June 20, 2023 Committee of the Full Board Item 7
Discussion of Proposed Revisions to the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS)
June 20, 2023
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for the board to discuss revisions to the ELPS. Revisions to the ELPS would ensure the standards remain current and comply with federal requirements.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4); 28.002(a) and (c), and 29.051.
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 identify by rule 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.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: In 1998, standards for English as a second language (ESL) for students in Kindergarten-Grade 12 were adopted as part of 19 TAC Chapter 128, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Spanish Language Arts and Reading and English as a Second Language. In a subsequent Title III monitoring visit, the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) indicated that there was insufficient evidence demonstrating that the ESL standards outlined in 19 TAC Chapter 128 were aligned to state academic content and achievement standards in mathematics, as required by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), §2113(b)(2). In November 2007, the SBOE adopted the ELPS as part of 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, to comply with NCLB requirements. The adopted ELPS in 19 TAC §74.4 clarified that state standards in English language acquisition must be implemented as an integral part of the instruction in each foundation and enrichment subject. Additionally, English language proficiency levels of beginning, intermediate, advanced, and advanced high in the domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing were established as part of the ELPS, as required by NCLB. The superseded second language acquisition standards in 19 TAC Chapter 128 were also repealed in September 2008 during the process of revising the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in 19 TAC Chapters 110 and 128.
The SBOE began the review of the ELPS in 19 TAC §74.4 in 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 Texas Education Agency (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. Work groups were convened in March, May, August, September, and October 2019. In September 2019, the USDE indicated that Texas only partially met the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Specific to the ELPS, the USDE requested additional evidence that the ELPS are aligned to the state's academic content standards and contain language proficiency expectations needed for emergent bilingual students to demonstrate achievement of the state academic standards appropriate to each grade-level/grade-band in at least reading language arts, mathematics, and science.
In response to feedback from the work group members and feedback from the USDE, TEA staff convened a panel of experts in second language acquisition from Texas institutions of higher education to complete an analysis of the work group recommendations and current research on English language acquisition. Based on the panel's findings and direction from the SBOE, TEA executed personal services contracts with the panel members and a representative of an education service center to prepare a draft of revisions to the ELPS. Text of the draft ELPS completed by the expert panel will be presented to the SBOE as a separate exhibit at the June 2023 meeting.
Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Programs
Shelly Ramos, Senior Director, Curriculum Standards and Student Support
Attachment:
Text of 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.4, English Language Proficiency Standards
Separate Exhibit:
Text of Draft English Language Proficiency Standards
(to be provided at the June 2023 SBOE meeting)