Update on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review
April 14, 2011
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 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
BOARD RESPONSE: This item is presented for review and comment.
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 to be effective August 23, 2010. The social studies TEKS were amended to be effective August 23, 2010 for implementation beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.
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. This process was 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 to attend the October TEKS review committee meeting. The proposed revisions to the technology applications TEKS were approved for first reading and filing authorization at the January 2010 meeting. The board approved revisions to the process for review and revision of the TEKS in January 2011.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: The board will consider proposed revisions to mathematics and fine arts TEKS at a future meeting.
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 being followed for the review and revision of the technology applications TEKS. The SBOE approved for first reading and filing authorization the proposed revisions to the technology applications TEKS at the January 2011 meeting.
Applications for appointment to mathematics and fine arts TEKS review committees were accepted by the Texas Education Agency from October 2010 to early January 2011. Applications received prior to the November 2010 SBOE meeting were provided to SBOE members at the November meeting so that members could begin nominating individuals to serve on these committees. Applications received since the November 2010 SBOE meeting were provided to SBOE members at the January 2011 meeting so that board members could complete the nominations. Nominations for expert reviewers and committee members for the mathematics and fine arts TEKS review were made in February 2011.
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.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: Proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 126, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School, and proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 126, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Applications, Subchapter D, Other Technology Applications Courses, are presented for second reading and final adoption as a separate item in this agenda.
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