July 2016 Committee on Instruction Item 3
Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)
July 22, 2016
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses. The proposal would update course titles for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, modify the amount of credit that could be earned for these courses, and add new AP Physics courses to align with courses recently revised by the College Board.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, and 28.025.
TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.
TEC, §28.002, identifies the subjects of the required curriculum and requires the SBOE by rule to identify the essential knowledge and skills of each subject in the required curriculum that all students should be able to demonstrate and that will be used in evaluating instructional materials and addressed on the state assessment instruments.
TEC, §28.025, requires the SBOE by rule to determine the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school graduation program that are consistent with the required curriculum under the TEC, §28.002.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed revisions is 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register. Under TEC, §7.102(f), the SBOE must approve the rule action at second reading and final adoption by a vote of two-thirds of its members to specify an effective date earlier than the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. The earlier effective date will allow school districts to award credit for appropriate AP science courses beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE initially adopted rules in 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, effective September 1, 1998. Additional rules were adopted in Subchapter D effective July 12, 2010 and August 24, 2015.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: Rules in 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, identify the requirements for high school advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and career and technical education science courses.
Section 112.61 would be amended to remove an implementation date that has passed. The proposed amendments to §§112.62-112.66 would modify the amount of credit that could be earned for AP courses to eliminate the range of credits. The section titles would be updated to indicate the change in credit as well as align with AP course titles where necessary. In addition, §112.65 would be modified to update the recommended prerequisites and add a co-requisite.
Proposed new 19 TAC §112.67, Advanced Placement (AP) Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism (One Credit), and §112.68, Advanced Placement (AP) Physics C: Mechanics (One Credit), would add new College Board courses for science credit and reflect the level of the courses and the credit to be awarded.
The proposed revisions were not presented as a discussion item. The SBOE, however, may wish to consider this item for first reading and filing authorization as authorized under its operating procedures. Therefore, this item is presented for first reading and filing authorization consideration at this meeting. In order to ensure that the TEKS align with SBOE rules on graduation requirements that will be effective August 22, 2016, it is recommended the SBOE consider this item for first reading and filing authorization.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Texas Education Agency has determined that that there are no additional costs to persons or entities required to comply with the proposed rule action. In addition, there is no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses or microbusinesses; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required. There is no effect on local economy for the first five years that the proposed revisions are in effect; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under Texas Government Code, §2001.022.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include appropriate science credit options aligned with other subject areas for students who take AP courses.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The proposed revisions would have no new procedural and reporting requirements.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed revisions would have no new locally maintained paperwork requirements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: The official public comment period will begin when the proposal is published in the Texas Register.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: A request for a public hearing on the proposal submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 14 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Suspend the board operating procedures in accordance with §5.2(a) to allow consideration at first reading and filing authorization; and
Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs
Shelly Ramos, Division Director
Curriculum
Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations (PDF, 27KB)
II. Text of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses (PDF, 24KB)