Update on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review
July 23, 2010
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for staff to present an update on the review of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and for the board to provide guidance regarding the TEKS review process.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, and 28.025.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted the TEKS for all subjects to be effective September 1, 1998. The mathematics TEKS were amended to be effective August 1, 2006. The English language arts and reading TEKS were amended to be effective September 4, 2008. The Spanish language arts and reading TEKS were amended to be effective November 26, 2008. The secondary mathematics TEKS were amended to be effective February 22, 2009. The science TEKS were amended to be effective August 4, 2009. The career and technical education (CTE) TEKS were amended by the SBOE in July 2009 but are not yet effective. The social studies TEKS were amended by the SBOE in May 2010 but are not yet effective.
The board 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. The board approved additional revisions to the process in November 2009.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: 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 full board regarding adjustments to the process approved by the SBOE in July 2008, and provide guidance to agency staff and social studies TEKS review committees regarding next steps in the review of the social studies TEKS. Information from the April Committee on Instruction meeting was discussed by the board at the May meeting.
The board 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.
The board approved revisions to the approved TEKS review process in November 2009. This process is to be used for the review and revision of the technology applications TEKS. Applications for appointment to technology applications TEKS review committees were accepted by the Texas Education Agency in September and October 2009. Applications were provided to SBOE members at the November 2009 meeting, nominations were made in November and December 2009, and individuals were notified of their appointment to serve on a committee in March 2010. At the November 2009 meeting, SBOE members were asked to begin appointing experts to review the technology applications TEKS. At the March 2010 SBOE meeting, staff presented the Committee on Instruction with draft guidelines for the technology applications expert reviewers. The committee had no additional guidance for the expert reviewers. Experts reviewed the current technology applications TEKS in April 2010. In May and July 2010, TEKS review committees were convened to review the technology applications TEKS and make recommendations for revisions. The first draft of the recommendations will be posted on the Texas Education Agency website for informal public feedback and will be sent to expert reviewers for review and comment in September 2010.
FISCAL IMPACT: There will be normal business costs associated with this process for the agency, including staff and committee travel, meeting accommodations, and production and dissemination of documents.
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: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
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
Attachment:
Statutory Citations