Jan-Feb 2017 Committee on Instruction Item 5
Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 114, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English, Subchapter C, High School, §114.53, Advanced Language for Career Applications
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)
February 3, 2017
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 114, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English, Subchapter C, High School, §114.53, Advanced Language for Career Applications. The proposed new rule would implement House Bill (HB) 1431, 84th Texas Legislature, 2015, which requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to develop an advanced languages other than English (LOTE) course that prepares students to communicate in a language other than English in a specific professional, business, or industry environment.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.102(c)(4) and §28.002(t).
TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the SBOE to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.
TEC, §28.002(t), requires the SBOE, in consultation with the commissioner of higher education and business and industry leaders, to develop an advanced language course that a school district may use to provide students with instruction in industry-related terminology that prepares students to communicate in a language other than English in a specific professional, business, or industry environment.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of proposed new 19 TAC §114.53 is August 28, 2017.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the LOTE Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) effective September 1, 1998. In April 2014, the SBOE adopted revisions to the LOTE TEKS effective July 15, 2014. In September 2014, the SBOE adopted new LOTE TEKS for classical languages effective November 3, 2014. The revised LOTE TEKS adopted in 2014 will be implemented beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. A discussion item regarding standards related to a career-oriented languages other than English course was presented to the Committee on Instruction at the November 2016 meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: HB 1431, 84th Texas Legislature, 2015, added TEC, §28.002(t), to require that the SBOE, in consultation with the commissioner of higher education and business and industry leaders, develop an advanced language course that a school district may use to provide students with instruction in industry-related terminology that prepares students to communicate in a language other than English in a specific professional, business, or industry environment. In August 2016, a committee of secondary and postsecondary educators and business and industry representatives were selected to develop recommended TEKS for the advanced career-oriented LOTE course.
The course development committee convened for the first face-to-face meeting in Austin in October 2016 to begin working on recommendations for the TEKS. The committee participated in additional virtual meetings to finalize its initial draft recommendations, which were presented to the Committee on Instruction for discussion at the November 2016 meeting. Following the November 2016 SBOE meeting, a draft of the proposed TEKS were shared with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and representatives from the business and industry community for feedback. The course development committee convened again for a virtual meeting in December 2016 to finalize its recommendations. This item provides the opportunity for the board to approve for first reading and filing authorization the committee's final recommendations in accordance with statutory requirements that the SBOE adopt TEKS for a career-oriented language course.
Attachment II reflects the text of proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 114, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English, Subchapter C, High School, §114.53, Advanced Language for Career Applications, for consideration by the SBOE for first reading and filing authorization.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are fiscal implications for the TEA in fiscal year 2017 to reimburse committee members for travel to develop TEKS for the new course. There are also implications for the TEA if the state develops professional development to help teachers and administrators understand the new course. For fiscal year 2017, the estimated cost to the TEA for the development of the new career-oriented language course is $2,500. Any professional development that is created would be based on whether the TEA receives an appropriation for professional development in the next biennium.
There may be fiscal implications for school districts and charter schools that choose to implement the new course. These may include the need for professional development and revisions to district-developed databases, curriculum, and scope and sequence documents. Since curriculum and instruction decisions are made at the local district level, it is difficult to estimate the fiscal impact on any given district.
The TEA has determined that 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 new rule is in effect; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under Texas Government Code, §2001.022.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include a new career-oriented LOTE course option for students.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The proposed new rule would have no new procedural and reporting requirements.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed new rule would have no new locally maintained paperwork requirements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: The official public comment period will begin when the proposal, approved for first reading and filing authorization by the SBOE, 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 new 19 TAC Chapter 114, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English, Subchapter C, High School, §114.53, Advanced Language for Career Applications.
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, 37KB)
II. Text of Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 114, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Languages Other Than English, Subchapter C, High School, §114.53, Advanced Language for Career Applications (PDF, 36KB)