Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School
(Second Reading and Final Adoption)
May 21, 2010
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School. This item also presents for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School. The proposed rule actions recommend an implementation date of the 2011-2012 school year for the revised social studies and economics Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, 28.008, and 28.025.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, is the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. This effective date will allow districts to begin preparing for implementation in the 2011-2012 school year.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted the TEKS for social studies and economics to be effective September 1, 1998. The SBOE took action at the May 2009 meeting to approve a revised process for review and revision of the TEKS, guidelines for the social studies TEKS review committees, and guidelines for the social studies expert reviewers. A discussion item regarding proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, was presented to the Committee of the Full Board during the November 2009 meeting. Proposed revisions to social studies and economics TEKS were presented for first reading and filing authorization at the January 2010 SBOE meeting. At that time, the Committee of the Full Board postponed action on the revisions until the March 2010 meeting. Proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, were approved for first reading and filing authorization at the March 2010 meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In January and February 2009, committees were convened to review the social studies and economics TEKS. On April 22, 2009, the Committee on Instruction held a work session to study the process for review of the TEKS, make recommendations to the Committee of the Full Board regarding adjustments to the process approved by the SBOE in July 2008, and provide guidance to Texas Education Agency (TEA) staff and social studies and economics TEKS review committees regarding next steps in the review of the social studies and economics TEKS. Information from the April Committee on Instruction meeting was discussed by the board at the May meeting. In June 2009, six expert reviewers appointed by the SBOE reviewed the current social studies and economics TEKS and submitted feedback to the SBOE.
In July 2009, committees were convened to complete initial drafts of recommended revisions to the social studies and economics TEKS. Initial drafts of the recommendations for revisions to the social studies and economics TEKS were posted on the TEA website for informal feedback. Initial drafts were also reviewed by the six expert reviewers. During the September 2009 meeting, expert reviewers and representatives from the TEKS review committees provided invited testimony.
The social studies and economics TEKS review committees met again in October 2009 to review feedback and complete recommendations for revisions to the social studies and economics TEKS. The recommendations from the review committees were presented to the Committee of the Full Board during a discussion item at the November 2009 meeting. The proposed revisions were presented for first reading and filing authorization at the January 2010 meeting, and a public hearing on the proposed revisions was held at that time. The Committee of the Full Board postponed action on the proposed revisions until the March 2010 SBOE meeting. Proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, were approved for first reading and filing authorization at the March 2010 meeting. Testimony was provided on the proposed revisions during the March 2010 meeting.
Attachment II reflects the text of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School, including amendments made by the SBOE at the January and March 2010 meetings, for consideration by the SBOE for second reading and final adoption. The text of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School, is reflected in Attachment III.
FISCAL IMPACT: There will be costs associated with this process for the TEA to review and revise the social studies and economics TEKS. There are also implications for the TEA for the development and implementation of professional development to help teachers and administrators understand the revised social studies and economics TEKS. For fiscal year (FY) 2010, the estimated cost to the TEA is $51,300 for reviewing and revising the social studies TEKS and $3,000 for reviewing and revising the economics TEKS. For FY 2011, the estimated cost is $3.8 million for professional development for the social studies TEKS and $200,000 for professional development for the economics TEKS. For FYs 2012-2014, the estimated costs are $475,000 and $25,000, respectively.
There are anticipated fiscal implications for school districts and charter schools to implement the revised TEKS, which 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.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include better alignment of the TEKS and coordination of the standards with the adoption of instructional materials.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The proposed revisions would have no new procedural and reporting implications.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed revisions would have no new locally maintained paperwork requirements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Following the March 2010 SBOE meeting, notice of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, was filed with the Texas Register initiating the official public comment period. Numerous comments had been received at the time this item was prepared. A summary of public comments received and corresponding agency responses regarding the proposal will be provided to the SBOE prior to and during the May 2010 meeting.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: A public hearing regarding proposed revisions to
19 TAC Chapter 113, Subchapters A-C, and 19 TAC Chapter 118, Subchapter A, is included as a separate item in this agenda.
COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education:
Approve for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School, with an effective date of the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, to be implemented beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; and
Approve for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School, with an effective date of the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, to be implemented beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible:
Anita Givens, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs
Norma Torres-Martinez, Deputy Associate Commissioner
Standards and Alignment
Monica Martinez, Managing Director
Curriculum
Attachments:
I. Statutory Citations
II. Text of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 113, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Social Studies, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School
(As approved by the SBOE for first reading and filing authorization in March 2010 and filed with the Texas Register on April 5, 2010)
III. Text of Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 118, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Economics with Emphasis on the Free Enterprise System and Its Benefits, Subchapter A, High School
(As approved by the SBOE for first reading and filing authorization in March 2010 and filed with the Texas Register on April 5, 2010)