Optional Flexible Year Program
The deadline for requesting permission to participate in the Optional Flexible Year Program (OFYP) for the 2005-06 school year is January 31, 2006. Because the recently adopted rule indicating that requests must be made at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the school year were not effective until October 18, 2005, the deadline is being extended to allow all districts the opportunity to participate. Questions should be directed to Al Johnson at 512-463-9238 or al.johnson@tea.state.tx.us. To review the rules for the OFYP program visit www.tea.state.tx.us/rules/commissioner/adopted/0905/61-1017n-ltradopt.html.

Hurricanes Katrina/Rita Relocated Students
The Louisiana Department of Education is offering the Graduation Exit Examination (GEE) online to assist students who were displaced to other states because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita but would like to earn a Louisiana diploma in 2005-2006 or 2006-2007. On Monday, January 9, 2006, the Louisiana Department of Education began accepting online student registrations for eligible students. Online testing is from January 23 - January 27, 2006. School administrators can register Louisiana students to take the GEE Online at their new school out of state. To be eligible for the test, students must be residing in a state other than Louisiana. A User Guide for administrators and testing proctors is located at www.louisianagee.org/Registration/GEEOnlineUserGuide1-7.pdf. Obtain additional eligibility requirements at www.louisianaschools.net/lde/uploads/8291.pdf.

LPAC Decision-Making Process for the Texas Assessment Program
A training PowerPoint on the TEA publication titled LPAC Decision-Making Process for the Texas Assessment Program (Grades 3-12): A Procedural Manual for the 2005-2006 School Year is available in the What's New box of the Student Assessment Division website at www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/index.html.