November 2016 Committee of the Full Board Wednesday Item 4
Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements,
Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)
November 18, 2016
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements, to update the rules to include new career and technical education (CTE) course options that will be available for students to satisfy graduation requirements beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
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 to by rule 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(a), requires the SBOE to by rule determine the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school program that are consistent with the required curriculum and to designate the specific courses in the foundation curriculum that are required under the foundation high school program.
TEC, §28.025(b-1), requires the SBOE to by rule require that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school program include a requirement that students successfully complete four credits in English language arts, including one credit in English I, one credit in English II, one credit in English III, and one credit in an advanced English course; three credits in mathematics, including one credit in Algebra I, one credit in geometry, and one credit in any advanced mathematics course; three credits in science, including one credit in biology, one credit in any advanced science course, and one credit in integrated physics and chemistry or in an additional advanced science course; three credits in social studies, including one credit in United States history, at least one-half credit in government and at least one-half credit in economics, and one credit in world geography or world history; two credits in the same language in a language other than English; five elective credits; one credit in fine arts; and one credit in physical education.
TEC, §28.025(b-2), requires the SBOE, in adopting rules, to provide for a student to comply with the curriculum requirements for an advanced English course taken after successful completion of English I, English II, and English III, for an advanced mathematics course taken after the successful completion of Algebra I and geometry, and for any advanced science course by successfully completing a course in the appropriate content area that has been approved as an advanced course by board rule or that is offered as an advanced course for credit without board approval as provided by Section 28.002(g-1). TEC, §28.025(b-2), also requires the SBOE, in adopting rules, to allow a student to comply with the curriculum requirements for the third and fourth mathematics credits or the third and fourth science credits under Subsection (b-1)(1) by successfully completing an advanced CTE course designated by the SBOE as containing substantively similar and rigorous academic content.
TEC, §28.025(b-3), requires the SBOE, in adopting rules for purposes of Subsection (b-2), to approve a variety of advanced English, mathematics, and science courses that may be taken to comply with the foundation high school program requirements, provided that each approved course prepares students to enter the workforce successfully or postsecondary education without remediation.
TEC, §28.025(c-2), requires the SBOE, in adopting rules to require a student in order to earn any endorsement to successfully complete four credits in mathematics, which must include Algebra I, geometry, and two advanced mathematics courses; four credits in science, which must include biology, integrated physics and chemistry or an additional advanced science course, and two advanced science courses or an advanced career and technology course; and two additional elective credits. The SBOE, in adopting rules is also required to develop additional curriculum requirements for each endorsement with the direct participation of educators and business, labor, and industry representatives, and to require each school district to report to the agency the categories of endorsements for which the district offers all courses for curriculum requirements, as determined by board rule.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter B, is August 28, 2017.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted rules in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter B, to implement the Foundation High School Program effective July 8, 2014. Chapter 74, Subchapter B, was last amended effective August 22, 2016. Proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter B, were presented to the SBOE for discussion at its September 2016 meeting.
In 2015, the board approved revisions to the CTE Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). The revised CTE TEKS are scheduled to be implemented beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The 83rd Texas Legislature, 2013, passed House Bill (HB) 5, amending the TEC, §28.025, to transition from three high school graduation programs to one foundation high school program with endorsement options to increase flexibility for students. HB 5 gave the SBOE the authority to identify advanced courses related to the new graduation program, identify the curriculum requirements for the endorsements, and determine the requirements for performance acknowledgments related to the new graduation program.
In June 2014, the SBOE began the review of the TEKS for CTE. Due to the large number of courses, the SBOE divided the adoption of the CTE TEKS revisions into two portions. The SBOE approved the first group of CTE courses for second reading and final adoption at the April 2015 meeting. The SBOE approved the second portion of courses for second reading and final adoption at the July 2015 meeting. The board approved for second reading and final adoption proposed new CTE TEKS for an Advanced Marketing course and second-level practicum and automotive technology courses at the September 2015 meeting and a new career preparation course at the April 2016 meeting. The CTE TEKS review committees included in their final recommendations to the SBOE suggestions for CTE courses that may satisfy a specific graduation requirement.
At the September 2016 meeting, the committee discussed updates to the rules to include new CTE course options and a new Advanced Placement computer science course that will be available for students to satisfy graduation requirements beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. At that time, the committee made a number of decisions regarding the proposed rules and requested that staff move forward with the preparation of rule text reflecting those decisions to be presented for first reading and filing authorization.
Attachment II reflects the text of proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements, §74.12 and §74.13, for consideration by the SBOE for first reading and filing authorization.
Section 74.12, Foundation High School Program, would be amended to add the following CTE courses as options to satisfy the third mathematics credit requirement: Applied Mathematics for Technical Professionals, Accounting II, Manufacturing Engineering Technology II, Robotics II, Statistics and Business Decision Making, and Mathematics for Medical Professionals. Language would be added to specify that Algebra I and Geometry must be taken prior to the courses specified in §74.12(b)(2)(A) and (B) to more closely reflect statutory requirements.
Section 74.12 would also be amended to add the following CTE courses as options to satisfy the third science credit requirement: Biotechnology I, Biotechnology II, and Engineering Science.
Section 74.13, Endorsements, would be amended to add Statistics and Business Decision Making and Mathematics for Medical Professionals as options to satisfy a fourth mathematics credit and Biotechnology I, Biotechnology II, and Engineering Science as options to satisfy a fourth science credit. Additionally, AP Computer Science Principles would be added as a course option for the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics endorsement.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Texas Education Agency has determined 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 and 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 amendments are in effect; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under Texas Government Code, §2001.022.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include added flexibility in course options for students to meet high school graduation requirements.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The proposed amendments would have no new procedural and reporting implications.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed amendments 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:
Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements, §74.12 and §74.13.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director
Curriculum Standards and Student Support
Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations (PDF, 48KB)
II. Text of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter B, Graduation Requirements, §§74.12-74.13 (PDF, 73KB)