November 17, 2021 Committee of the Full Board Item 6

Update on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review

November 19, 2021

COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for staff to present an update on the review of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and for the board to provide additional guidance to TEKS and ELPS review work groups, as necessary.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4); 28.002(a) and (c); and 28.025(a).

TEC, §7.102(c)(4), requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to establish curriculum and graduation requirements.

TEC, §28.002(a), identifies the subjects of the required curriculum.

TEC, §28.002(c), 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 graduation program that are consistent with the required curriculum under the TEC, §28.002.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the TEKS for all subjects effective September 1, 1998. The English language arts and reading TEKS were amended effective September 4, 2008. The Spanish language arts and reading TEKS were amended effective November 26, 2008. The TEKS for high school English elective courses were amended effective August 23, 2010. The English and Spanish language arts and reading TEKS for Kindergarten-Grade 8 were amended effective September 25, 2017, and the English language arts and reading and English as a second language (ESL) TEKS for high school were amended effective November 12, 2017. The K-12 TEKS for English and Spanish language arts and reading were again amended effective August 1, 2019, to make technical adjustments to the standards. The mathematics TEKS were amended effective August 1, 2006. The secondary mathematics TEKS were amended effective February 22, 2009. The mathematics TEKS were again amended effective September 12, 2012. The science TEKS were amended effective August 4, 2009 and were amended again to streamline the science TEKS effective August 27, 2018. The social studies TEKS were amended effective August 23, 2010 and were amended again to streamline the social studies TEKS in 2018. The career and technical education (CTE) TEKS were amended effective August 23, 2010. The CTE TEKS were again amended effective August 28, 2017. The fine arts TEKS were amended effective August 24, 2015. The TEKS for languages other than English (LOTE) were amended effective July 15, 2014, and December 31, 2014. The technology applications TEKS were amended effective September 26, 2011. At the November 2020 meeting, the board gave final approval to the health education TEKS and the physical education TEKS, which are scheduled to be effective August 1, 2022. The board also gave final approval in November 2020 to TEKS for four high school science courses to be implemented beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. At the June 2021 meeting, the SBOE gave final approval to TEKS for five additional high school science courses.

At the June 2019 SBOE meeting, the board held a work session to discuss updating the TEKS and instructional materials review and adoption schedule. At the September 2019 meeting, the board approved the schedule through the 2030-2031 school year. The board held another work session to discuss updates to the TEKS and instructional materials review and adoption schedule at the January 2021 meeting. The board approved updates to the TEKS and instructional materials review and adoption schedule at the April 2021 meeting.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The board received training from a standards writing advisor at the July 2014 meeting. The standards writing advisor provided additional training to Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff in October 2014 to support future facilitation of the TEKS review committees.

In 2017, the SBOE significantly revised the process for the review and revision of the TEKS. The 2017 TEKS review process was used for the streamlining of the social studies TEKS. At the November 2018 meeting, the SBOE approved updates to the 2017 TEKS review and revision process to better clarify the process. The updated process was used for the review of the physical education, health education, and science TEKS.

The SBOE began the review of the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) in early 2019, in accordance with the SBOE's approved TEKS and instructional materials review schedule. Applications to serve on ELPS review work groups were posted on the TEA website in December 2018. Also in December 2018, TEA distributed a survey to collect information from educators regarding the review and revision of the ELPS.

In preparation for the review of the science TEKS, SBOE members were asked at the September 2019 meeting to designate science content advisors. Applications to serve on the science TEKS review work groups were posted on the TEA website in November 2019, and in December 2019, TEA distributed a survey to collect information from educators regarding the review and revision of the science TEKS. TEA staff provided applications for approval by SBOE members in January, February, March, May, July, October, and December 2020. At the November 2020 meeting, the board gave final approval to revised TEKS for four high school science courses: Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Physics and Chemistry, and Physics. At the June 2021 meeting, the board gave final approval to revised TEKS for additional high school courses, which include Aquatic Science, Astronomy, Earth Systems Science, Environmental Science, and Specialized Topics in Science. Second reading and final adoption of new TEKS for Kindergarten-Grade 8 science are included as a separate item on this agenda.

At the January 2021 meeting, the board held a work session to discuss the timeline for the TEKS review and revision process and associated activities, including updates to State Board for Educator Certification teacher assignment rules and certification exams, adoption of instructional materials, and the completion of the Texas Resource Review. TEA provided an overview of career and technical education (CTE) programs of study and a skills gap analysis that is being completed to inform review and revision of the CTE TEKS. The board discussed potential adjustments to the TEKS and Instructional Materials Review and Adoption Schedule.

Also, during the work session, staff provided an update on plans for the review and revision of CTE courses that satisfy a science graduation requirement as well as certain courses in the health science, education and training, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs of study. Applications to serve on these CTE TEKS review work groups were posted on the TEA website in December 2020. TEA staff provided SBOE members applications for approval to serve on a CTE work group at the January 2021 SBOE meeting. Additional applications were provided to SBOE members in February and March 2021. Work groups were convened to develop recommendations for the CTE courses in March, April, May, June, and August 2021. Second reading and final adoption of new TEKS for CTE courses that satisfy a science graduation requirement as well as certain courses in the health science, education and training, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs of study are included as a separate item on this agenda.

In May 2021, the board nominated individuals to serve as content advisors for the review of the TEKS for technology applications. An application to serve on technology applications TEKS review work groups was posted on the TEA website in April 2021. TEA staff provided SBOE members applications for approval to serve on the technology applications work groups in May, June, and August 2021. Work groups were convened in July, September, October, and November 2021.

At the June 2021 SBOE meeting, the board discussed the upcoming review of the social studies TEKS. Board members designated content advisors for the social studies TEKS review in August 2021. An application to serve on social studies TEKS review work groups was posted on the TEA website in September 2021. Additionally, in September 2021, a survey was posted on the TEA website to ask for feedback on the current TEKS for social studies. TEA staff provided SBOE members applications for approval to serve on the social studies work groups in September and October 2021.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support