IMPACT summer volume 4 issue 1 2017 English by IDEA Public Schools

IMPACT A magazine for IDEA students, families, and supporters. VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 | SUMMER 2017

Innovative Programs, Innovative People At IDEA, we're using unique curricula, advanced technology, and inventive programs to ensure every student is prepared to matriculate to and through college.

IDEA FAMILIES! Included in this issue is a "Summer Readiness Section," to help you prepare for the first day of school on August 14!

 Tweet #IMPACTBYIDEA upon receipt!

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

 In the early 90s, to learn about a subject, you couldn't just Google it. I had to go to the library and dig through an encyclopedia to find two to three paragraphs where information stopped at the end of the page.

The first research project I can remember completing was a paper on Susanna Dickinson and her role in The Alamo. (Spoiler alert: She survives!) IN THE EARLY 90s, to learn about a subject, you couldn't just Google it. I had to go to the library and dig through an encyclopedia to find two to three paragraphs where information stopped at the end of the page. This process was not only time consuming, but limited learning to what was immediately available, with no opportunities to explore more about Susanna, or to venture down the wide expanse of knowledge tributaries that make a research project so fun and enlightening.

At IDEA, we are working to prepare students for the jobs of the 21st century, 77% of which will require basic technological skills. The early exposure we provide our students is key. 1

And while advanced technology is one way IDEA Public Schools is going above and beyond the traditional classroom, it’s not the only way. In this issue of #IMPACTbyIDEA, we take you through the innovative programs, advanced technology, and cutting-edge curricula our students and educators have access to each and every day to empower their learning and teaching. Page through and see how IDEA Public Schools is a public charter network dedicated to providing the best education to the next generation of innovators and forward-thinkers.

Sincerely,

Today, if a student received the same assignment, technology would be their bestie. Research papers aside, the integration of technology in the classroom for students, teachers, and principals, has benefits beyond simply saving time. TECHNOLOGY ENABLES STUDENTS TO: • Learn at their own pace through personalized instruction • Track academic growth • Connect with educators and peers across the world • Make learning accessible to all students with diverse needs • Expand knowledge via an ever-expanding network of vital information • Make learning more fun

VANESSA BARRY Vice President of Marketing and Communications Editor-in-Chief

1 US Bureau of Labor Statistics

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

IMPACT | CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Vanessa Barry EDITORS-AT-LARGE Irma Muñoz Dolores Gonzalez

C ONTENTS 2

Letter from the Editor

Knowledge That Lasts

Letter from the Chief Program Officer and Chief Operating Officer

IDEA-U: College That Works for You

National Math and Science Initiative: Bringing STEM to Life Through Partnership

Meet the Software Development Team

DEPUTY EDITOR Sharise Johnson COPYWRITERS Matthew Dougherty Tripti Thomas-Travers COPYEDITORS Sharise Johnson Matthew Dougherty Cody Grindle TRANSLATORS Karina Macotela ART DIRECTOR Phil Chairez

Organizational Update

Saving Water

Programmers in the Making

DESIGNERS Phil Chairez Jennifer Stevenson PHOTOGRAPHERS Johnny Quiroz CONTRIBUTORS Thank you to our Information Systems, Academic Services, and College Success Teams for allowing us to learn more about the innovative programs they work on every day for the betterment of our scholars. A special thank you to IDEA Alamo, IDEA Donna, IDEA Eastside, IDEA Mission, IDEA Mays, IDEA Quest, and IDEA Toros, for partnering with us on this issue. ON THE COVER IDEA College Preparatory student uses advanced technology to guide his learning in the iLearning Hotspot.

BACK TO SCHOOL 2017 18

The Sky's The Limit

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Preventing Summer Slide

Transportation

Student Health Services

Summer Software

24 On the Field and in the Classroom

Healthy Summer Habits

26 Catalyst: Just Right Instruction

Uniform Guide

First Day of School Printables

Academic Calendars

20 Students Use Technology to Help Achieve Royal ReaderTM Success 22 "I Want To Be in the Red"

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? Email marketing@ideapublicschools.org IMPACT is produced for IDEA students, families, employees, and supporters by the Marketing and Communications team at IDEA Public Schools. CONTENTS © 2017 BY IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

MISSION IDEA Public Schools prepares students from underserved communities for success in college and citizenship.

30 The Educational Wonders of Text-toSpeech Technology 32 Healthy Roots

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Did you know that, according to the National Science Foundation, 80% of the jobs created in the next decade will require some mastery of technology, math or science skills? 1 THE SCHOLARS OF TODAY must acquire new skills and experiences in science and technology to compete globally and meet the needs of a rapidly-evolving workforce. Look around you at this moment. Innovation is everywhere, from the cars we drive, the devices we use, the applications we download on our phones, even to the recipes we follow to create healthy meals for our kids. It is also advancing the way our students are learning and preparing for college and their careers. At IDEA Public Schools, we are doing our part to improve student learning through the use of technology and new ideas. We are committed to ensuring our students become innovators inside and outside the classroom. How are we doing this? We are doing this through our programs and our people. We have proven that when the adults in the system can get it right, the possibilities are endless for the children being educated. Five years ago, IDEA Public Schools received a Race to the Top-District grant from the U.S. Department of Education for more than $31 million. This grant was used to develop, evaluate, and refine personalized learning programs that help our students grow. Our vision was simple. Through a focus on innovative and individualized learning, we started out with a simple, yet critical, idea which was to give our students more access to essential skills instruction in reading and math. Once we got started, we realized that the Race to the Top-District grant would enable us to expand that vision significantly, and try new things that we hadn’t done before. This grant, along with the support of other charitable organizations and individuals, has helped us invest in the creation of our own pioneering programs and lasting partnerships with cutting-edge tech companies across the country. Here are a few things we’ve accomplished as we continue to foster innovation at IDEA: 1 Schiller, J. and Arena, C. (2012). “How Corporations Are Helping to Solve the Education Crisis.” Fast Company. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/2679529/howcorporations-are-helping-to-solve-the-education-crisis

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

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The IDEA Software Development Team launched an actionable teacher dashboard, enabling efficiency and data-driven action at the classroom and individual student level. College Preparatory students accessed knowledge and skills through Catalyst, promoting college readiness and closing skill gaps based on individual student needs. Across the network, there was a 2406% increase in the number of students who read more than one million words from 2014 to 2017 through expansion of the Accelerated Reader (AR) Zone libraries. We partnered with the nation’s leading educational programs like Kurzweil Education Systems, Summit Personalized Learning, Interactive Health Technologies, Achieve3000, Reasoning Mind, and Accelerated Reader, so our students can receive the best education through advanced technology and extraordinary teachers and leaders. As of summer 2016, 2,000 College Prep students participated in summer enrichment courses including creative writing, photography, robotics, and engineering.

At IDEA, we’re fostering the next generation of engineers, farmers, computer programmers, web developers, mathematicians, forward thinkers, and change-agents. We’re also fostering the next generation of artists, writers, doctors, teachers, and more. We’re doing this through advanced curricula, first-of-its-kind programs, tech resources, and most importantly…innovative people. Together, we are developing and driving better solutions, approaches, and techniques to ensure our teachers provide the highest quality education and experiences for our scholars as they prepare for college and beyond. Innovation comes in many forms. Read this issue of IMPACT to learn more about how we do #InnovationAtIDEA. Sincerely,

DOLORES GONZALEZ and IRMA MUÑOZ Chief Program Officer and Chief Operating Officer

IDEA Walzem College Preparatory student, Ruben Thompson, utilizes advanced technology to further his learning in school.

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IMPACT SUMMER 2017

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Organizational Update Take a look at some of IDEA’s recent highlights!

Alex Anzaldua, principal of IDEA Frontier, Yvonne Anglada, principal of IDEA Mission, Andrea Lopez, principal of IDEA San Juan, Amanda Canales, principal of IDEA Donna , Jose De Leon, principal of IDEA Quest, and Joel Garcia, principal of IDEA San Benito, celebrate their schools' national recognition.

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Names IDEA High Schools Within the Top 25 Most Challenging in the Nation IN THE LATEST RANKINGS of America’s Most Challenging High Schools by The Washington Post, all of IDEA’s eligible College Preparatories high schools were ranked among the top most challenging high schools nationwide.

Nearly 2,400 public high schools across the country were analyzed in order to determine this ranking. Specifically, The Washington Post analyzed the number of students who participated in Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate tests relative to the overall size of the high schools graduating class.

"Their lessons are tough. That’s what makes them intriguing. Even the most ambitious schools in low-income areas usually try to get no higher than grade level. IDEA aims far above that. Every student must take 11 Advanced Placement courses and tests to graduate." — Jay Mathews, The Washington Post

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

IDEA Public Schools’ High Schools Ranked Among the Best in the Nation by U.S. News and World Report IN THE U.S. NEWS and WORLD REPORT’S Best High Schools Rankings - 2017, four eligible IDEA College Prep high schools were among the top 30 in Texas: IDEA Quest – 6th in Texas IDEA Frontier –7th in Texas IDEA Mission –14th in Texas IDEA San Juan –26th in Texas. The same four IDEA high schools were awarded gold medals given to the top 500 schools (top 3%) in the nation based on highest college readiness. Additionally, IDEA San Benito was ranked 66th in Texas, and IDEA Donna was ranked 159th in Texas. Both campuses received silver medals while IDEA Alamo received a bronze medal.

Michael Mireles, IDEA Quest Senior, Named U.S. Presidential Scholar IDEA Quest College Preparatory senior, Michael Mireles, was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of the nation’s top honors for high school students in the country. The award is given to students who demonstrate tremendous academic performance and leadership. Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive an expense-paid trip to Washington, D. C., and are presented the U.S. Presidential Scholars Medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House, in commemoration of their achievements.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

Five IDEA Schools Named to Texas Honor Roll IDEA Academy Alamo, IDEA College Preparatory Brownsville, IDEA Academy McAllen, IDEA College Preparatory McAllen, and IDEA Weslaco Pike College Preparatory have been named Honor Roll schools for the 2016 Texas Honor Roll, presented by Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and the Institute for Productivity in Education (IPE). The 2016 Honor Roll recognizes public elementary, middle, and high schools that demonstrate consistently high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in progress over time, and reduction in achievement gaps. For high schools, Honor Roll recognition includes advanced college readiness in students.

Nine IDEA Public Schools Seniors named Dell Scholars 8

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Nine IDEA Public Schools seniors broke a network record, as they were named Dell scholars. Only 400 students nationwide were similarly awarded. The award includes $20,000, a laptop, textbook credit and ongoing assistance throughout a student’s college career.

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

IDEA Public Schools Participates in Summer Feeding Program IDEA Public Schools will be participating in the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, through July 27. As participants, IDEA will provide free, nutritious meals for all children 18 years and younger, during the summer at select campuses. The Seamless Summer Option (SSO) was created to ensure that children in low-income areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast. No form of identification is required.

IDEA Celebrates Reading Royalty In May, IDEA Public Schools hosted Royal Reader TM celebrations across the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Austin to commemorate scholars and their amazing reading achievement. READ MORE ON PAGE 20.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

IDEA Quest Student, Valery Tobias, Wins State Championship in Track and Field Valery Tobias, a junior at IDEA Quest College Preparatory, competed in Austin, Texas, at the UIL Track and Field State meet and took first place in the event. Beyond a personal best, Valery’s time was also only .02 seconds from breaking the state record. The gold medal win at the UIL state meet is the second victory in two years for Valery.

photo by: themonitor.com 10

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Additionally, Valery was named Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year at the Rio Grande Valley All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet.

ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

IDEA Scholars Become Junior Master Gardeners IDEA Public Schools honored over 150 students as they achieved Junior Master Gardener status. To become a Junior Master Gardener, one must complete the nationally-renowned program’s curriculum, which consists of meaningful horticulture, environmental science activities, and community involvement, led by one of IDEA’s own Master Gardeners.

Construction of New IDEA Schools Nears Completion Five brand-new IDEA campuses will open in San Antonio, Rio Grande City, and Edinburg in August and welcome over 2,500 new scholars. We cannot wait to welcome our new families to IDEA Brackenridge, IDEA Ewing Halsell, IDEA Harvey E. Najim, IDEA Rio Grande City, and IDEA Tres Lagos!

The construction of IDEA Ewing Halsell nears completion and will welcome students this August.

 W I DEA E

AL G H SEL

IDEA Ewing Halsell

IDEA Harvey E. Najim

IDEA Brackenridge

IDEA Tres Lagos

IDEA Rio Grande City

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

 Seniors plan fun celebrations during the ceremony.

IDEA hosted its most inspiring tradition, College Signing Day, on April 26, 27, and 28 to honor and celebrate more than 670 graduating seniors and announce where each senior will be attending college next year. A packed stadium of excited families, teachers, students, and friends filled the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas as the IDEA Class of 2017 revealed their college choices, celebrated their achievements, and reaffirmed their commitment to graduate from college.

ACCEPTED TO MORE THAN

320

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE NATION

WHERE THE CLASS OF 2017 IS HEADED: Berklee College of Music Boston University Brown University

$19M IN GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

IVY LEAGUE ACCEPTANCES

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RECEIVED MORE THAN

Columbia University

Seniors take selfies to commemorate their experience.

Cornell University Duke University Harvard University Michigan State University Ohio State University Tufts University United States Air Force Academy

548

University of Pennsylvania

COLLEGES

University of Southern California

ACCEPTANCES TO SELECTIVE AND HIGHLY SELECTIVE

University of Notre Dame

University of Texas - Austin

460

STUDENTS ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley And many more!

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MORE THAN

Students reveal their final college choice to all the cameras and crowd.

The college reveal is the pinnacle of the College Signing Day event.

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 The balloon drop closes the ceremony as students unite with their families for photos.

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 There is a parent acknowledgment portion of the ceremony where students thank their parents and guardians for all their support.

The event took place at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Saving Water The ideas that lead to innovation can come from the strangest places. Martin Villicana’s award-winning idea for water conservation came from the ordinary diapers that his nephew uses. MARTIN, A 9TH GRADER AT IDEA COLLEGE PREPARATORY MISSION, has always had a scientifically curious mind. At home, he is often in the kitchen or the yard, mixing household supplies together in unusual ways to see what will happen. When Martin decided to experiment with mixing diapers together with soil and water, he realized he was onto something: The earth-and-diaper combination absorbed more water than when the soil was mixed with water on its own. Martin’s curiosity was piqued, and he decided to explore the phenomenon further. “I was just playing around with it, doing research on it…and it was like a ripple effect. I looked at the facts and thought ‘Whoa! This is actually useful!,” says Martin, who quickly realized the implications of his findings for water conservation. With fresh water being a precious and a limited resource, water scarcity is predicted to become one of the greatest challenges that humanity will face in the near future. While 75% of the earth’s fresh water is used for agricultural purposes, only some of the water is absorbed by plants; most is lost to evaporation and run-off. This forces farmers to use larger quantities of fresh water than necessary to ensure the survival of their crops. Martin’s experiment showed him that the chemicals used in diapers could be used to reduce evaporation and run-off. With some guidance from his science teachers, Martin turned his findings into a project for the Texas Science and Engineering Fair. With this project, Martin, who had already represented IDEA Public Schools twice at the state level, went on to win Regionals and go to state two more years in a row. In 2016, Martin presented his water-saving experiment with diapers alone. In 2017, Martin delved deeper by contacting diaper companies such as Huggies®, to learn more about the chemistry behind diapers. He identified the absorbent chemical as potassium polyacrylate and learned that it is an inexpensive and biodegradable material. Martin tested this chemical with different types of soil and found similar results: in each case the soil absorbed 50% more water than without the chemical. He proposed that this combination could be used by farmers around the world. Martin’s presentation won him not just first place and $100 at Regionals this year, but a $1,500 scholarship for Arid Lands Sustainability from Texas Tech University. For Martin, getting to the state level four times in a row has required not just motivation, innovative ideas and research, but also extensive practice in presentation skills and plenty of encouragement from his science teachers each year. Martin’s advice to other kids who want to achieve success at science fairs: “Don’t give up. Many kids have low self-confidence,” he says. “The key is, you’ve got to believe you are really good. Before you know it, you will be!”

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Scientific curiosity must run in the Villicana family. Martin’s sister, Andrea, together with her teammate, Yareli Vera, both 11th graders at IDEA Mission, also won Regionals this year to go on to State. Their project studied the effect of temperature changes on the activity of enzymes. Although Andrea is interested in pursuing a career in business, she learned a lot from the science fair and is motivated to participate in more fairs in the future. As for Martin, his experiences have deepened his fascination with environmental science, agricultural science, biology, technology and chemistry. He is now an aspiring scientist with a YouTube channel named “Martin the Science Guy,” dedicated to his experiments and explorations. Be sure to check it out! Although still in high school, Martin, his sister, and other IDEA students join a long line of restless minds working on the pressing challenges of the day. By participating in science fairs, they nurture the kind of curiosity and confidence that may lead to critical scientific breakthroughs one day.

“DON’T GIVE UP. MANY KIDS HAVE LOW SELF-CONFIDENCE,” HE SAYS. “THE KEY IS, YOU’VE GOT TO BELIEVE YOU ARE REALLY GOOD. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU WILL BE!”

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Martin the Science Guy YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfn1zUQJn7E7jvv8Pi3HEw/videos

 Martin and Andrea Villicana are a sibling science duo at IDEA College Preparatory Mission!

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Celia Vera is on a mission to become a computer programmer. IDEA Eastside is helping her on that quest.

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Programmer in the Making

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

PROGRAMMER IN THE MAKING

Did you know that just 25% of professionals working in the field of computing are women? Less than 10% of these are women of color.¹ Celia Vera wants to do her part to change these statistics. CELIA IS NOT A COMPUTER SCIENTIST, CEO or policy maker…at least not yet. She is a 7th grader at IDEA Eastside College Prep. But since her early days, Celia has wanted to change the status quo in which computer technological fields are dominated by men. “I want to be a programmer when I grow up,” she states in no uncertain terms. “When I was young, some people would say to me, ‘You are not good enough. You can’t be a girl gamer, because there are boy gamers who are going to beat you.’” Such discouragement only seems to have whetted Celia’s determination to study the field of computer science, preferably at Texas State or Princeton University. Like many students, Celia has faced obstacles. For example, she does not have access to a computer at home and computers were not readily available at her previous schools either. But at IDEA Eastside, where she was a founding 6th grade student, she is gaining familiarity with technology in ways that will help her accomplish her dreams. Two to three times a week, Celia works in the iLearning Hotspot using computers to improve her math skills. While she practices math functions, she is also using video games to make her way through the iLearning programs. “They put the creativity into math,” she says of the Imagine Math® software that she uses. While instructors are on hand to help her when she gets stuck, she can also use the “Live Chat” feature to get help from teachers all over the world. Celia is thus getting an early lesson in the collaborative, interactive, and global nature of computer technology.

WHILE WOMEN receive over half of bachelor’s degrees awarded in the biological sciences, they receive far fewer in the computer sciences (17.9%). WOMEN MAKE UP half of the total U.S. college-educated workforce, but only 29% of the science and engineering workforce. ONLY 10.7% of electrical or computer hardware engineers are women. Source: https://ngcproject.org/statistics

¹ 2015 data as cited by the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT, https://www.ncwit.org)

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

The Sky's The Limit Sixth grader, Keanu RamosVasquez envisions studying avionics and being a pilot one day. Fewer than 10% of current U.S. pilots are of Hispanic origin, and Keanu aims to be a trendsetter.¹ “TO BE A PILOT, you have to work with computers inside and outside the airplane and know math as well,” says Keanu. At IDEA Eastside, Keanu enjoys entering the quiet sanctuary of the iLearning Hotspot with its abundance of computers, headphones, and cubicles. When he sits down at a station and proceeds to navigate through ST Math, it is clear that he is developing the kind of computer literacy and math capabilities that will be a lifelong asset in his career aspirations. Another of Keanu’s favorite places is the Accelerated Reader Zone, which students and families consider the iLearning Hotspot’s partner program at IDEA Public Schools. Keanu recalls that at his old school, once you were done with a book, it was out of sight and out of mind. But by using advanced technology in the AR Zone, Keanu can dive deeper into his books. He takes selfpaced tests on a computer, writes notes, assesses and fixes errors in vocabulary and reading comprehension, and works toward achieving his reading targets. Technology allows him to drive the pace of his own learning. The sky is the limit for Keanu - and what’s better than that for an aspiring pilot?

1 2017 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

MAKING POSITIVE CHANGE Less than 10% of the current aircraft pilot workforce is of Hispanic heritage. Keanu looks to change that statistic when he becomes a pilot after he graduates from college. “At IDEA Public Schools, you set goals, and you reach them, and you feel better when you achieve these goals.” Keanu is on a mission to achieve his goal of becoming a pilot. Source: https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm

Keanu Ramos Vasquez wants to study aviation and eventually become a pilot.

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IMPACT SUMMER 2017

 Cressida Cowell, author of the acclaimed How to Train your Dragon series, addresses IDEA students during the IDEA Royal Readers celebration week.

AS PART OF IDEA’S PERSONALIZED LEARNING CURRICULUM, IDEA STUDENTS EMBARK ON THE QUEST TO BECOME ROYAL READERSTM This year, IDEA reimagined its network-wide reading incentive program for students in grade levels 1-8. The goal of Royal ReadersTM is to foster further reading development, growth, and a life-long love of reading. Through this new program, IDEA students will read numerous words and books as they climb the ladder towards Royal ReaderTM success. Students track their progress using computers in the Accelerated Reader Zone. Upon finishing a book, students take a test to assess their understanding of what they have read.

Students Use Technology to Help Achieve Royal Reader Success TM

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

HOW DOES ONE BECOME A ROYAL READERTM? Two criteria must be met: word count and comprehension. Academy students become Royal ReadersTM when they’ve read at least one million words and have an average comprehension test score of 85% accuracy. College Preparatory students achieve Royal ReaderTM status when they’ve read two million words at an 85% average comprehension test score. It’s a special milestone, and this year, at IDEA’s Royal Readers’TM celebration, Cressida Cowell, author of the acclaimed How to Train your Dragon series, attended as a featured guest! Cowell spoke to students about her path to becoming an author and illustrator and the importance of reading.

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IDEA Allan Academy principal, Disha Jain, congratulates a student. It was a special time for staff and students to bond over reading achievements.

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Students participated in a book exchange during the event.

 IDEA Bluff Springs student Noah Green-Njoku is happy to be a top reader at his school.

No celebration is complete without a little dancing!

Students chatted with Cressida Cowell during the book signing portion of the event.

IDEA students from across the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Austin, Texas celebrated their reading achievements with friends, IDEA staff, and a famous author!

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

"I Want to Be in the Red" At IDEA, we don’t just use advanced technology to enhance student learning. We also use it to enhance student health and fitness too. IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS began tracking students' BMIs two years ago as a way to continue to promote active lifestyles for our scholars through the Healthy Kids Here Initiative. The program was piloted at IDEA San Benito and IDEA San Juan, and today, PE coaches at every IDEA campus use class-sets of the new, Adidas Zone for IHT Spirit, wrist-worn heart-rate monitors. The Adidas ZONE for IHT Spirit makes it easy for teachers to track student performance, provide personalized learning opportunities, and measure the effectiveness of K-12 PE programs. From managing an entire class to facilitating one-on-one conversations fueled with data delivered by the Zone, the Spirit System® connects students, teachers and parents and empowers them to make better decisions that maximize student outcomes.

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Destiny Alvarado, Maya Benavides, Justin Mason, and Frank Villanueva are working on their fitness goals and fostering a love for exercise.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

In partnership with Interactive Health Technologies and the use of Adidas 2.0 heart rate monitors, every IDEA campus has made great strides toward the network goal: to reduce IDEA’s student body collective BMI by 3% annually and receive a gold certification in the HealthierUS Schools Challenge (HUSC), a nationwide initiative established by former First Lady Michelle Obama. In Volume 3 Issue 2 of IMPACT, we covered the ins and outs of IDEA’s IHT program, and we recently caught up with four IDEA Mays Academy and College Preparatory scholars to see how progress was going from a student perspective. First, we had the pleasure of chatting with 1st graders Maya Benavides and Justin Mason, who took a few minutes out of their circuit training to fill us in on their progress in Physical Education at IDEA. IDEA REPORTER: What’s your favorite activity in your PE class? JUSTIN MASON: That’s tough… basketball, football…oh and soccer! MAYA RIVERA: I love basketball too, that’s my favorite. IDEA REPORTER: How have you been doing in PE class? Have you made progress in your fitness? MAYA: Yes. I’ve been getting really sweaty, and I have been working my heart. IDEA REPORTER: Why do you think it’s important to get sweaty and work your heart? MAYA: When you do those things, you get healthy and strong. JUSTIN: Blue is bad, yellow is good, red is best.

IDEA REPORTER: Interesting. Tell me more about these colors— what do these colors mean to you in your PE class? JUSTIN: They are on our wristbands. Blue means you haven’t been working hard. Red is the best. That’s when coach tells us we’ve done a good job. I want to be in the red. MAYA: And that’s when we take a break and get some water, too. IDEA REPORTER: Do you think PE class is important? MAYA AND JUSTIN (TOGETHER): Yes! IDEA REPORTER: Why is it important to do exercise? MAYA: It will matter for our future. NEXT PERIOD, 6th graders Destiny Alvarado and Frank Villanueva sat down to chat about their experience in PE class at IDEA. IDEA REPORTER: What’s your favorite part about PE class? DESTINY: The mile run. FRANK: Me too. IDEA REPORTER: Why is the mile run your favorite activity? DESTINY: I love to keep track of how I’m doing, and my time, and to keep getting better. My fastest time is six minutes and forty seconds. IDEA REPORTER: Wow, that’s great. How about you, Frank? FRANK: My fastest time is seven minutes flat, but I’m making progress.

IDEA REPORTER: That’s awesome! It sounds like you both feel it’s important to track your progress, not just in math class or reading class, but in PE as well. Is that right? FRANK: Absolutely. IDEA REPORTER: Why? FRANK: It’s fun to push yourself further. It’s fun to know how your heartbeat is handling itself. DESTINY: I agree. They work you a lot harder here at IDEA, but I don’t mind, because I know it means getting healthier. Sometimes, you have to work past your comfort zone if you want to grow. IDEA REPORTER: A great philosophy. How do those wristbands factor into your fitness self-monitoring? FRANK: Well, we use them every day in PE class. It’s our goal to stay in the red for as long as possible while making sure we’re taking proper breaks and staying hydrated. Our coach monitors the heart rate levels and data and that’s factored into our grades. IDEA REPORTER: Do you find it weird to have to monitor your fitness level with those wristbands all the time? DESTINY: Not at all. It gives you extra motivation, to see how your body is doing every single day. IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTED THE IHT SPIRIT SYSTEM® across the network and produced staggering results. Students logged more than 3 million minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity during the school day, burning more than 25 million calories in the process.

ADIDAS ZONE: DESIGNED TO BRING PERSONALIZED LEARNING TO PE The Adidas ZONE for IHT Spirit makes it easy for PE teachers to track student performance, provide personalized learning opportunities, and measure the effectiveness of physical fitness. ACCURATE ACTIVITY MONITORING

WRIST-BASED CONVENIENCE

Tracking heart rate allows students to exercise to their full, individual potential.

Accurate heart rate data is collected with a comfortable device worn on the wrist.

TAP-N-GO SYNCING

REAL TIME VISUAL FEEDBACK

NFC technology securely transfers data in seconds and enables individual coaching.

Easy to understand digital heart rate and zone display gets students in tune with their body.

ALL DAY PERFORMANCE

STUDENT-PROOF DURABILITY

Student after student, each device has more than enough memory and power to keep up with a school's schedule.

Designed to survive the wear and tear of everyday use indoors or outdoors.

Be sure to check out IMPACT Volume 3, Issue 2 to learn more about Interactive Health Technologies at IDEA Public Schools!

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

 IDEA Toros College Preparatory student Victor Medellin works on his handling skills at practice.

IDEA Toros College Preparatory students Jesus Martinez, Cesar Coronado, and Diego Ramirez utilize the Summit Personalized Platform in the soccer workout room.

On the Field and in the Classroom IDEA Toros College Preparatory boasts a close-knit community with exceptional academic and athletic training, but that’s not all. IDEA Toros has also formed a partnership with Summit Personalized Learning, a program launched in part by Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. 24

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

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IDEA TOROS COLLEGE PREPARATORY is known for fostering bright learners and great soccer players on the road to collegiate success. But, did you know that every IDEA Toros student uses a computer-based, personalized learning approach in school? This software allows students to work on laptops as they travel to soccer tournaments across the country. It teaches students responsibility and independence. This approach also provides opportunities for more one-onone time between the student and teacher. Summit Personalized Learning is a California-based company that offers an online platform that lets students track their work, set goals, learn at their own pace, and do projects – the major factor in their grade. SUMMIT PERSONALIZED LEARNING AT IDEA TOROS COLLEGE PREPARATORY With computer-based, personalized learning, IDEA Toros students can move through content at their own pace; allowing some students to move through assignments faster, while enabling others to receive additional support as they tackle the curriculum at a pace that works well for them. Principal of IDEA Toros, Bradley Scott, noted: “Students at IDEA Toros master the same content as

their peers at other IDEA campuses, just in a different way.” Projects make up a large portion of an IDEA Toros student’s grade. When students log into their personalized homepages, they see current classes, content mastered, and individualized next steps in the program. These include interactive lessons, online research projects, and assessments. “Our learning never ends,” said Diego Ramirez, an IDEA Toros student who will attend the Air Force Academy on an athletic and academic scholarship next fall. “We get to study on the road and at home, and I have the opportunity to learn at my own pace.” IDEA TOROS STUDENTS TYPICALLY BEGIN THEIR DAY WITH PRACTICE IN THE MORNING, FOLLOWED BY INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING UNTIL THE LATE AFTERNOON. THEN THEY HEAD BACK TO THE FIELD TO WORK WITH PROFESSIONAL SOCCER STAFF AND COACHES. IDEA Toros scholars are learning how to become exceptional soccer players, and more importantly, lifelong 21st century learners, thanks to innovative programs, people, and technology.

A Student Dashboard in Summit Personalized Learning

COGNITIVE SKILLS

HABITS OF SUCCESS

Teachers facilitate collaborative projects where students can build and demonstrate cognitive skills.

Students work with their teachers to develop a growth mindset, emotional intelligence, and self-directed learning skills.

GOAL SETTING

CONTENT KNOWLEDGE

Students plan their academic, college and career goals, coached by their teachers who understand their aspirations.

Students work through content and assessments at their own pace. Teachers individualize instruction using real-time data. IMPACT SUMMER 2017

JUST RIGHT INSTRUCTION

Welcome to Catalyst. Catalyst is IDEA’s middle and high school individualized learning program. It’s a class where students either receive the academic support they need to close learning gaps or scholars move on to develop the habits of successful college graduates. CATALYST’S HISTORY AT IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FIVE YEARS AGO, IDEA Public Schools received the Race to the Top District grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop, evaluate, and refine individualized learning innovations that help IDEA students grow into independent lifelong learners who are prepared for success in college. The award, in the amount of $31 million, encompassed a wide range of projects, from pre-college experiences for students to social-emotional learning and much more—all with the end goal of benefiting our scholars. Our vision is to develop students into independent lifelong learners who are prepared for the rigors of college. We do this by creating individualized learning opportunities for each student. Catalyst was one of the essential programs formed from this grant, and was offered to all College Preparatory students across all campuses. The philosophy? Give every College Preparatory student access to right-ontime knowledge and skills, promote college readiness and close skill gaps based on individual student needs. Additionally, provide high-achieving students ample opportunity for enrichment in courses like creative writing, photography, robotics, and engineering. As Catalyst enters its fifth year at IDEA Public Schools, all College Preparatory campuses will be able to use a comprehensive online Catalyst Toolkit to envision, design, and implement their own, customized Catalyst program. Take IDEA College Preparatory Alamo, for example

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Ana Galindo is making large gains in her academic goals, thanks in part to Catalyst, a program at IDEA that gives just-right instruction to every student via a wide variety of learning methods.

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CATALYST AT IDEA ALAMO CATALYST IS A CLASS THAT ASSUMES ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. In the fall of 2017, sixth graders at IDEA Alamo will receive extra writing support during their Catalyst period. Other campuses may use their 6th grade Catalyst period for mathematic, or humanities support.

“With Catalyst, every campus does what is best for their students,” said Corina Gutierrez, Individualized Learning Specialist at IDEA College Preparatory Alamo. “In our case, we want to gear up our sixth graders to be excellent writers heading into seventh grade.” WHAT MAKES THE CATALYST PROGRAM SO INNOVATIVE is that it identifies any learning gaps that may exist and closes them. Unlike a traditional intervention period, Catalyst offers a variety of different learning options: small group instruction for struggling students, adaptive computer software which generates unique learning tasks for students who are slightly behind or on grade level, projectbased learning for all types of students to develop the non-academic skills central to success in college and in life, and distance learning, or educationfrom-afar opportunities using technology, for highachieving students. This wide menu of options not only caters to student needs, but is also a great source of motivation for them. Just take Ana Galindo, 10th grader at IDEA Alamo, for example. Ana began her time at Catalyst this year in Achieve3000, a program that provides daily differentiated instruction for nonfiction reading and writing that’s precisely tailored to each student’s Lexile® reading level. “The program helped me a lot,” said Ana. “The vocabulary is very rigorous, and the articles are very interesting. It definitely helped me improve my reading skills.” As the year continued, Ana excelled in Catalyst.

“Every day, I’d read more and more nonfiction pieces,” she said. “With Achieve3000, I completed my 40-article goal at a high activity accuracy. It was hard work, but I really wanted to start on project-based learning and study the wonders of microbiology.”

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

 Students in Catalyst often read books at their level and test on them when they're finished to boost their reading comprehension skills.

Before long, Ana had closed her learning gaps and had moved on to join her peers in more exciting projects that reinforced more independence in learning. Thanks to the adaptive software, she was able to accelerate her learning and embark on what she’d been dreaming about from the start of the year—creative, hands-on, project-based learning. “Now, I’m studying and growing collective bacteria and the environments where they thrive. It was a really rewarding feeling to move onto the next level of learning in Catalyst. I’m grateful for my Catalyst period, because it’s a really cool way to learn,” Ana said. Programs like Achieve3000, project-basedlearning, and writing interventions are just the tip of the iceberg. Catalyst at IDEA College Preparatory Alamo also offers ACT prep, college readiness courses, distance learning opportunities, and even a class called “Griffin Pride,” named after the school’s mascot, which focuses on building essential character skills and problem-solving methods. Stop by a Catalyst classroom at IDEA College Preparatory Alamo, or at another IDEA campus. You’re bound to see a variety of learning activities, and bright, motivated students.

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CATALYST OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTBASED LEARNING (PBL) ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING: • • •

Running a mock trial Painting a large-scale mural Forming a short story workshop

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Building and programming a robot Exploring the microbiology of plants and animals

THROUGH CATALYST’S DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION, STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN: • • •

American Sign Language Astronomy French

• • •

Digital Design AP Psychology And so much more!

IDEA College Preparatory Alamo students, Steve Flores and Karla Ramos, use Achieve3000 software to boost their nonfiction skills in Catalyst.

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IMPACT SUMMER 2017

THE EDUCATIONAL WONDERS OF TEXT-TOSPEECH TECHNOLOGY

Ashley Hernandez, a 7th grader at IDEA Quest College Preparatory, has been using Kurzweil Education Systems for two years. She tests orally on the computer and has the option to click and highlight words so that definitions can be read aloud to her via headphones. “SINCE I’VE BEEN ABLE TO USE the new technology, I’ve gotten

better in math, science, and reading,” says Ashley. She’s on a mission to improve her abilities in core subjects so that she is ready to take and pass Advanced Placement classes beginning in 9th grade. With the aid of advanced technology, she’s making great strides in her academics.

KURZWEIL EDUCATION SYSTEMS AT IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MOST TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, and at IDEA until 2016, special education teachers and interventionists read tests orally for students who required oral testing accommodations. This process was extremely time intensive. For example, during an interim assessment week, oral testing would cost special education teachers and interventionists almost a full week of instructional time. “With Kurzweil, I can spend more time educating my students and less time administering tests," says Mr. Jorge Franco, Special Education Teacher at IDEA Quest College Preparatory. "Over the course of the year, this proves incredibly beneficial to our scholars here at IDEA.” IDEA Quest piloted Kurzweil Education Systems in 2016. Thanks to stellar testing results, as well as time saved, the IDEA opted to utilize the system on every campus, providing support to every student in need of text-to-speech accommodations. Mr. Franco, a champion for his students, conducted interviews with his scholars and their families to get extensive feedback before recommending the program to every campus. “The program has a direct effect on our students and ensures kids can better understand the content they are learning, while also enhancing their testing experience,” he says. 30

IMPACT SPRING 2017

WHY IT’S IMPORTANT THANKS TO IDEA’S PARTNERSHIP with Kurzweil Education Systems, every IDEA school has access to oral testing accommodations for students. With this in mind, teachers can do what they do best— teach and support our scholars. Studies¹ also show that struggling readers who use text-to-speech grow more confident in their learning and are more likely to pursue higher education. That’s certainly the case with Ashley, who aims to continue IDEA’s legacy of achieving 100% college acceptance when she’s a senior in 2023. When asked, Ashley finds it difficult to identify her favorite school subject. But one thing's for sure: this 7th grader enjoys building an extensive vocabulary. “I love to learn new words and use them in school and life,” says Ashley. Tricia Lopez, IDEA’s Senior Director of Special Programs, is thrilled by the success that advanced testing technology has had on IDEA scholars across the network. “IDEA Public Schools is one of the few school networks in the area that utilizes advanced technology like Kurzweil for students who are eligible," she says. "We’re just beginning to scratch the surface of what is possible for our students with special needs.” 1 https://www.kurzweiledu.com/files/kurzweil-white-paper-report-from-indiana-university.pdf

Ashley Hernandez and her teacher, Mr. Franco, work together using Kurzweil Education Systems.

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IDEA Public Schools is committed to supporting all learners, including English Language Learners, students on Individualized Learning Plans, and students who are two or more years below grade level and need higher levels of support. We do this not only through passionate teachers like Mr. Franco, but also through cutting-edge technology. Love, care, and innovation work together in the effort to provide all students with the best education possible.

New tabs and icons simplify pathways— offering an intuitive experience that reduces the learning curve. The ability to customize the reading controls and toolbars lets students make Kurzweil, and learning with it, their own.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF KURZWEIL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS, STUDENTS LIKE ASHLEY HAVE: • • • • • •

The ability to read scanned text, digital files, or Internet pages Visual tracking of words as text is read Auditory support when typing The ability to highlight, hear, and look up targeted words The ability to divide targeted words into syllables The ability to playback a targeted word as often as necessary to facilitate learning In the Kurzweil program, students read through passages and can highlight words to be read orally to them.

Through Kurzweil, learners of all ages are given new ways to access text, understand and then think about what they're learning, and finally demonstrate what they have learned. IMPACT SPRING 2017

IDEA Academy students learn food literacy at a young age.

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Healthy Roots Sometimes, innovation means cutting-edge technology. Other times it means going back to the basics—homegrown, organic, and healthy food for our scholars in our cafeterias every day. IDEA prides itself in being at the forefront of child nutrition and sustainable education in school. SEE IMPACT, VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2, FOR AN EXTENDED LOOK AT IDEA'S FARM-TO-TABLE INITIATIVE, PART OF HEALTHY KIDS HERE

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Miguel Pecina, Emily Pecina-Garcia, and Carlos Maximiliano Ramos, love to learn the process of growing your own food.

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YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT IDEA’S FARM-TO-TABLE INITIATIVE, in which organic farms located on IDEA campuses send local produce directly to our cafeterias. IDEA’s farm program is unprecedented for a charter network. IDEA has turned farms into classrooms and has already seen tremendous success with farms and gardens in the Rio Grande Valley, growing more than 10,000 pounds of produce in the past two years. IDEA is also replicating this success in Central Texas, through the farm and the garden at IDEA Monterrey Park. IDEA has transformed, what was once an abandoned lot filled with trash, to a 1.5-acre plot of land that provides nutritious, delicious, organic, and local meals for our scholars. This means less carbon footprint and more organic produce for Pre-K-12 students. The goal of IDEA’s Farm-To-Table Initiative is to fuel our students’ healthy minds and bodies. But did you know that our scholars work directly with our farms and gardens, learning about agriculture and sustainability, and helping to be a part of our effort to eat healthy and local? For a first-hand perspective, we sat down with Emily Pecina-Garcia, a bright 6th grader at IDEA College Preparatory Donna. Emily’s family is grateful that she is gaining experience growing organic produce at her school. Her mother, Lizette, noted, “Students don’t get the opportunity to grow their own food in many school districts. You should have seen the cucumber Emily brought home one day. It was the biggest cucumber I’d ever seen. And it was delicious!” IDEA REPORTER: How often do you interact with the farm at IDEA Donna? EMILY: Twice a week for my Catalyst period. (See page 26 for more information on IDEA’s innovative Catalyst period). IDEA REPORTER: Tell me about a typical class period on the farm. EMILY: First we meet with our farmer to discuss our tasks for the day and our goals. Then we start our work.

IDEA REPORTER: What sorts of fruits and vegetables do you plant? EMILY: Well, my group and I actually have our own garden inside the farm. We’re planting gourds, beans, and watermelon. IDEA REPORTER: How many students make up your group? EMILY: There are five of us. We work as a team. IDEA REPORTER: What’s your favorite activity to do on the farm? EMILY: Harvesting cucumbers. They are a beautiful, delicious fruit. And, sometimes Mr. Anda, our farmer, lets us take some home to eat with our families. IDEA REPORTER: Why is it important to grow your own food? EMILY: Well, some people don’t have the opportunity to grow their own food. Since we have a farm, we can grow our own produce and we save money that way. Plus, it’s great to eat food that we have watched grow ourselves. We are very lucky. IDEA REPORTER: So the food you grow—are your fellow IDEA students able to eat some of it in the cafeteria for lunch? EMILY: Yes, of course, and sometimes for dinner when we get to take some of our produce home! IDEA REPORTER: Changing the topic slightly, what is your favorite subject in school? EMILY: Hmmm...probably reading or art. IDEA REPORTER: Have you given much thought to your plans for the future? EMILY: Yes, I want to graduate from the University of Texas San Antonio and study to be a chef. IDEA REPORTER: Has working in the farm and garden influenced your desire to be a chef? EMILY: Yes. I have just loved learning all the names of the plants we grow, and to learn about how they are good for you—like yellow squash! I want to work with food when I grow older. And study how to eat healthy.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

KNOWLEDGE THAT LASTS Jose Marquez, an IDEA College Preparatory San Juan student, loves being part of a Texas Science Technology Engineering and Math (T-STEM) designated campus.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Jose and his teacher, Mr. Ceballos, utilize hands-on activities to absorb knowledge.

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Mr. Ceballos has already made his own electroscope. The materials are for his students to work with. Using his finished product, Mr. Ceballos rubs his fingers along the surface of the PVC pipe and places it near the hook. Due to the wonders of static electricity, the aluminum flaps start doing a little dance! Student interest is piqued. After some brief directions, Mr. Ceballos instructs his scholars on their job: make their own homemade electroscopes! And then, AP physics students are off. Scholars buzz with excitement as their teacher observes, offers advice, and encourages each of them to use the knowledge they’ve acquired in class in this hands-on scenario.

“Electric fields is a concept heavily tested on the AP Physics exam,” said Mr. Ceballos, reflecting on the lesson. “The best way to master concepts, especially in a class as challenging as AP Physics, is by doing, practicing, and trial and error.”

SINCE 2009, IDEA College Preparatory San Juan has been recognized by the state of Texas as a T-STEM high school that teaches its students in way that builds life-changing knowledge that lasts, along with IDEA Alamo, IDEA Mission, and IDEA San Benito. Former President Barack Obama said it best:

“[Science] is more than a school subject, or the periodic table, or the properties of waves. It is an approach to the world, a critical way to understand and explore and engage with the world, and then have the capacity to change that world...” 1 For example, Jose Marquez watches his AP Physics teacher, Mr. Ceballos, as he kicks off a unit on electric fields. “It’s time for a magic trick,” says Mr. Ceballos. He stands in front of the class with some materials before him: strips of aluminum foil, a small sheet of smooth metal with a hook attached to the bottom, some cardboard, a spool of yarn, and an electricity conductor—also known as a piece of plastic PVC pipe!

Walk into classrooms at IDEA College Preparatory San Juan and you will always see this type of teaching. IDEA prides itself in ensuring students are taking charge—no pun intended—of their own learning. Mastery of challenging subjects requires extensive student practice. Our students are doing that. This year, more than 100 IDEA graduating seniors became AP scholars, meaning they passed 3 or more AP exams!

2017-2018 T-STEM DESIGNATED HIGH SCHOOLS AT IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

IDEA College Preparatory Alamo

IDEA College Preparatory San Juan

IDEA College Preparatory Mission

IDEA College Preparatory Edinburg

IDEA College Preparatory San Benito

1 https://www.ed.gov/stem

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

In the fall of 2017, IDEA will launch IDEA-U, an online, flexible, supportive, and affordable college option designed to support IDEA Alumni whose full lives, changing work schedules, and family obligations have not allowed them to finish college.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS, we have sent 99.6% of our seniors to college. “While IDEA Public Schools graduates at a rate 3-4 times higher than the national average for low income students, there are still a number of students who leave college due to unforeseen challenges,” said Phillip Garza, Chief College and Diversity Officer for IDEA Public Schools. “Our mission has and always will be College For All, and this gap sparked the concept of IDEA-U. Now, we can help provide an alternative for IDEA alumni to complete their degree on their terms.” IDEA-U utilizes an online, project-based learning model via a partnership with College For America. TECHNOLOGY EMPOWERING IDEA-U STUDENTS College For America, IDEA-U’s online curriculum partner, is a fully accredited, non-profit institution based in Manchester, New Hampshire. It offers an online, go-atyour-own-pace curriculum which leads to an associate's or bachelor's degree. The program is designed to help students master relevant skills that they can immediately apply in the workplace. This curriculum not only allows students to move at their own pace, but also provides the option to accelerate the time to degree completion. To cater to IDEA-U students’ busy schedules, the IDEA-U office is open during business hours, nights and weekends. All IDEA-U students meet regularly with a College Completion Advisor who provides mentorship and support on the road to a college degree. College For America employs a team of expert curriculum and assessment developers who work with academically-qualified, subject matter experts and faculty to design authentic projects that allow students to demonstrate their mastery of concepts. Projects completed at IDEA-U will simulate realistic workplace scenarios that engage students. The curriculum will be delivered through a customized and proprietary Learning Management System built on the online platform. GEARING UP FOR LAUNCH IDEA-U students pay $5,500 a year for tuition and fees, with no hidden costs or additional fees. If applicants qualify for a full Pell Grant via financial aid, they will pay nothing out of pocket. IDEA-U offers support to help potential students figure out if they’re eligible for scholarship opportunities. Galilea Zapata, an IDEA alumna, has aspired to obtain her bachelor’s degree since graduating from high school. Currently, she works as a personal trainer and is really excited about the prospect of becoming an IDEA-U student. “As a student at IDEA-U, I will be able to immerse myself in that driven and motivated IDEA culture,” Galilea said. “I took classes at UTRGV, but unfortunately had to pause my education due to family obligations. At IDEA-U, I’ll be able to transfer my existing credits over and continue my journey towards a bachelor’s degree."

IDEA-U’S FALL SEMESTER WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 7, 2017. www.idea-u.org

PROSPECTIVE IDEA-U STUDENTS MUST: • Have a high school diploma or GED. • Commit to spending 12 hours a week at the IDEA-U campus, a secure, comfortable office space where students can work and learn, conveniently located in the center of the Rio Grande Valley. • Meet with their College Completion Advisor at least once a week.

ASSOCIATES DEGREES OFFERED: Associate of Arts in Associate of Arts in General Studies with a Healthcare Management Concentration in Business

BACHELORS DEGREES OFFERED: Bachelor of Arts in Bachelor of Arts in Management with a Communication with Concentration in Public a Concentration in Administration Healthcare Management Bachelor of Arts in Management with a Concentration in Insurance Services

Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management with a Concentration in Communication

Bachelor of Arts in Management with a Concentration in Logistics and Operations

Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management with a Concentration in Global Perspectives

Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Concentration in Business

“As a student at IDEA-U, I will be able to immerse myself in that driven and motivated IDEA culture,” Galilea said. “I took classes at UTRGV, but unfortunately had to pause my education due to family obligations. At IDEA-U, I’ll be able to transfer my existing credits over and continue my journey towards a bachelor’s degree."

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

IDEA College Preparatory Brownsville student, Roel Elizondo, engages in learning through the NMSI initiative.

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BRINGING STEM TO LIFE THROUGH PARTNERSHIP

IDEA understands the importance of providing students with access to AP courses, college-level classes, and college credit before they step foot on a university campus. We make this possible for every scholar, through IDEA’s Advanced Placement (AP) For All program and our partnership with the National Math and Science Initiative. Through AP For All, IDEA ensures all students are given the opportunity to take AP courses. IDEA believes that if every student is going to succeed in college, then every student should engage with college preparatory coursework. In the AP for All model, every student is required to take at least 11 AP courses as part of their core curriculum in high school. AP courses help prepare students for the rigor of college and can provide a student the opportunity to earn college credit if they receive a passing score (3, 4, or 5) on an AP end-of-course exam. These credits can potentially save students and their families thousands of dollars in college tuition, fees, and textbook costs and help more students and families afford a college education. 38

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

HOW DOES THE NATIONAL MATH AND SCIENCE INITIATIVE HELP SUPPORT IDEA STUDENTS? The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) is a non-profit organization, based in Dallas, Texas, whose mission is to improve student performance in the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and English Language Arts in the United States. Through a combination of student, teacher and schools supports, NMSI’s three-year program dramatically increases the number of students taking and earning qualifying scores on AP math, science and English exams, including courses like AP Environmental Science and Computer Science, and has a proven track record of improving results for traditionally underserved and female students. This support is fully-funded and imposes no out-of-pocket expenses on students.

Tanya Reyna, recently graduated from IDEA Quest College Preparatory and will be attending Columbia University in New York City this fall to major in political science.

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Meet Tanya Tanya will be attending Columbia University in New York City this fall and will major in political science. She was able to develop a strong college application and, ultimately, was accepted to the college of her dreams. Thanks in part to the resources available to her through the NMSI Initiative, she has already passed 5 exams, and is eagerly awaiting her AP results from her senior year. Here is a snapshot of what was available to her through the NMSI Initiative: SUPPORT PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS • Study sessions: IDEA students participate in several Friday & Saturday study sessions throughout the year, led by NMSI trainers. These sessions occur on IDEA campuses and are collaborative and fun. Students benefit from the knowledge and experience these experts have, and teachers sitting in on the sessions benefit from the observation. . • Academic awards: Through the NMSI partnership, IDEA students are also eligible to receive scholarships of $100 per AP Math, Science or English exam they pass with a qualifying score of 3 or higher! Over 100 IDEA students have received this award. •

Expert teachers: IDEA teachers are assigned an experienced AP teacher as a mentor, so they can be the best possible teachers for their students.

Mentors communicate bi-weekly to provide curricular support, pacing guides and help with lesson planning. See an example of this expert teaching on page 34!

Though Tanya looks to change the status quo and work in the political science field, she also has a passion for mathematics. “Thanks to the rigor and hands-on nature of the math classes I took at IDEA Public Schools, I’m really passionate about mathematics,” she said. “I’m eagerly awaiting to find out my score on the AP Calculus exam.” We partner with the National Math and Science Initiative so students like Tanya have the support they need to participate and succeed in advanced courses-- from math, to science and beyond.

DID YOU KNOW? ¹ • U.S. students recently finished 27th in math and 20th in science in the ranking of 34 countries. • Women currently constitute 48 percent of the U.S. workforce but hold just 24 percent of the U.S. jobs in STEM. • Fewer than 15 percent of American engineers are women. • The U.S. may be short as many as three million high-skilled workers by 2018. • The U.S. is ranked No. 48 in quality of math and science education by the World Economic Forum. • IDEA Public Schools and the National Science and Math Initiative are changing this status quo one teacher, one class, one student at a time!

¹ https://www.nms.org/AboutNMSI/OurStrategy.aspx

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Meet The Software Development Team Imagine a classroom where the teacher has unlimited access to data about a student’s learning needs. At the click of a mouse, the educator can view the progress of a student on a certain learning objective from October to May. They can also capture a student’s preferred learning style for future educators down the road. THIS DREAM HAS BECOME A REALITY for IDEA teachers, thanks to IDEA’s Software Development Team. Think of IDEA’s Software Development Team as the people behind the scenes, who are creating data systems so that IDEA educators can focus on doing what they do best…teaching. The purpose of the Software Development Team at IDEA Public Schools is to help all teachers access more student data than ever before. We know that a data-driven teacher is a successful teacher. Unfortunately, in many school networks and districts, teachers do not have access to the right student analysis tools to ensure they can be successful. IDEA’s Software Development Team is making that happen. IDEA’s very own software development team consists of a core of 7 employees, the majority of whom possess experience teaching in the classroom. Why is this important?

Early on, IDEA faced market limitations in what we wanted for our students. If we couldn’t obtain a holistic picture of every student using the nation’s leading software student data systems, then we vowed to make our own—in the best interest of our students. This effort was made possible thanks to The Race to the Top-District grant IDEA Public Schools received in 2012 from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant was instrumental in bringing the full Software Development Team together at IDEA Public Schools.

“The work we do always starts with a vision of listening to our teachers and providing educators with the tools they need to be successful,” said Cody Grindle, Vice President of Information Systems. “And when a teacher is successful, a student is successful. That’s our philosophy.”

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Lorrinda Cavazos, a kindergarten teacher at IDEA South Flores Academy, and her student, Amayah Cantu. The purpose of the Software Development Team at IDEA Public Schools is to help all teachers access more student data than ever before at the click of their mouse.

The Software Development Team looks at iterations of data.

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Members of the Software Development Team at IDEA Headquarters in Weslaco, Texas, from left to right: Adriana Gonzalez, Cody Grindle, Heriberto Urbano, and Juan Ruiz.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

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IMPACTING THE INDUSTRY TODAY, IDEA FINDS ITSELF in a unique place in the public charter landscape, thanks to our software programs. We are pushing our models to new heights in pursuit of our organizational mission—a great education for all children we serve. Technology is a strategic imperative and one that can rarely be met by traditional enterprise or technological products.

“The Software Development Team builds bridges between systems and technologies to reuse data for more specialized purposes for our teachers,” said Cody Grindle. On a national level, IDEA’s Software Development Team actively collaborates with other charters and traditional districts through the Data Whiz Group, a coalition funded by the Charter School Growth Fund and the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative. They are able to exchange ideas, receive feedback, and articulate common challenge areas and needs as a common voice to the technology community as a whole. More recently, this manifested into "Project Unicorn," a group of public school networks who work together to establish a rubric for new educational technology. This coalition, which includes public charter schools like IDEA, also pledges to make financial decisions that prioritize student data access, privacy, and security. With all this progress made at a network and national level, you may be wondering: what sorts of original software programs are available at IDEA Public Schools? Let’s take a look at two of the programs created by IDEA’s Software Development Team, both of which are currently sought after by educational agencies nationwide, and that are pushing the drive for innovation in student information systems. DIRECT INSTRUCTION (DI) ONLINE What is DI Online? “An absolute life saver,” according to Laura Lerand, Kindergarten teacher at IDEA Bluff Springs Academy. “DI Online allows me to track all of my student data online, and display it in a way that shows an extended view of how every one of my students is progressing throughout the year in all subjects. When a parent walks into a parent conference, they will be able to see all data on every objective across multiple subjects at the click of a mouse. It’s the perfect tool to assess progress of how a student is doing in my classroom. And, it helps me make the right decision for each child so they progress at a pace that is right for them.”

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

DI ONLINE WAS CREATED ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES AND GOALS: • Reduce the amount of time teachers and administrators spend on managing the DI Curriculum • Unlock new opportunities for greater clarity and action with regards to student data • Empower teachers, administrators, and central office with tools for leveraging strategic information to influence higher student outcomes THE TEACHER DASHBOARD The teacher dashboard is the foundation for all information a teacher needs on a daily basis. Teachers can login into their dashboard to access data pertaining to their students’ progress. This IDEA-specific program was developed based on countless hours of interviews and observations in the field, as well as established literature around the skills data-driven teaching. THE GOALS OF THE TEACHER DASHBOARDS ARE: • Consolidate all available student data sources into one go-to place for ease of access, use, and comparison • Reduce the amount of time and effort to locate, interpret, and use student data, so IDEA teachers can start planning how to teach their students, not decipher numbers • Empower teachers as leaders on the ground with the tools to develop student-centered strategies As past educators, our Software Development Team knew how difficult it often was as a teacher to get a sense of how a student has fared academically and behaviorally in past years at school. This often required digging into past files and even calling the child’s prior school. This level of technology and innovation has been extremely helpful for teachers, so that they can help plan strategies to ensure students are closing gaps and learning at their optimal level. With the Teacher Dashboard, all of this and more is possible. On the next page you’ll find documented use of our Teacher Dashboard by IDEA Educators. As the data shows, our teachers are continually using this program as a way to make strategic decisions for their scholars.

ASSESSMENT ANALYSIS DASHBOARD VIA TEACHER DASHBOARD This data helps teachers evaluate how their students performed on an assessment and identify groups that may need intervention, reinforcement, or enhancement in testing content areas. Teachers can quickly and easily assess how their students are performing and develop strategies to better meet the needs of their students.

This light bulb allows teachers to look at more specific student performance reports.

This identifies the specific assessment that the data below will reflect.

For example, this particular teacher is outperforming the district and the region on this biweekly assessment, based on the number of their students who fall in the green area.

This data shows teachers how their students performed on assessments and also enables them to assess and compare their student data to other students in their region and in the district.

This legend helps a teacher identify the range of students that fall within specific scoring areas.

This is a data representation of the visual chart above.

DI ONLINE Concepts that students are learning in the classroom.

This chart provides data for a teacher to assess how their students performed on each of the concepts. It also highlights concepts students have not mastered or areas where students are performing well or where a lesson may need to be reinforced.

Student names identified here.

DI ONLINE

Scores needed for a student to pass or master a concept.

 This enables our teachers to easily manage and monitor student performance through Direct Instruction. It’s very similar to a gradebook on a more granular level. This data helps teachers make determinations about how students will progress throughout the remainder of the Direct Instruction program. IMPACT SUMMER 2017

THE STUDENT CONNECTION You might be thinking: what does “Software Development” have to do with education, let alone my child?

JESSICA BAUMER, AN IDEA ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF INSTRUCTION and former IDEA teacher, is the first to admit that the computer programs she is able to access at her campus on a daily basis have benefited her scholars tremendously. “These programs allow an IDEA educator to access any data point from the entire year with a few clicks of a mouse,” Baumer explained. “As a direct instruction coach, I have everything I need at my fingertips to make strategic decisions and action plans for every student.” With the use of computer programs invented by IDEA Public Schools, teachers can move students from group to group based on mastery of content, and are able to access a wide array of individual student data to ensure they can accelerate, remediate, and teach at the just right level for every child. IDEA Public Schools knows that tracking student progress is key to academic success. If you don’t keep track of where you are going, how will you get there? Since 100% of our scholars are going to college, we knew we had to invest in the best data-tracking systems this country could offer. Every teacher at IDEA is able to spend as much time as possible with each student and give them the care and attention they deserve. At IDEA, The Software Development Team minimizes distractions and redundant tasks while helping all teachers execute decisions with more confidence and a more holistic understanding of each student, rather than just their latest test scores. When children begin their academic careers at IDEA, they will be placed in the very capable hands of teachers who can devote their full energy to helping students, so that classroom time is maximized. This commitment is kept topof-mind by IDEA’s very own software development team. How can we use technology to maximize students' time-on-task and, ultimately, their academic growth? How can we create and utilize innovative database systems to support every decision an IDEA teacher makes on a daily basis in the classroom? These are the questions IDEA software developers ask on a daily basis. Whatever high-tech program the Software Development Team at IDEA Public Schools may launch or utilize, the vision is always the same. They strive to make our educators’ lives easier so they can do their absolute best at their craft: teaching students.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Leonardo Vallodolid, a student at IDEA Academy Walzem, and his teacher, Bianca Lancerio. Every teacher at IDEA is able to spend as much time as possible with each student and give them the care and attention they deserve.



IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Summer is Here Check out IDEA's Summer Resources in the following section.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

TIPS TO PREVENT SUMMER READING “SLIDE”:  Choose the right books. The “Goldilocks Effect” - not too easy, not too hard. Series books are especially good for struggling readers.

Preventing Summer Slide

 Encourage interests. Encourage your child to explore interesting topics they want to read about - fiction, non-fiction, e-books, magazines, or whatever gets them going.



When a child spends hours kicking a soccer ball or shooting baskets, you will eventually see progress in those skills.

Visit the local library. Endless book options, special summer programs… and it’s free! Check out audiobooks for road trips.

But what if he or she takes three months off from soccer? Skills will regress. Reading is no different. Research points to an average of a two-month loss in reading level over the summer. Multiply that by each summer of a child’s Pre-K-12 career, and you have a loss of TWO YEARS.

Set a summer reading goal. How many books can your child read this summer? Post and chart progress toward the goal. Have a friendly family competition with a special reward to show your kids that reading is also a priority for you.

Never fear, IDEA is here to provide some tips so your child can stay sharp over the summer.



DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE THEIR SUMMER READING LIST? Be sure to check with your IDEA campus to ensure your child has received their summer reading list.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Transportation Information At IDEA Public Schools, the journey to and from school each day is an extension of classroom learning. Here are the two ways to access your transportation routes 1

POWERSCHOOL: Log into PowerSchool and click on the transportation tab. From there, you can log into PowerSchool to register for transportation or verify your child’s bus stop information.

"HERE COMES THE BUS" APPLICATION: This application enables parents to see, in real time, where their child's bus is and when and where their child got on or off. This easy-to-use technology is free. Simply download the “Here Comes the Bus” application on your smartphone, create a secure account (IDEA's school code is: 83127), add your students, and you’re all set! To sign up or to learn more about “Here Comes the Bus” and Student Ridership, visit http://www.herecomesthebus.com

TO ENSURE THE SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF YOUR CHILD TO AND FROM SCHOOL, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTACT YOUR CAMPUS TRANSPORTATION MANAGER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR BUS ASSIGNMENT OR BUS STOP. Campus Transportation Manager Contact Information

IDEA Alamo (956) 975-1403

IDEA Rio Grande City (956) 256-0160

IDEA Edinburg (956) 647-7635

IDEA Tres Lagos (956) 309-1825

IDEA Pharr (956) 369-9239

IDEA Camp Rio (956) 459-1186

IDEA San Juan (956) 369-4738

IDEA Mission (956) 607-9662

IDEA Allan (512) 993-7153

IDEA Riverview (956) 678-6541

IDEA Frontier (956) 371-9916

IDEA Weslaco (956) 373-5570

IDEA Quest (956) 369-7254

IDEA Donna (956) 373-6152

IDEA Toros (956) 647-7635

IDEA North Mission (956) 332-9916

IDEA Brownsville (956) 373-4033

IDEA San Benito (956) 647-7618

IDEA McAllen (956) 647-7382

IDEA Weslaco Pike (956) 332-4451

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES

The Health Services Team provides basic first aid to students with minor injuries and illnesses. The clinic staff members tend to students’ medical needs, maintain student medical records, conduct state-mandated health screenings, and communicate regularly with parents and staff members. The clinic staff members will administer medications/ procedures to students with physician orders and parent consent forms when needed. Texas state law requires students attending school to be immunized against certain vaccine preventable diseases. The Immunization Branch encourages you to get your child vaccinated early so as to avoid the end-of-summer vaccination rush. Getting your child vaccinated protects your child’s health and that of the community. IDEA Public Schools in partnership with On Guard Community Services provides vaccines to our students. If necessary, please make an appointment to get your child vaccinated as soon as possible. Remember, students cannot attend school without the appropriate documentation for the required vaccines or a valid medical or conscientious exemption.

Immunization Requirements 2017-2018 Pre-K (4-year-olds)

• 4 doses of DPT/DTaP/DT/TdaP/Td • 3 doses Polio • 1 dose MMR received on or after the 1st birthday • 3 doses Hib (one of which must be on or after 12 months) or 1 dose Hib after 15 months of age • 2 doses Hepatitis A received on or after 1st birthday • 3 doses Hepatitis B • Pneumococcal Conjugate (Prevnar, PCV7) - 3 doses given with 1 dose given after the age of 12 months, or 2 doses if given between 12-24 months, or 1 dose if given after 24 months • 1 dose Varicella on or after the 1st birthday (if child has not had chickenpox) *

Kindergarten and 1st Grade through 6th Grade

• 5 doses DPT/DtaP/DT/TdaP/Td including 1 received on or after the 4th birthday (unless the 4th dose was on or after the 4th birthday, then 4 doses) • 4 doses Polio, including one received on or after the 4th birthday (unless the 3rd dose was on or after the 4th birthday, then 3 doses) ** • 2 doses MMR received on or after the 1st birthday • 2 doses of Hepatitis A received on or after 1st birthday • 3 doses Hepatitis B • 2 doses Varicella on or after the 1st birthday (if child has not had chicken pox)

7th Grade

• 3 doses DPT/DtaP/Td/Tdap with 1 dose on or after the 4th birthday • 1 booster dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis containing vaccine (if at least 5 years have passed since last tetanus containing vaccine. The booster MUST be given once the 5 year time period has been met.) • 3 doses Polio with 1 dose on or after the 4th birthday (Polio vaccine is not required for students 18 years or older.) • 2 doses MMR (or 1 dose of Measles and 1 MMR) received on or after the 1st birthday • 3 doses Hepatitis B • 2 doses of Varicella (if the student has not had chickenpox disease) • 1 dose of Meningococcal

8th Grade through 12th Grade

• 3 doses DPT/DtaP/DT/Td/Tdap with 1 dose on or after the 4th birthday (One dose must be within the last 10 years) • 3 doses Polio with 1 dose on or after the 4th birthday (Polio vaccine is not required for students 18 years or older.) • 2 doses MMR (or 1 Measles and 1 MMR) received on or after the 1st birthday • 3 doses Hepatitis B • 2 doses of Varicella (if the student has not had the chickenpox disease) • 1 dose of Meningococcal

IMPACT SUMMER 2017



Summer Is Here!

Enjoy it, but keep reading and learning!  Read 30 Minutes Daily  Math 30 Minutes Daily This summer, my goal is to read ________ words over the summer and complete ________ lessons/objectives on the math software.

Use the log in information to access the appropriate software through the summer until July 31st. NAME OF SOFTWARE

GRADE LEVELS

URL

LOG-IN

TUMBLEBOOKS

K-6

tumblebooks.com

Username: ideaps Password: reads

ACCELERATED READER

1-8

hosted273.renlearn.com/2406896

Username: school ID# Password: abc123

DREAMBOX LEARNING

clever.com/in/ideapublicschools

Username: school IDEA # Password: school password

REASONING MIND

2-5

rmcity.org

Username: school ID# Password: school password

ACHIEVE 3000

6 - 12

portal.achieve3000.com/index

Contact Campus Individual Learning Specialist

web.stmath.com/entrance/

Username and password: 13 character picture password

ST MATH

THINK THROUGH MATH

6-7

clever.com/in/ideapublicschools

Username: school ID # Password: abc123

KHAN ACADEMY

6 - 12

khanacademy.org/

We cannot wait to hear about your #IDEASUMMERLEARN journey! Be sure to take a lot of pictures and post them to social media so we can follow your summer experience as you read tons of books and enhance your math skills. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your campus AR or Hotspot Facilitator.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

Healthy Summer Habits

Summertime is a great time for kids to enjoy the outdoors, play with friends, and have fun. However, getting your child to continue to eat healthy during summer vacation can be a challenge. With longer days, children can get restless or bored in the evening and start snacking or go to fast food restaurants for quick bites. HELP KIDS MAINTAIN GOOD NUTRITIONAL HABITS WITH THESE SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS:

Keep your child on a schedule for meals and snacks.

Make the kitchen off-limits during the day unless it’s time for a meal or a planned snack.

Exercise for at least 20 minutes a day, and make it a family activity!

ABOUT HEALTHY KIDS HERE: In 2014, IDEA started the Healthy Kids Here initiative with the goal of becoming the healthiest school district in America by: providing a healthy and active lifestyle for our students, increasing student access to healthy and nutritious foods, and educating our IDEA Team & Family on health, wellness and nutrition. We want to reduce our student’s access to unhealthy foods. In order to do this, we revamped our menu to include more whole grains, low-fat foods, lean meats, and fruits and vegetables.

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

UNIFORM GUIDE 2017

UNIFORM GUIDE

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

55 for details)

IMPACT SUMMER 2017

GRADES: PRE-K-5, 8

IMPACT SUMMER 2017



IMPACT SUMMER 2017

IDEA Team & Family!

ARE YOU READY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON AUGUST 14? We’ve got you covered.

VISIT IDEAPUBLICSCHOOLS.ORG/BACKTOSCHOOL

for back to school information and resources.

Are you looking for your child's school supply list? Visit ideapublicschools.org/backtoschool for school supplies lists.

First Day of School Printables

In preparation for the first day of school and to make sure you’re ready to take your annual first day of school photograph on August 14, we’ve created printables for your use! All you need to do is use the grade level your child is entering this year and snap your photo! We encourage you to share your photos on social media on August 14, with the hashtag #IDEABack2School. We look forward to seeing thousands of photos on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! IMPACT SUMMER 2017

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

PRE-KINDERGARTEN

Today is my first day of



#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

KINDERGARTEN

Today is my first day of



1 st GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



nd GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



3 rd GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



th GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



5 th GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



6 #IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

th GRADE

Today is my first day of



th GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



th GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



th GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



th GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



th GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



th GRADE

#IDEABack2School

at IDEA ______________!

Today is my first day of



2017-18 ACADEMIC CALENDAR Rio Grande Valley

JULY S

AUGUST T

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER F

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

28 29

28 29 30

NOVEMBER S

25 26

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

MARCH

APRIL F

MAY

25 26

28 29 30

29 30

JUNE

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

COLOR KEY FIRST/LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

TEACHER WORK DAYS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

8/14 06/01

8/12 06/02

Students do not need to attend classes on these dates.

BAD WEATHER DAYS

EARLY RELEASE DAYS

2/19 3/30

9/22 11/10

8/7 - 8/11 10/20 1/4-1/5 2/9 3/9 3/9

HOLIDAYS

Labor Day 9/4 Columbus Day 10/9 Thanksgiving 11/20 - 11/24 Winter Break 12/21 - 1/3 MLK Jr. Day 1/15 Spring Break 3/12 - 3/16 End Of Quarter

June 1, *This calendar is subject to change pending updates made in surrounding school districts and inclement weather. Date issued: Nov. 11,2017 2016.



2017-18 ACADEMIC CALENDAR Austin

JULY S

AUGUST T

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER F

25 26

28 29

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

NOVEMBER S

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

MARCH S

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

25 26

28 29 30

29 30

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

COLOR KEY FIRST/LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

TEACHER WORK DAYS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

8/14 06/01

8/12 06/02

Students do not need to attend classes on these dates.

BAD WEATHER DAYS

EARLY RELEASE DAYS

2/19 3/30

9/22 11/10

8/7 - 8/11 10/20 1/4-1/5 2/9 3/9

HOLIDAYS

Labor Day 9/4 Columbus Day 10/9 Thanksgiving 11/20 - 11/24 Winter Break 12/21 - 1/3 MLK Jr. Day 1/15 Spring Break 3/12 - 3/16 End Of Quarter

*This calendar is subject to change pending updates made in surrounding school districts and inclement weather. Date issued: Nov. 2016. June 1,11,2017



2017-18 ACADEMIC CALENDAR Brownsville

JULY

AUGUST

T 1

25 26

28 29

28 29 30

NOVEMBER T

SEPTEMBER

F 1

25 26

28 29 30

DECEMBER

OCTOBER S

JANUARY

FEBRUARY T

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

MARCH S

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

25 26

28 29 30

29 30

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

COLOR KEY FIRST/LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

TEACHER WORK DAYS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

8/14 06/01

8/12 06/02

Students do not need to attend classes on these dates.

BAD WEATHER DAYS

EARLY RELEASE DAYS

2/23 3/30

9/22 11/10 2/22

8/7 - 8/11 10/20 1/4-1/5 3/9 2/9 3/9

HOLIDAYS

Labor Day 9/4 Columbus Day 10/9 Thanksgiving 11/20 - 11/24 Winter Break 12/21 - 1/3 MLK Jr. Day 1/15 Spring Break 3/12 - 3/16 End Of Quarter

*This calendar is subject to change pending updates made in surrounding school districts and inclement weather. Date issued: Nov. 11, 2016. June 1, 2017



2017-18 ACADEMIC CALENDAR San Antonio

JULY

AUGUST

T 1

25 26

28 29

28 29 30

NOVEMBER T

SEPTEMBER

F 1

25 26

28 29 30

DECEMBER

OCTOBER S

JANUARY

FEBRUARY T

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

25 26

MARCH S

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

25 26

28 29 30

29 30

28 29 30

25 26

28 29 30

COLOR KEY FIRST/LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

TEACHER WORK DAYS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

8/14 06/01

8/12 06/02

Students do not need to attend classes on these dates.

BAD WEATHER DAYS

EARLY RELEASE DAYS

4/27 5/28

9/22 11/10

8/7 - 8/11 10/20 1/4-1/5 3/9 2/9 3/9

HOLIDAYS

Labor Day 9/4 Columbus Day 10/9 Thanksgiving 11/20 - 11/24 Winter Break 12/22- 1/3 MLK Jr. Day 1/15 Spring Break 3/12 - 3/16 Good Friday 3/30 End Of Quarter

*This calendar is subject to change pending updates made in surrounding school districts and inclement weather. Date issued: Nov. 11, 2016. June 1, 2017

IDEA Team & Family, we want to know what you love most about innovation at IDEA. Share a comment or photo and post them with #InnovationAtIDEA