The Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching is an award-winning statewide network of thirty seven P-16 partnerships that provide sustained and high intensity professional development to P-12 teachers of science across the state. This infrastructure of over 43 institutions of higher education collaborating with the Texas Education Agency, education service centers, school districts, and business partners, has a 16-year track record of designing and implementing exemplary science professional development using research-based instructional models, materials, and best practices.
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TRC Informational Brochure
Now available for download, the brochure contains information about the TRC, it's mission, programs, and impact on science education in Texas.
Our Mission
To provide Texas science and mathematics teachers with support systems of scientifically researched, sustained, and high intensity professional development and mentoring to assist them in the implementation of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Our programs equip teachers with the knowledge and skills to engage students in meaningful science and mathematics learning experiences that are designed to improve students' scientific, mathematical and technological literacy, and inspire them to pursue science and engineering related careers.
Our Values
We serve our customers, the teachers and educators of Texas. We treasure our people. We operate with integrity. We reward our partners. We contribute to systemic reform and to the community.
Fundamental Principles
- All students can learn science
- All science teachers can develop the knowledge, skills and expertise needed to implement programs that ensure all students can learn science
- Institutions of higher education are an integral part of the support systems provided to science teachers to empower them to lead systemic reform in science education.
Achievements
- Served over one million students across Texas through improved instruction and performance of participating teachers; developed the leadership capacity of over 14,000 Texas science teachers and approximately 5,000 mathematics teachers who in turn shared their experiences with thousands of teachers through mentoring, peer coaching, and technical assistance.
- Transformed the theory and practice of professional development by making it sustained, high intensity, and research-based; caused unprecedented collaboration within and across regions in support of high standards for all students; leveraged funds and synergized people.
- Received commendation from U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, policy makers, state legislators, and business partners; inducted into the Texas Science Hall of Fame, and recognized by the Governor, the Senate and House of Representatives for distinguished achievements and contributions to supporting science.
Indicators of Success
Elementary campuses with at least one Grade 5 TRC teacher each year between 2002 and 2005 scored higher on the Elementary Science TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills), administered at Grade 5, than the state average. Differences in student achievement were evidenced both in the percentage of students that met state standards as well as the percentage of students that achieved a Commendable Performance rating.- On average, scores for Collaborative teachers on tests of science content knowledge increased from a mean of 60 before TRC training to a mean of 84 after TRC participation.
- Students taught by teachers in the Rice University Regional Collaborative showed significant improvement as compared to non-participant teachers in the same school district on a test consisting of items from the Third International Math and Science Study (TIMSS).
Site Locations
Region 1 Collaborative/Edinburg |
Region 8 Collaborative/Mount Pleasant |
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