eNews Archive

September 23, 2008

Dear Plano ISD eNews Subscriber:

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is seeking parent,
student and teacher opinions regarding a new Uniform GPA Calculation
proposal.

A subcommittee of THECB met on Wednesday, September 17, to receive public
testimony regarding its Uniform GPA Calculation proposal. Representatives
from school districts across the state of Texas, including Plano ISD, voiced
concerns regarding Commissioner Paredes’s recommendations.

Testimony from the vast majority of school district personnel, including
Plano ISD, centered on disagreement with two specific points of the
proposal:

- The recommendation that dual credit, AP, and IB courses all receive the
same weighting, and
- The recommendation to not provide any additional weighting for Pre-AP,
Pre-IB, or Honors courses.

Prior to the start of the testimony, the board provided a written update to
its proposal which included revising the start date. Commissioner Paredes is
now recommending that the implementation for the new Uniform GPA Calculation
take effect beginning with next year’s 9th grade class.

After hearing testimony, the subcommittee members decided to postpone
consideration of the Uniform GPA Calculation until October 22, at which time
they will make a formal recommendation to the entire Coordinating Board for
adoption on October 23.

The subcommittee members are interested in receiving public comments to
guide them in making an informed decision. After testifying on September 17,
Plano ISD has been contacted by the Higher Ed Board to provide additional
information.

Current information indicates that public comments will be accepted through
October 5. Parents, students and teachers are encouraged to voice their
opinions to the Coordinating Board by contacting:

Natalie Coffey, Senior Program Director
E-mail: Natalie.Coffey@THECB.state.tx.us
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711

Updates regarding this topic will be posted on our district Web site at:
http://www.pisd.edu.

Thank you for subscribing to eNews. Your colleagues, friends and neighbors
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Best regards,

Doug Otto, Superintendent of Schools
Karla Oliver, Executive Director for Government and Community Relations
Mary Gorden, Public Information Officer / eNews Editor

“Plano ISD will provide an excellent education for all students."