This Acronym Thing Is Getting Ridiculous

All career fields have their jargon. And education LOVES acronyms. To the point that it is getting ridiculous. I sat through a training today where my co-worker and I circled all the different acronyms on the handout. Eight.

Let me show you...

I know a few of you will actually understand most of this.

I am a ECE teacher (early childhood). I work in Texas teaching the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge Skills) in order for my students to pass the state mandated TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) test and the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills). Every nine weeks, I administer the K-Tips in order to score my students for their report card. I also administer the TPRI (Texas something Reading Inventory). If a student is an ESL (English Second Language) learner I also administer the TELPAS (I have no idea what this stands for). We do all this testing in compliance with the federal NCLB (No Child Left Behind) act. The government gives TEA (Texas Education Agency)guidelines to score each district and give them an AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) number based on test scores.

My training today focused on the new TEA mandated curriculum for all grade levels called the ELPS (English Language Proficiency Standards). The ELPS are for the LEP (Limited English Proficiency) and ELL (English Language Learners) students, but will benefit all kids. The ELPS focus on taking students from using the BICS (basic interpersonal communicative skills) to the CALPS (cognitive academic language proficiency skills). Essentially, getting students out of the informal, social language and using more vocabulary in the academic, formal register. I need to note my use of the ELPS in my lesson plans as a formal TLWBAT (the learner will be able to) followed by the specific language objective I wish them to obtain. How well I implement the ELPS will be reflected on my PDAS (Professional Development and Appraisal System) evaluation.

Now, aren't you glad you read this.

And people, this is just the tip of the acronym iceburg in education jargon.