Update on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Review
September 15, 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 and high school English electives TEKS were amended to be effective August 23, 2010. The technology applications TEKS were amended to be effective 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register, for implementation beginning with the 2012-2013 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 used for the review and revision of the technology applications TEKS. The board approved revisions to the process for review and revision of the TEKS in January 2011 and directed staff to use the revised process beginning with review and revision of the mathematics and fine arts TEKS. At the April 2011 meeting, the board approved for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to the technology applications TEKS for kindergarten through grade 8 and for 13 high school courses, and at the July 2011 meeting the board approved for second reading and final adoption proposed revisions to the technology applications TEKS for six additional high school courses.
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.
Applications for appointment to mathematics and fine arts TEKS review committees were accepted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) 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.
The mathematics TEKS review committees were convened in Austin in May 2011 to begin work on draft recommendations for the TEKS. The committees met again in July 2011 to continue their work on the draft recommendations. In August 2011, the first draft recommendations were provided to the board and to the board-appointed expert reviewers and posted to the TEA website for informal public feedback.
The fine arts TEKS review committees are expected to convene for the first time in fall 2011. The board-appointed fine arts experts reviewed the current fine arts TEKS and provided their initial feedback in August 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: Invited testimony will be provided by mathematics TEKS review committee representatives and expert reviewers 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, Director of State Professional Development
Monica Martinez, Managing Director, Curriculum
Attachment:
Statutory Citations