically to keep our families better informed and connected to what’s going on in our schools. The new BISD mobile app is available for both iPhone and Android smartphones.

The app will deliver real-time school news to your smartphone for fast, up-to-date access. The app features:

  • Easy access to student grades, lunch menus and sports information;
  • The latest District and school news;
  • Push notifications about breaking news, closures, weather, events, and more;
  • Photos from District and school events; and,
  • Directory information including campus locations with phone numbers, staff information, and maps.

The app is FREE and available for download today:

  1. From a smartphone, go to the iTunes App Store® or Google Play®
  2. Search Birdville ISD
  3. Then select the Birdville ISD app for free download

School news delivered right to your smartphone. The new BISD mobile app is just a few taps away. Download it today!

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Hardeman Elementary earns all possible distinctions in 2016 accountability ratings

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The Texas Education Agency recently announced that “more than 400 campuses that achieved a Met Standard rating in the 2016 state accountability ratings also earned all distinction designations applicable to their individual school.” Hardeman Elementary was one that earned the maximum number of distinctions.

 Elementary campuses may receive distinctions in six areas: academic achievement in reading/ELA, academic achievement in math, academic achievement in science, top 25 percent in student progress, top 25 percent in closing performance gaps, and postsecondary readiness. Secondary campuses may also receive distinctions for academic achievement in social studies. Distinctions are based on comparisons between individual schools and a 40-campus group with similar student demographics. BISD had 26 of the 31 campuses received at least one distinction. Hardeman Elementary received the maximum possible, with Watauga and Smithfield middle schools, and Green Valley and Smithfield elementary schools receiving six of seven and five of six respectively. A total of 85 distinctions were awarded to campuses across the District, 21 more than last year.

According to the Sept. 14, 2016 TEA press release, “ ‘Earning one or more campus distinctions is noteworthy and should be a source of pride in a community,’ said Commissioner of Education Mike Morath. ‘Earning all possible distinctions is a significant accomplishment and should signal to parents that there is extraordinary work taking place on that campus.’

 “Last month, TEA released the 2016 state accountability ratings for more than 1,200 school districts and charters, as well as more than 8,600 campuses statewide. The ratings revealed that approximately 94 percent of school districts and charters across Texas have achieved the rating of Met Standard.

 “To view the 2016 state accountability ratings and distinction designations for all districts, charters and campuses, visit the Texas Education Agency website at http://tea.texas.gov/2016Accountability.aspx.”

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Hardeman Elementary earns all possible distinctions in 2016 accountability ratings

tea-logo-header-2

The Texas Education Agency recently announced that “more than 400 campuses that achieved a Met Standard rating in the 2016 state accountability ratings also earned all distinction designations applicable to their individual school.” Hardeman Elementary was one that earned the maximum number of distinctions.

 Elementary campuses may receive distinctions in six areas: academic achievement in reading/ELA, academic achievement in math, academic achievement in science, top 25 percent in student progress, top 25 percent in closing performance gaps, and postsecondary readiness. Secondary campuses may also receive distinctions for academic achievement in social studies. Distinctions are based on comparisons between individual schools and a 40-campus group with similar student demographics. BISD had 26 of the 31 campuses received at least one distinction. Hardeman Elementary received the maximum possible, with Watauga and Smithfield middle schools, and Green Valley and Smithfield elementary schools receiving six of seven and five of six respectively. A total of 85 distinctions were awarded to campuses across the District, 21 more than last year.

According to the Sept. 14, 2016 TEA press release, “ ‘Earning one or more campus distinctions is noteworthy and should be a source of pride in a community,’ said Commissioner of Education Mike Morath. ‘Earning all possible distinctions is a significant accomplishment and should signal to parents that there is extraordinary work taking place on that campus.’

 “Last month, TEA released the 2016 state accountability ratings for more than 1,200 school districts and charters, as well as more than 8,600 campuses statewide. The ratings revealed that approximately 94 percent of school districts and charters across Texas have achieved the rating of Met Standard.

 “To view the 2016 state accountability ratings and distinction designations for all districts, charters and campuses, visit the Texas Education Agency website athttp://tea.texas.gov/2016Accountability.aspx.”

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Two BISD bands are honored by The Foundation for Music Education

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The Foundation for Music Education and its board of trustees recently announced that two Birdville ISD bands were among the winners in the 2016 Mark of Excellence recorded music competition.

The Birdville High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Mike Cheripka, was selected as a National Winner in the Mark of Excellence I National Jazz Honors project.

The Richland High School Honors Band, directed by Jason Bird, was selected as a Commended Winner in the Mark of Excellence I National Wind Band Honors project.

The Mark of Excellence consists of the National Wind Band Honors, National Choral Honors, National Orchestra Honors, National Jazz Honors and National Percussion Ensemble Honors. It is a competition, entered by recordings, in which the top quarter are selected as National Winners and the second quarter receive Commended Honors.

This year 236 of the finest musical ensembles in the nation entered the competition. The project has now received entries from thirty-six states.

Congratulations to Mike Cheripka, Jason Bird and the student musicians from Birdville and Richland high schools for their accomplishments.

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District Hashtags

Many BISD campuses have a specific hashtag for teachers and families to follow on social media. Different departments and groups within BISD do the same. See below for some of the hashtags to follow this year.

 BISD Professional Learning
#bisd3d

BISD Selfies (Students/Staff)
#weareBirdvilleISD

BISD Spotlights and Celebrations
#BISDShines

Digital Learning
#bisddlp 

Birdville Leaders
#bisdleads

Birdville Libraries
#bisdlibrary

Birdville Blended Learning grant
#birdvilleblended

Hashtags help a large professional learning community stay connected. Use the hashtags when you post and also search them for great ideas around the district.

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BISD exceeds state and nation on ACT #BISDShines

ACT scores for 2016 were released this week, and BISD’s composite score of 21.2 for English, mathematics, reading and science is higher than the state composite of 20.6 and the national composite of 20.8. Average scores on the individual portions of the tests were:

  • English – BISD scored 20.5 as compared to the state at 19.4;
  • Mathematics – BISD scored 21.1 as compared to the state at 20.7;
  • Reading – BISD scored 21.6 as compared to the state at 21.0; and
  • Science – BISD scored 21.4 as compared to the state at 20.7.

 Individual campus scores were 21.9 for Birdville High, 19.4 for Haltom High, 22.3 for Richland High, and 22.0 for Shannon High School. A total of 552 BISD students took the ACT in 2016.

 “It is exciting to see BISD students continue to excel on the ACT,” said Superintendent Dr. Darrell G. Brown. “Over the past five years, the number of BISD students taking advanced placement (AP) courses has increased. As the test results show, taking more rigorous AP courses helps prepare students for these high-level tests.”

SAT scores will be released later this fall.

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Birdville ISD Earns Highest Rating Under New State Accountability Standards

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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced the 2016 district and school accountability ratings under the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests. Birdville ISD and 31 district campuses earned a rating of Met Standard, while Shannon High School earned a rating of Met Alternative Standard. These are the highest ratings available in the state’s accountability system.

“I am proud Birdville ISD and every campus once again earned a Met Standard rating under the state’s more rigorous accountability system,” Superintendent Darrell Brown said. “This is a reflection of the continued commitment to teaching and learning by our students and staff.”

To receive a Met Standard rating, the District and campuses had to meet target scores in Index 3 and Index 4, and either Index 1 or Index 2.  The District and all campuses met targets in all four indexes.

  • Index 1 – Student Achievement, evaluates performance on STAAR across all subjects and all student groups at the satisfactory performance standard.
  • Index 2 – Student Progress, evaluates the academic growth of students in reading and math for 10 student groups, including all students, seven race/ethnicity groups, English language learners and students served by special education.
  • Index 3 – Closing Performance Gaps, evaluates two levels of performance of students who are economically disadvantaged and, as applicable, students from the two lowest performing race/ethnicity groups from the prior year.
  • Index 4 – Postsecondary Readiness, evaluates student performance in all tested grade levels against Level II final standards.  High schools and districts are also evaluated on graduation rates, the percentage of students graduating on Recommended and Distinguished/Advanced plans, and on a postsecondary college and career readiness indicator based on meeting the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) criteria, completion of advanced/dual credit courses, or enrollment in a coherent sequence of career and technology education courses.

Academic highlights from 2016 include:

  • BISD test scores exceeded the state average on STAAR in all subject areas for grades three through eight.
  • Third-grade students exceeded the state average on the STAAR reading test by seven percentage points.
  • Fourth-grade students exceeded the state average on the STAAR reading test by seven percentage points.
  • Fifth-grade students exceeded the state average on the STAAR science test by seven percentage points.
  • Sixth-grade students exceeded the state average on the STAAR math test by seven percentage points.
  • Seventh-grade students exceeded the state average on the STAAR math test by 10 percentage points.
  • Eighth-grade students exceeded the state average on the STAAR science test by six percentage points.
  • BISD students scored one percentage point above the state average on the Algebra 1 EOC exam.
  • BISD students scored two percentage points above the state average on the Biology EOC exam.
  • BISD students scored two percentage points above the state average on the English I EOC exam.
  • BISD students scored five percentage points above the state average on the English II EOC exam.
  • BISD students scored two percentage points above the state average on the U.S. History EOC exam.