Discussion of Annual Audit Reports for Credit by Examination from Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin
July 21, 2011
COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTION: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the opportunity for the committee to discuss the annual audit reports submitted by Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin regarding examinations used for credit by examination.
BOARD RESPONSE: This item is presented for review and comment.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted 19 TAC §74.24 that outlines general provisions for the administration of credit by examination to be effective September 1, 1996. During 2007, several discussion items regarding the process for the review of credit by examination were considered by the Committee on Instruction. As a result of those discussions, the rule was most recently amended to be effective September 1, 2008.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: None.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: General provisions in
19 TAC §74.24 include the option for school districts to administer examinations developed by Texas Tech University or The University of Texas at Austin for credit for secondary school academic subjects.
During the February 2007 meeting of the Committee on Instruction, the committee chair instructed agency staff to send correspondence requesting that the two institutions provide the information necessary for review of each of their examinations used for credit by examination. Correspondence was sent to the institutions requesting the review. Staff members from both universities responded that the process for aligning the examinations with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) was underway for some examinations and completed for others.
During the July 2007 committee meeting, public testimony raised additional concerns regarding the examinations. The committee chair asked staff to investigate the possibility of a third-party review of the updated examinations. During the September 2007 meeting, the committee instructed staff to draft proposed changes to the rule for action at the November 2007 meeting that would require an annual report by an outside auditor to confirm TEKS alignment of the examinations developed by Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin.
During the January 2008 meeting, the SBOE adopted a proposed amendment to 19 TAC §74.24 that added language in subsection (a)(2) specifying that these two entities shall ensure that their assessments are aligned with the TEKS, arrange for a third-party audit of 20% of their assessments annually, and report the results of each audit to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by May 31 of each year. In July 2009 TEA staff presented the first audit results and in July 2010 TEA staff presented the second annual audit results. This item presents the third annual audit results that were due to the agency May 31, 2011.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: The audit summaries will be provided to the board at the July meeting as separate exhibits.
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:
Text of 19 TAC §74.24, Credit by Examination
Separate Exhibits:
I. Audit summary from Texas Tech University
II. Audit summary from The University of Texas at Austin
(to be provided at the July SBOE meeting)