Public Hearing Regarding Proposed Revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School
March 25, 2009
COMMITTEE OF THE FULL BOARD: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: A six hour public hearing before the State Board of Education (SBOE) is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2009, in the William B. Travis Building, Room 1-104. Testimony will be presented regarding proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School.
BOARD RESPONSE: This item is presented for review and comment.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The SBOE adopted the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for elementary, middle and high school science courses to be effective September 1, 1998. A discussion item regarding the proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112 was presented to the Committee of the Full Board during the November 2008 meeting. Proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School, were approved for first reading and filing authorization at the January 2009 meeting.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: Proposed revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapters A-C, will be presented for second reading and final adoption as a separate item in this agenda.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: In January, February, May, September, October and December 2008, committees were convened to review the science TEKS. In April, May, September, and October 2008, committees were convened to develop TEKS for new earth and space science and engineering courses. During the September 2008 meeting, the SBOE received draft recommendations for proposed revisions to the science TEKS. Informal public feedback and feedback from expert reviewers was shared with the science TEKS review committees as they continued to work on their recommendations for proposed revisions in November and December. A discussion item regarding the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 112 was presented to the Committee of the Full Board during the November 2008 meeting. Proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 112, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Subchapter A, Elementary, Subchapter B, Middle School, and Subchapter C, High School, were approved for first reading and filing authorization at the January 2009 meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Numerous comments have been received about the TEKS revision process and proposed revisions to the science TEKS.
ALTERNATIVES: None.
OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Scott
Commissioner of Education
Staff Member Responsible:
Anita Givens, Acting Associate Commissioner
Standards and Programs