June 2019 Committee on Instruction Item 10
Discussion of Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs
June 13, 2019
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss a proposed amendment to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs. The proposed amendment would update the rule to modify the requirements for approval of innovative courses and specify that innovative courses cannot be approved if they substantially duplicate the content of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-based courses.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.002(f).
TEC, §28.002(f), authorizes local school districts to offer courses in addition to those in the required curriculum for local credit and requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to be flexible in approving a course for credit for high school graduation.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: At the direction of the committee, a proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.27 may be presented for first reading and filing authorization at a future meeting.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted 19 TAC §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs, effective September 1, 1996, with amendments effective September 1, 1998, and September 1, 2001. In November 2007, the SBOE adopted an additional amendment to 19 TAC §74.27 effective December 25, 2007.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: After the SBOE adopted new rules concerning graduation requirements, the experimental courses previously approved were phased out as of August 31, 1998. As a result of the adoption of the TEKS, school districts now submit new requests for innovative course approval for courses that do not have TEKS. The process outlined in §74.27 provides authority for the commissioner of education to approve discipline-based courses but reserves for SBOE review and approval those courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas of the foundation or enrichment curriculum.
Each year, TEA provides the opportunity for school districts and other entities to submit applications for proposed innovative courses. This item provides the opportunity for the Committee on Instruction to discuss the information that applicants must provide when applying for approval of an innovative course and the conditions courses must meet for approval.
The attachment to this item reflects the text of the proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.27 for consideration by the committee. The proposed amendment would add new application requirements for approval of innovative courses and specify that innovative courses will not be approved if they substantially duplicate the content of TEKS-based courses.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support
Attachment: Text of Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs
June 13, 2019
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss a proposed amendment to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs. The proposed amendment would update the rule to modify the requirements for approval of innovative courses and specify that innovative courses cannot be approved if they substantially duplicate the content of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-based courses.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.002(f).
TEC, §28.002(f), authorizes local school districts to offer courses in addition to those in the required curriculum for local credit and requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to be flexible in approving a course for credit for high school graduation.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: At the direction of the committee, a proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.27 may be presented for first reading and filing authorization at a future meeting.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted 19 TAC §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs, effective September 1, 1996, with amendments effective September 1, 1998, and September 1, 2001. In November 2007, the SBOE adopted an additional amendment to 19 TAC §74.27 effective December 25, 2007.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: After the SBOE adopted new rules concerning graduation requirements, the experimental courses previously approved were phased out as of August 31, 1998. As a result of the adoption of the TEKS, school districts now submit new requests for innovative course approval for courses that do not have TEKS. The process outlined in §74.27 provides authority for the commissioner of education to approve discipline-based courses but reserves for SBOE review and approval those courses that do not fall within any of the subject areas of the foundation or enrichment curriculum.
Each year, TEA provides the opportunity for school districts and other entities to submit applications for proposed innovative courses. This item provides the opportunity for the Committee on Instruction to discuss the information that applicants must provide when applying for approval of an innovative course and the conditions courses must meet for approval.
The attachment to this item reflects the text of the proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.27 for consideration by the committee. The proposed amendment would add new application requirements for approval of innovative courses and specify that innovative courses will not be approved if they substantially duplicate the content of TEKS-based courses.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support
Attachment: Text of Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter C, Other Provisions, §74.27, Innovative Courses and Programs