Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.1, Essential Knowledge and Skills, and §74.3, Description of a Required Secondary Curriculum, and Proposed New Chapter 74, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013
(First Reading and Filing Authorization)
November 18, 2011
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item presents for first reading and filing authorization proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, §74.1, Essential Knowledge and Skills, and §74.3, Description of a Required Secondary Curriculum, and proposed new Chapter 74, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013. The proposed amendments would update requirements for school districts to align with recently passed legislation and provide additional clarification regarding requirements. The proposed new subchapter would update the graduation requirements to align with recently passed legislation, allow additional courses to satisfy certain graduation requirements, and provide additional clarification regarding requirements.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002, 28.025, and 28.027.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The proposed effective date of the proposed rule actions is 20 days after filing as adopted with the Texas Register. Under TEC, §7.102(f), the State Board of Education (SBOE) must approve the rule actions at second reading and final adoption by a vote of two-thirds of its members to specify an effective date earlier than the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year. The earlier effective date will enable districts to plan for future course offerings and schedule students in courses appropriately.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter A, to be effective September 1, 1996. Sections 74.1 and 74.3 were last amended to be effective April 21, 2010. The SBOE adopted rules in 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, to be effective September 1, 2005. Amendments to this subchapter were adopted to be effective January 9, 2007; December 25, 2007; and August 23, 2010.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2007-2008, adopted by the SBOE in November 2006, included changes to reflect the four years of mathematics and science graduation requirements of House Bill (HB) 1, 79th Texas Legislature, Third Called Session, 2006. These changes only applied to the Recommended High School and Distinguished Achievement Programs found in 19 TAC §74.63 and 19 TAC §74.64.
The 81st Texas Legislature, 2009, passed HB 3, amending the TEC, §28.025, to increase flexibility in graduation requirements for students. While HB 3 removed SBOE authority to designate a specific course or a specific number of credits in the enrichment curriculum as requirements for the Recommended High School Program, the SBOE retains authority in the foundation and enrichment curriculum for the Minimum High School Program and the Distinguished Achievement Program.
In January 2010, the SBOE adopted amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter F, to incorporate changes to high school graduation programs in light of new graduation requirements from HB 3. In addition, the amendments allowed three career and technical education (CTE) courses to count for the fourth mathematics credit under the Recommended High School Program and two CTE courses to count for the fourth mathematics credit under the Distinguished Achievement Program. The SBOE approved changes allowing five new CTE courses to count for the fourth science credit under the Recommended High School Program and Distinguished Achievement Program. Additionally, changes were adopted allowing the Professional Communications course to satisfy the speech graduation requirement and the Principles and Elements of Floral Design course to satisfy the fine arts graduation credit.
In January 2011, the SBOE approved a new course, Advanced Quantitative Reasoning, to satisfy the fourth mathematics graduation requirement. In April 2011, the SBOE adopted revisions to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills in technology applications. The adopted changes allow Digital Art and Animation and 3-D Modeling and Animation to satisfy the fine arts graduation requirement.
The proposed amendments to 19 TAC §74.1 and §74.3 and proposed new 19 TAC Chapter 74, Subchapter G, would update and clarify school district requirements and graduation requirements beginning with students entering Grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year. Proposed rule text will be sent to SBOE members as a separate exhibit prior to the November meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Texas Education Agency has determined that there are no additional costs to persons or entities required to comply with the proposed rule actions. In addition, there is no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses and microbusinesses; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in Texas Government Code, §2006.002, is required.
PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Benefits include added flexibility for students regardless of the graduation program they select.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The proposed rule actions would have no new procedural and reporting requirements.
LOCALLY MAINTAINED PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: The proposed rule actions would have no new locally maintained paperwork requirements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: The official public comment period will begin when the rule actions are published as proposed in the Texas Register.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: A request for a public hearing on the proposal submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 14 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register.
COMMISSIONER'S RECOMMENDATION: I recommend that the State Board of Education:
Approve for first reading and filing authorization proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.1, Essential Knowledge and Skills, and §74.3, Description of a Required Secondary Curriculum, and proposed new Chapter 74, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Members Responsible:
Anita Givens, Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs
Norma Torres-Martinez, Director of Standards and Alignment
Standards and Programs
Monica Martinez, Managing Director
Curriculum
Attachment:
Statutory Citations
Separate Exhibit:
Text of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 74, Curriculum Requirements, Subchapter A, Required Curriculum, §74.1, Essential Knowledge and Skills, and §74.3, Description of a Required Secondary Curriculum, and Proposed New Chapter 74, Subchapter G, Graduation Requirements, Beginning with School Year 2012-2013
(to be provided prior to the November SBOE meeting)