Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses
(Second Reading and Final Adoption)
May 21, 2010
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses. The proposed revisions would add new Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses to the current list of CTE courses that may satisfy a science credit requirement. The proposed revisions would also include minor modifications to the Principles of Technology course that may satisfy the physics graduation requirement to align with end-of-course assessment requirements. No additional changes are recommended since approved for first reading.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, 28.025, and 39.025.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, is 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register. Under TEC, §7.102(f), the State Board of Education (SBOE) must approve the rule action at second reading and final adoption by a vote of two-thirds of its members to specify an effective date earlier than the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. The earlier effective date will allow districts to begin preparing for implementation.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for elementary, middle, and high school science courses to be effective September 1, 1998. Revisions to the science TEKS were adopted by the SBOE to be effective August 4, 2009. The SBOE adopted new TEKS for secondary CTE to be effective August 23, 2010. The SBOE approved amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, in January 2010. The proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, were approved for first reading and filing authorization at the March 2010 SBOE meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In January 2010, the SBOE approved for second reading and final adoption amendments to the graduation requirements in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, that allow Advanced Animal Science, Advanced Biotechnology, Advanced Plant and Soil Science, Food Science, and Forensic Science to satisfy the fourth science credit requirement under the Recommended High School Program and the Distinguished Achievement Program.
The proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, would add proposed new 19 TAC §112.72, Other Courses for Which Students May Receive Science Credit, to include the new CTE courses that count for science credit. The proposed new rule would also include technical edits to update the provisions. Current 19 TAC §112.71 would be superseded by proposed new 19 TAC §112.71 and, therefore, recommended for repeal.
In addition, due to requirements for end-of-course assessments for physics, minor modifications are needed to the TEKS for the new CTE Principles of Technology course. The proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, would add new 19 TAC §112.71, Principles of Technology (One Physics Credit), to include the modified TEKS for Principles of Technology that would count for physics credit.
No additional changes are recommended since approved for first reading.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Texas Education Agency has determined that there are no additional costs to persons or entities required to comply with the proposed rule actions. In addition, 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 added flexibility for students regardless of the graduation program they select.
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 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses, was filed with the Texas Register initiating the official public comment period. No comments had been received at the time this item was prepared. A summary of any public comments received and corresponding agency responses regarding the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Subchapter D, will be provided to the SBOE during the May 2010 meeting.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education:
By an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the board, approve for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses, with an effective date of 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register.
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 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter D, Other Science Courses