Update on Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review
September 23, 2010
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for staff to present an update on the review of the technology applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and for the board to hear invited testimony from appointed expert reviewers and representatives from TEKS review committees.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, and 28.025.
BOARD RESPONSE: This item is presented for review and comment.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted the TEKS for technology applications to be effective September 1, 1998. 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. The board took action at the March 2010 meeting to approve guidelines for the technology applications expert reviewers. The board took action at the July 2010 meeting to direct staff to invite one member of each technology applications TEKS review committee to present invited testimony to the Committee of the Full Board at its September 2010 meeting. The board also took action at the July 2010 meeting to direct staff to invite the expert reviewers for technology applications to present invited testimony to the Committee of the Full Board at the September 2010 meeting and also to attend the October TEKS review committee meeting.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: Technology applications review committees are scheduled to meet in October 2010. First reading and filing authorization of the proposed revisions to the technology applications TEKS is scheduled to occur at the January 2011 SBOE meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: 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 January 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. In April 2010, three expert reviewers appointed by the SBOE reviewed the current technology applications TEKS. Committees were convened in early May 2010 to begin review of the technology applications TEKS. The review committees met again in July 2010 to complete initial drafts of the recommended revisions to the technology applications TEKS. Initial drafts of the recommendations for revisions to the technology applications TEKS have been posted on the TEA website for informal feedback. The technology applications TEKS review committees are scheduled to meet again in October 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